Overview

April 15, 2021

 

On the Proposed Law on Education & Science

 

It is unfortunate that this law has combined education and science into one law.

 

What concerns us here is what effect this new law has on the National Academy of Sciences.

 

On November 10, 1943, a decree by the Government of Armenia established the Academy of Sciences, with 23 noted academicians including 

 

-  Brothers Alikhanian

-  Avetik Isahakian

-  Brothers Orbeli

-  H. Acharian

-  M. Abeghian

-  Victor Ambartsumian

-  and others

 

The first elected president was Hovsep Orbeli - an outstanding scholar, historian and orientalist.  In 1947 a new President of the Academy of Sciences was elected Victor Hambartsumyan – a scientist of a world-wide recognition, the founder of theoretical astrophysics.

 

Over its 80-year history, it has grown to initiate and integrate into one whole thirty institutes from all branches of science.

 

It is centrally organized science that serves the State and the Nation.  It provides for the security of the Nation; hence, it should be viewed as part of the National Security.  And it should be the Think Tank for all aspects of the State as it can give a scientific view on issues - a view that is free of emotions.

 

The National Academy of Sciences has no exclusivity over science.  Everyone can do science – universities do science, companies do science, individuals do science, …. But the National Academy of Sciences does science exclusively and the science that it engages in is organized for the benefit of the State and its security.

 

The power of the Academy is in its centralized structure and has an important function of integrating all branches of science to serve the State and the Nation.

 

The new law suggests breaking up the Academy into independent institutes and transform the Academy into just a union of scientists with only consultative functions.

 

The purpose of this Call is to raise awareness of the society of the dangers of breaking up the Academy.

 

We are a country that lost a war.  If anything, we need to strengthen the National Academy of Sciences.  The Academy is the security of the nation.

 

If we destroy the structure of the National Academy of Science with its 30 institutes, we will never have serious science in Armenia again.  Armenia will never be able to build such a structure again.  And with time, most of the institutes will weaken and wither away, as a result of which the country will have lost the foundation of any serious science.

 

Destroying the Academy is the same as destroying the defenses of the nation.

The Engineering Association