Leave Us Alone

Russian researchers are protesting an effort by the Kremlin to "lure" foreign researchers to Russian research institutions, says the Chronicle of Higher Education's Anna Nemtsova. Instead of spending $390 million to attract other scientists, the government should be using that money to give Russian scientists a raise, the researchers say. This new program — which is offering grants as large as $5 million along with lab equipment and assistants — is open to researchers of all nationalities, but is also intended in part to "entice" Russian émigré scientists to return from abroad, Nemtsova says. There have been street protests in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities, and Russian Internet forums are teeming with disgruntled commentary, she adds. The Kremlin says the program is intended to help Russian scientists modernize and lead to more investment by business into science.