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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
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