How Can You Create While Standing at Attention?

Abstract

"Soviet science is the most progressive in the world." This slogan, which we have long been accustomed to, today grates on the ear. Glasnost' has winnowed the husks of self-delusion and it has become apparent that we are lagging far behind. What are the real avenues for restructuring Soviet science? This was the subject of a roundtable discussion conducted by the newspaper in the Far Eastern Department of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Participating were the following: I. Brekhman, doctor of medical sciences and professor, Pacific Oceanographic Institute; V. Vas'kovskii, doctor of biological sciences and chief research associate, Institute of Marine Biology; V. Glushchenko, corresponding member, USSR Academy of Sciences, and deputy chairman, Far Eastern Department, USSR Academy of Sciences; S. Govorushko, candidate of geographical sciences and laboratory head, Pacific Geographical Institute; Iu. Kashuk, poet; I. Kochubievskii, doctor of technical sciences and professor, Far Eastern State University and chairman, "Effect" Scientific Research Cooperative; A. Latkin, candidate of technical sciences and sector head, Institute of Economic and International Problems of Oceanic Development; S. Olenin, candidate of philosophical sciences and head, Department of Science and Educational Institutions, Primor'e Territorial Committee of the CPSU; and A. Chigirinskii, candidate of biological sciences and head research associate, Pacific Scientific Research Institute of the Fish Industry and Oceanography, USSR Ministry of the Fish Industry.