01:47Ukraine: Scientists picket Verkhovna Rada over lack of funding
Hundreds of Ukrainian scientists and researchers rallied outside the Verkhovna Rada in Kiev, Tuesday, to protest against the lack of funding provided by the government and to demand the implementation of the law on 'science and scientific-technical activities,' adopted at the end of 2015. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko joined the protest.
Speaking to the protesting scientists, Tymoshenko said: "When science comes to the square this is the last edge. This is when all is almost impossible to tolerate. Because all the other times science is the main driving force of social progress, is you. And if you are here it means that society stopped or is regressing."
Reportedly, government funding for science and scientific activities should be set at 1.7 percent of the country's GDP, however just 0.2 percent was included in the operating budget for 2016. Because of this, the protesters argue that it is impossible to provide salaries for young scientists and research programmes have had to be halted until more funding is provided.
01:47Hundreds of Ukrainian scientists and researchers rallied outside the Verkhovna Rada in Kiev, Tuesday, to protest against the lack of funding provided by the government and to demand the implementation of the law on 'science and scientific-technical activities,' adopted at the end of 2015. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko joined the protest.
Speaking to the protesting scientists, Tymoshenko said: "When science comes to the square this is the last edge. This is when all is almost impossible to tolerate. Because all the other times science is the main driving force of social progress, is you. And if you are here it means that society stopped or is regressing."
Reportedly, government funding for science and scientific activities should be set at 1.7 percent of the country's GDP, however just 0.2 percent was included in the operating budget for 2016. Because of this, the protesters argue that it is impossible to provide salaries for young scientists and research programmes have had to be halted until more funding is provided.