From: mk_thisisit
Introduction to the Reform
A significant organizational reform was carried out at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, where the speaker previously served as director [00:30:10]. This reform aimed to address inherent issues within the existing scientific system [00:30:24].
Background: The Old System’s Flaws
The previous system of science in Poland was inherited from the Germans, but lacked the corresponding financial support [00:30:24]. In this older model, a professor heading a university department held immense authority, akin to “God” [00:30:33]. This structure was characterized by authoritarian, noble power hierarchy, and was very ossified and hierarchical [00:31:02]. This system persisted throughout the 20th century in Poland and continued to function to some extent [00:31:08].
A key reason for the need for reform was the exodus of many scientists from Europe, including Poland, to the United States [00:31:19]. This was because American universities offered young scientists freedom; they were given a group and told to “do whatever you want” as long as they collected grants [00:31:28]. This highlights that scientists work more effectively when they feel freedom and when there is no hierarchical structure [00:31:41]. In such environments, a scientist’s position is determined by achievement, not by rank [00:31:50].
Nature of the Reform
The reform implemented in the Institute mirrored this philosophy, emphasizing achievement over position [00:31:59]. It introduced a “flat structure” where traditional departments led by a single head were replaced by independent research groups [00:32:05]. These groups are primarily accountable to the director, who himself leads one of the research groups [00:32:19]. This structure aims to foster freedom for scientists, which was perceived as lacking for Polish scientists previously, contributing to their emigration [00:32:28].
Positive Outcomes of the Reform
In retrospect, the reform proved highly beneficial [00:32:37]. The Institute achieved a top “category A plus” rating twice in a row [00:32:40].
Key indicators of success include:
- Increased Grant Funding The amount of money secured from grants increased tenfold over a decade [00:32:43].
- Improved Publication Quality and Authorship The quality of publications significantly improved, with a majority appearing in very good journals [00:33:03]. Previously, leading authors on these works were often from abroad; now, the leaders of the Institute’s own research groups are the primary authors, and the volume of such works has increased by an order of magnitude [00:33:08].
- Internationalization A decade or so prior to the reform, only Polish was heard at the Institute [00:33:26]. Now, languages from all over the world can be heard, indicating a significant increase in international collaboration and presence [00:33:30].