Rzymkovsky: There is no project and no concept to liquidate the Polish Academy of Sciences

MEiN Vice President Thursday in the House of Representatives answered questions from Representative Christina Zumelas (KO) about the project, plans for the creation of the Copernican National Program and planned reforms at the Polish Academy of Sciences.

“The world of science is alarming that in the Ministry of Education and Science, a mysterious group of trusted employees of the Minister is working to create a new academy – the Copernican International Academy, an academy that is completely dependent on a minister in power and politicians in power. The institution threatens the work of the already existing Polish Academy of Sciences There is even talk of an attempt to liquidate it, “- said Szumilas.

“I have a bill in my hands on the creation of an academy with the date of its entry into force on June 1, 2021. This law was created in the ministry” – noted the deputy KO. She asked, among other things, whether work on this project was still ongoing in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, when it was planned to complete the work, when would the new academy start operating, and where the funds would come to finance it from. “I am afraid that the funds will be withdrawn from the system, so this new academy will be funded at the expense of other funds, and there may be money earmarked for its financing, which today goes to the Polish Academy of Sciences” – she added. Szumilas assessed that the project like this was an attack on the independence of the university.

Referring to this statement, Ryzimkovsky said: “Well, there is no law.” “What you are using is practical material and it is difficult to talk about any other assumptions at this stage at the moment,” he said.

Regarding the second part of the question: There is no concept of liquidating the Polish Academy of Sciences. I deny this categorical statement that appeared in the public space. As for the reform plans, we expect more official actions on the part of the authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Instead of media and press statements, The deputy minister added.

At the beginning of April, the OKO.press portal announced that the Polish Academy of Sciences would be replaced by the Copernican National Program, a change that was critically evaluated by the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Professor. Jerzy Dozhinsky. According to the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, it is a project that was created without the slightest consultation with institutions representing science in Poland. a. Duszyński assessed that the new institution differs from the Polish Academy of Sciences by “completely submitting to the will of politicians”.

After this post, the Minister of Education and Science, Przemislav Kosarnik, has repeatedly confirmed that there are no plans to liquidate the Polish Academy of Sciences and that there is no ongoing work in the Ministry of Science and Technology regarding the liquidation of the Polish Academy of Sciences. “These are achievements and a specific heritage that simply needs development, and some areas need support and reform,” he said. At the same time, he admitted that talk of the Copernican National Program has been going on for a long time.

When asked when this project or another project on Copernican programs on Copernican International Academy will be approved by MEiN, Karsnik answered Tuesday on RMF FM Czarnek: “We assume both the project related to the Copernican National Program and the project on the Polish Academy of Sciences reform – because like These matters are being analyzed in our ministry – they will be ready this fall. “

According to “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”, the Ministry of Education and Science plans to launch the Copernican National Program in 2023 on the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus. It is meant to make Polish scientific institutions catch up with the best in the world. Its implementation will be handled by a new institution – Copernican International Academy. It will be supervised by the Prime Minister (PAP).

Author: Danuta Starzyńska-Rosiecka

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