Scientist Natalia Shulga: “The development of Ukrainian science should be one of the priorities after the end of the war”

An article by Natalia Shulga, the “Responsible Leadership” — 8 seminar alumni, about the restoration and development of Ukrainian science in the post-war period, has been published in the international journal Science Magazine.

Natalia Shulga coordinates the “Science and Society” program initiative at the Aspen Institute Kyiv. Various events held within the framework of this initiative promote the exchange of ideas for a positive impact on society.

The role of science in the country’s economic development

Natalia Shulga believes that Ukraine lagging behind in the years after independence is related to the need for more development in education and science. Therefore, the scientists that emphasize the importance of improvement of education and science based on the best global practices become a top priority for the country’s leaders after the victory. One of the tools for achieving this result can be international cooperation.

“After the start of the full-scale invasion, 15% of research infrastructure was destroyed. Therefore, interaction with the scientific ‘Ukrainian diaspora’ will be significant for the next 10 years. The involvement of foreign scientists in joint research and the construction of scientific infrastructure can play a key role in accelerating the construction of modern research laboratories and centers in Ukraine. Ideally, a new financing system must be created to attract the best scientists and personnel to develop education in Ukraine. To achieve this, maximum use of international cooperation is needed.”

Ways to improve Ukrainian scientific research

According to Natalia Shulga, one of the tools to improve the scientific field could be consolidating the state’s higher education network, which operates according to a decentralized management model. Under such a model, each administrative region has at least one traditional state and one state technical research university.

“This approach would be facilitated by regional hybrid financial mechanisms that involve state budget funds and local businesses in partnership. National academies, in turn, could maintain their status as non-profit professional organizations, focusing on scientific publications and providing high-level expertise to public and private organizations. Another strategy would be to create institutions focusing on fundamental research and supporting applied research and production. Here, the government could be guided by the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the so-called Frascati Manual) on the construction, financing, and monitoring of complex research and development programs,” says Natalia Shulga.

You can read a full article here: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/science.adg5733.pdf?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=science-and-society-aaron-f-mertz&utm_content=S%26S+Postware+Ukraine