Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences ( Russian Профессор Российской академии наук, Профессор РАН - Professor Rossiyskoy akademii nauk, Professor RAN ; the abbreviations RAS Professor and professor of RAN are also possible in German spelling) is one of the RAS introduced in 2015 academic Title . It is awarded to outstanding Russian scientists from all disciplines (exceptions: education , arts and architecture / construction ) who are not yet members of the academy. First-rate research achievements are expected from the candidates , while their teaching experience may be comparatively modest. At the time of the award, the person should not have reached the age of 50. Furthermore, the term "RAS professor" has the meaning of an honorary title .

Reasons for introducing the title

The professorship was created on the initiative of RAS President Vladimir Fortow , who was in office from 2013 to 2017 , to honor top researchers of the younger generations and to involve them in organizational work in the interests of the RAS.

This step is part of the deep reforms of the RAS, which, after the initially very negative expectations for the future of the academy, are now viewed more calmly by the scientists working in Russia.

Admission and selection

Candidates for the RAS professorship must have Russian citizenship, have working relationships with a research institute of the RAS or one of the state universities, and have a habilitation in the relevant subject . The opinion of a relevant member of the academy or the approval of the scientific council of the employing research institution is also required . The age limit for admission is 50 years.

The selection is based on the evaluation of scientific results, which should definitely appear in internationally recognized specialist journals. The published books, textbooks, patents, successful supervision of doctoral students , etc. are also taken into account. The stays abroad in the curriculum vitae , especially if they were financed by renowned organizations such as the AvH Foundation in Germany, are viewed positively. Nevertheless, staying for too long is more likely to work against the candidate, as it is assumed that the person has to work primarily in and for Russia .

The election is organized every two to three years. It runs in two rounds. The final decision of the RAS Presidium follows the area code in the relevant department.

Rights in and outside of the RAS

The RAS is a working group of scientists, which is divided into academic ( Akademikus ) and corresponding members . RAS professors are subordinate to the two traditional membership types. Unlike the members, the professors are not appointed .

The RAS professors have the right to take part in the meetings of the relevant specialist and regional departments of the Academy, to submit suggestions regarding the functioning of the RAS and to serve as technical experts . The key task of the RAS professors, however, is to continue their scientific work, as before the award of the title.

Outside the RAS, especially at universities , colleges or industry , the RAS professors are allowed to apply for the same positions as the usual professors who received their title from the Supreme Certification Commission (the usual practice in Russia), not from the RAS , got. When determining the terms of the contract and the salaries , it is decided individually whether and how the RAS status should be taken into account.

Elected RAS Professors

Number of RAS professors in relevant departments of the Academy and in the largest cities in Russia.

Up to and including 2018, there were two elections for RAS professors: the first in winter 2015/2016 and the second in March / April 2018. As of 2018, 605 scientists have this title.

Their technical and regional breakdown is shown in the picture. The most famous research institutes, such as the Lebedev Institute , the Steklow Institute and the Ioffe Institute , as well as the largest universities - e.g. B. Lomonossow University in Moscow - are each represented by several RAS professors.

The age limit has proven to be a very strong filter, as many Russian researchers from the “under-50” generation were forced to quit or emigrate in the 1990s because of hopeless underpaid and domestic political instability.

The last elections for academy members took place in October 2016 and November 2019; many RAS professors were candidates. A total of 137 professors were appointed as corresponding and three as full members. The title of professor will not be withdrawn from these persons, which means that they will continue to be listed under the double designation "RAS professor, corresponding (or full) member of the RAS".

Activity of the RAS professors

The community of professors is led by a presidium. There is also the Coordination Council, whose chairman was Alexei Gromyko , Director at the European Institute in Moscow, from 2016-2018 , and Alexander Lutowinow, Vice-Director of the Institute for Space Research , since April 2018 .

There are a total of more than ten virtual working groups within the community. Their directions include, for example, predicting the scientific and technical development of Russia, intensifying the links between universities and research institutions, or making proposals to increase the activity of publications. Special emphasis is placed on international relations: the corresponding group is the largest in terms of the number of professors in it.

The work in the community is voluntary . In principle, every professor is allowed to continue with his own research without doing anything else. The award of the title opens up the possibility of contributing to the shape of the academy and its reforms, expressing one's own opinion on urgent questions related to science and gaining access to the leading mass media . For most RAS professors, this is not unimportant. In June 2016, for example, they submitted a list of corrections to the new version of the Science Act at the State Duma .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Нормативные документы о звании «Профессор РАН» и о Координационном совете профессоров РАН. In: ras.ru. Retrieved April 26, 2018 (in Russian, decrees of the RAS Presidium on the establishment and award of the title “Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences”).
  2. ↑ Профессура в подкрепление. Введение нового звания усилит академию ( Russian ) Поиск, No. 40 (2015).
  3. ↑ Sven Behrisch: Moscow - The last days of wisdom . In: The time . No. 48/2014 ( zeit.de ; registration required, [accessed on March 30, 2018]).
  4. ↑ a b Постановления президиума РАН о присвоении звания "Профессор РАН". In: ras.ru. Retrieved November 7, 2018 (Russian).
  5. ↑ Выборы в РАН - 2016 [The election 2016 in the RAS: results ] ( Russian )
  6. ↑ Выборы в РАН - 2019 [The election 2019 in the RAS: results ] ( Russian )
  7. ↑ Координационный совет профессоров РАН возглавит замглавы ИКИ ( Russian ) TASS . April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  8. ↑ Website of the RAS Professors ( Russian )
  9. ↑ Ал.А. Громыко: Задания для пополнения. Профессора РАН берутся за новое дело ( Russian ) Поиск, No. 23 (2016).