From: mk_thisisit
The export of Polish scientific talent abroad is a significant concern for the country, driven by various systemic issues within the Polish scientific and higher education landscape [00:29:41]. While science is inherently international, the departure of top minds from Poland has negative consequences for its economy and education system [00:20:05].
Causes of Talent Migration
Several factors contribute to the talent migration from Poland to international markets:
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Working Conditions and Remuneration
- Polish scientists, particularly PhD students, assistants, and adjuncts, face low salaries that do not allow for a comfortable or carefree life focused solely on scientific work [00:19:12].
- PhD students often need to apply for grants, scholarships, or find additional work, which distracts them from their primary scientific endeavors [00:19:39].
- There is a need to provide appropriate, decent working conditions, access to measurement techniques, and adequate research financing to retain talent [00:18:37].
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Lack of Support and Appreciation
- Younger scientists and outstanding collaborators need to feel appreciated [00:18:50].
- The “pathologies” within the system, such as the flawed evaluation methods, contribute to a lack of appreciation [00:19:03].
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The Flawed Point System
- The Polish system for assessing scientific achievements is widely criticized as a “pathology” [00:00:00], [00:05:51].
- This system, based on a point scale assigned to journal titles, is seen as arbitrary and almost random [00:05:32]. Some very good international journals have few points, while others of questionable quality have many [00:05:36].
- The system incentivizes quantity over quality, leading some scientists to publish hundreds of papers in a short period in “paper mills” – journals that publish almost anything for a fee, often without proper editorial control or review [00:12:23], [00:13:06], [00:13:30].
- This impact of the point system on the quality of Polish science is seen as leading to a sharp decline in research quality [00:11:00].
- The Minister of Science acknowledges that the point system is a widely raised problem within the Polish Higher Education system [00:25:21].
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Risk Aversion in Funding and Hierarchical System
- Polish scientists leave due to a lack of financial resources for science development [00:30:07].
- There is a perceived lack of risk-taking in funding decisions by Polish institutions, with officials stating that breakthrough projects are unlikely to work and are a waste of money [00:30:45].
- The hierarchical nature of the scientific system can be frustrating [00:30:13].
Consequences for Poland
The “export of intellectuals, experts, and creators of technologies” [00:29:52] has direct repercussions for Poland:
- Loss of Expertise and Innovation: When the best scientists leave, those who remain may be less capable, hindering the development of modern technologies within Poland [00:20:18]. This impacts the country’s ability to drive its own economy through innovation [00:20:22].
- Impact on Education System: The departure of top educators and researchers weakens the quality of the education system [00:20:14].
Global vs. National Perspective
While the departure of Polish scientists is a loss for the country, it can be a gain for global science [00:20:46]. Science is inherently international, thriving on the free exchange of ideas, concepts, data, and research [00:10:15]. The only country where “national science” existed was the Soviet Union under Stalin [00:10:07].
Proposed Solutions and Ministerial Perspective
The Minister of Science acknowledges the problem of the point system and the need for change [00:25:58]. Discussions are ongoing, with announcements of a new point scale [00:15:10].
Proposed changes and approaches include:
- Reforming Evaluation: Moving towards a non-point-based system, or one based on independent international bibliometric systems [00:16:07]. The Minister states that patents should be evaluated based on their implementation, not just their registration, as many are merely “reinventing the wheel” for points [00:27:00].
- Fostering Innovation and Risk-Taking: The Ministry aims to be more helpful and supportive of the scientific community [00:28:21]. A Department of Innovation has been established to promote innovation and commercialization [00:28:04]. The National Centre for Research and Development should invest in new, innovative, and risky solutions [00:31:10].
- Promoting Cooperation and Resource Utilization: The Minister emphasizes the need for institutes and universities to cooperate and avoid unnecessary duplication of expensive equipment [00:32:44]. A “Census of nature” of scientific equipment is proposed to identify underutilized resources [00:33:32].
- Addressing Challenges and Potential: The Minister acknowledges that current priorities involve national security, cybersecurity, and armaments, which will direct funds to Polish science in those areas [00:32:02].
Broader Context
The current public interest in science in Poland is perceived to be low, with a lack of respect for scientific work [00:21:10]. While science festivals exist, they are insufficient [00:22:04]. The education system at lower levels is also seen as potentially killing interest in science by focusing on rote learning rather than practical application or problem-solving [00:22:46]. Scientists themselves are encouraged to take more responsibility for the popularization of science [00:23:41], though administrative burdens from the point system limit their time for such activities [00:24:32].