Will Polish scientists die of hunger?

"In a country where scientists earn so little that they cannot afford to rent a studio apartment in an academic city, there is no way to count on a modern economy.

 

After 5.5 hours, young scientists who had been occupying the lobby of the Ministry of Finance since Wednesday morning decided to end the protest. – We failed to talk to the Minister of Finance – says Aleksander Temkin from the Crisis Committee of the Polish Humanities. As reported by "Rzeczpospolita", a meeting with only three representatives of the protesters was proposed. – We did not agree to this. We wanted to talk in the presence of the media because it is a matter for all of us.

 

Young Polish scientists are protesting because they want to live and start families

 

"Stop starving science", "SOS for science", "Salaries in science force people to be childless" - could be read on the banners held by the protesters. In this way, scientists want to draw attention to the terrible condition of Polish science and the difficult situation in which young scientists find themselves. – We want to live normally, conduct research and start families, says Temkin.

 

The scientists who broke into the building of the Ministry of Finance want to draw Poles' attention to the fact that without investment in science, Poland has no chance for development and young scientists have no chance for a normal life.

 

– As a country, as all citizens, we have been spending the least on education in proportion to our wealth since 2001. Twice less in proportion to GDP than the European Union average. We have no prospects for development, for catching up, not to mention overtaking other countries, said a doctor of physics, also a protester in the ministry building, on TVN 24.

 

The scientists included their demands in four points. “We came to the Ministry of Finance, the institution responsible for starving science in Poland. Stop wages lower than the cost of living, stop the progressive degradation of Polish universities and research institutes! Stop wasting the opportunities of Polish students! Stop the brain drain!” – is the first of the postulates.

 

What are scientists demanding? "Obvious things"

 

The protesters emphasized that they were patriots. “Without investment in science, there will be no competitive economy or socio-cultural development. The level of science financing, which is almost twice lower than the EU average, ruins our chances for development. Without science there is no development, without development there is no security and sovereignty of Poland. This is an issue beyond party and ideological divisions and a responsibility for every government," they wrote in their second demand.

 

We demand more funds for science so that scientists do not have to finance research from their own pockets

 

The protesters' demand

 

What are they demanding? “We demand the obvious! We demand a salary for young scientists that will allow them to start a family. We demand money for universities that will enable students to study in smaller groups. We demand increased funds for science so that scientists do not have to finance research from their own pockets," reads the third demand.

 

They also believed that the government representative should tell Poles directly what the situation of science is. This was the last of the protesters' demands. "Maybe you will convince Poles that we will be rich and safe by relying on other people's ideas and technologies."

 

There was no conversation, just like there is no specific conversation with teachers. The protesters were supported by opposition politicians. No one from the ruling party showed up."