Russia's Science-Election Chaos
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IN FOCUS NEWS Experimental Reactor (ITER) in southern exodus, says Chapman, but some top-level staff so more people are going to consider countries France, for which JET is a test bed. Both tasks members have accepted positions elsewhere, in mainland Europe — particularly Germany, got harder in January, when the UK govern- and candidates have rejected job offers, citing where the funding is so good.” ment announced that, as part of the country’s questions over JET’s future. Germany’s research and development withdrawal from the EU, it would also pull out Despite these uncertainties, Chapman thinks spending relative to its gross domestic product of the European Atomic Energy Community that the government understands what is at is among the highest in Europe. (Euratom), the body that disseminates EU stake and says that Zerial expects to see an increase in appli- fusion funding and manages the United King- “There’s a it has been respon- cations to the large, international graduate dom’s membership of ITER. time window sive. But the United school that is jointly run by his institute with The decision wasn’t a complete surprise, says beyond which Kingdom’s fusion the Technical University of Dresden, as well as Chapman. But it came without warning or an community needs in applications for postdoc and group-leader obvious plan for how to maintain the United the disquiet will a concrete signal positions. “It’ll be to our benefit.” Kingdom’s fusion programme after the nation ratchet up.” from the govern- But Brexit will hurt European science in the leaves Euratom. Chapman is now collecting ment — and soon. long run, he says. “When you lose an impor- data to help the government to work out the “There’s a time window beyond which the dis- tant piece of the European science landscape implications of various ways forward, which quiet will ratchet up, and we will start to haem- like the UK, it makes the European community range from becoming an associate member orrhage capacity,” says Chapman. “That will be w e a ke r.” of Euratom to funding an independent pro- hugely damaging, for us as an organization and He worries that there could be fewer fund- gramme of research. for the entire fusion community.” ing opportunities in the United Kingdom He also fills his hours by settling staff mem- for collaborative research with institutes bers’ nerves. Scientists at JET are preparing for COME TO GERMANY, WHERE FUNDING IS GOOD in mainland Europe — and that remaining a 2019 dress rehearsal of a fuel mix that ITER Marino Zerial, director, Max Planck opportunities might face much more bureau- will use, which should see JET break its own Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and cracy. “European Union funding, whatever its fusion record — but it may never happen. Rou- Genetics, Dresden, Germany weaknesses, supports loads of projects, and the tine negotiations to extend JET’s contract are In some ways, Brexit could be a boon for community treasures very much the collabora- on ice. European research, predicts Zerial. “The UK tions involved,” he says. ■ Read more profiles at The uncertainty has not yet triggered a mass is becoming less attractive to do research, and go.nature.com/2nsqeju INSTITUTIONS Russia’s science-election chaos The beleaguered Russian Academy of Sciences cancels presidential election at eleventh hour. BY OLGA DOBROVIDOVA to a new government agency. Fortov’s term was described the overhaul as “the most radical and set to end on 27 March, and the cancelled elec- risky for science” in the academy’s history, and cademics at Russia’s premier science tion would have been the first since the reforms. said it was eroding the RAS’s autonomy. body have been left reeling after an On the first morning of a pre-election Rumours are now rife. Valery Rubakov, a election to choose the new president conference, the challengers, biologist Alexander theoretical physicist at the RAS Institute for Aof the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) was Makarov and physicist Vladislav Panchenko, Nuclear Research in Moscow, told Nature that cancelled at the last minute. announced that they were dropping out, giving “without pressure ‘from above’, this turn of The three candidates — including incumbent no reasons. Fortov, the election favourite backed events would not have been possible”. Vladimir Fortov — pulled out on 20 March, just by the academy’s governing council, withdrew Rubakov and at least two other members of two days before the election. Three days later, at once, saying that the academy, physicists Vladimir Zakharov the Russian government appointed academy “No one asking he could not run and Gennady Mesyats, suggested that Fortov vice-president Valery Kozlov, who had not to postpone the unopposed. had had a meeting at the Kremlin on 17 March. planned to stand in the election, as acting leader. election actually Clues emerged When asked about this at the conference, The reasons for the candidates’ withdrawal said anything from interviews Fortov neither confirmed nor denied it. remain mysterious.“No one asking to postpone specific.” that Makarov and Kozlov is expected to serve as acting presi- the election actually said anything specific,” Panchenko gave to dent until an election takes place — which, says Askold Ivantchik, a historian at the RAS the government-run newspaper Rossiyskaya under the academy’s charter, should be no later Institute of World History in Moscow. Gazeta on 19 March. Makarov called election than 28 September. The RAS, established in 1724, heads up procedures at the academy “archaic” and “non- But experts agree that turmoil at the RAS Russia’s largest network of research institu- sensical”. Panchenko said that he and several is unlikely to affect scientists on the ground. tions. It manages basic research and acts as unnamed RAS members had sent a letter to the Instead, it sends a symbolic message. “This was an authority on science policy. But its past few governing council asking it to make the pro- yet another demonstration of a profound level years have been tumultuous — with a surprise cess — which “leaves room for manipulation” of disrespect for the scientific community,” says reform announced by the government in 2013. — more transparent. The letter was not made Mikhail Gelfand, deputy director of the RAS The modernizing reform began months after public, and neither Makarov nor Panchenko Institute for Information Transmission Prob- Fortov had been elected for his first term. It responded to Nature’s requests for comment. lems in Moscow. ■ caused outrage among some scientists because it But many scientists are still fuming about Olga Dobrovidova is employed by TASS, a state-owned transferred budget and administrative controls the reforms. In his election campaign, Fortov news agency in Russia. ©2017 Mac millan Publishers Li mited, part of Spri nger Nature. All ri gh30ts r eMARCHserved. 2017 | VOL 543 | NATURE | 601 .