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Diaspora Scientist: Resources exist. Lacking is the political will

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  • Diaspora Scientist: Resources exist. Lacking is the political will

    Diaspora Scientist Joulakian: "The resources exist. What's lacking is
    the political will"

    09:53, June 1, 2013

    Lebanese-born Bedros Joulakian, a professor of Theoretical Physics at
    Université de Lorraine in France, is now in Yerevan on a working
    visit.

    While there are many Armenians living in the diaspora that have
    reached lofty heights in the sciences, there are quite few who, while
    willing to cooperate with their counterparts in Armenia, have searched
    and found such possibilities.

    Years ago Joulakian, working at the Laboratoire de Physique
    Moléculaire et des Collisions, Université de Metz (France), organized
    a scientific cooperation project with Dr. Artour Ishkhanyan, head of
    the Theoretical Physics Division of the RA Engineering Center at the
    Academy of Sciences (now a part of the Academy's Institute for
    Physical Research).

    The cooperation was productive, several scientific grants were
    received and a number of projects were completed that were written up
    in leading international physics journals.

    Prof. Joulakian first visited Armenia in 2005, to participate in the
    Laser Physics conference organized by the Academy of Sciences. He and
    his colleague, Prof. Jocelyn Hanssen, had meetings with various
    Armenian officials and Academy colleagues. They also met with the
    scientific attaches of the French Embassy in Yerevan.

    As a result, various scientific cooperation agreements were signed.
    One such agreement, signed by the RA Academy of Sciences, the RA
    Ministry of Education and Science and the University of Metz, dealt
    with the creation of a mechanism to prepare future scientists.

    Prof. Joulakian visited Armenia for the second time last October.
    Again, it was to participate in the annual Laser Physics conference
    and to attend a thesis presentation by Hrayr Azizbekyan, another
    graduate student in the French-Armenian program. The professor also
    gave a seminar talk at the State Pedagogical Institute.

    Dr. Edward Kokanyan, head of the Theoretical Physics and Physics
    Instructional Methodology Faculty, said that Joulakian's research,
    while a known factor in Armenia, would have far reaching application
    in the future in the areas of plasma physics, astro-physics and
    bio-physics.

    In addition to the presentation of scientific research, the seminar
    allowed for the coordination of educational and scientific approaches
    in France and Armenia. Joulakian talked about the system of preparing
    teachers at the University of Lorraine, the unique aspects of the
    operations of the scientific-research laboratories, the organization
    of scientific research and how one goes about obtaining funding for
    research. In each respect, the differences between France and Armenia
    are striking.

    The apparent indifference shown by officials in Armenia regarding the
    sciences and the government's stingy funding of the sector, both
    surprised and irritated Prof. Joulakian. Of note is that while he is a
    soft-spoken person when it comes to voicing his opinion on such
    issues, Prof. Joulakian took the time to jot down some of his thoughts
    on the matter on a Facebook page entitled `We demand increased
    financing of the sciences' that has been created in Armenia by a
    number of young scientists who have sounded the alarm about what they
    deem is the government's subordination of the importance of the
    sciences.

    Prof. Joulakian wrote that while some might view his opinions as
    presumptuous, coming from a diaspora-Armenian, and while he isn't
    fully informed about the situation in Armenia, what he has read and
    heard prompts him to speak out on the matter and to add his voice to
    those in Armenia raising their concerns.

    The professor writes:

    - How can I remain silent when my scientific colleagues in
    Armenia are heroically trying to maintain the professional level of
    the sciences, when no possibilities are afforded post-doctoral
    students to return, and when scientific researchers are joining the
    ranks of the unemployed.

    - Why aren't researchers given adequate salaries so that they
    can devote their time and energy to scientific pursuits rather than
    worrying about material concerns?

    - I will not list all the hardships and issues in Armenia. I
    will leave that to those much better informed than I who will suggest
    solutions. I believe that the resources exist to overcome these
    problems in Armenia. What is lacking is the political willingness.
    Thus, we must spur such resolve in the ranks of those responsible.

    The question remains - are the government and those in charge of the
    sciences prepared to listen to Prof Joulakian and the scientific
    public sector in Armenia? Do they possess the willingness and desire
    to make the changes necessary to save Armenia from the intellectual
    disaster on the horizon?

    http://hetq.am/eng/news/26967/diaspora-scientist-joulakian-the-resources-exist-whats-lacking-is-the-political-will.html

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