August 3 protest in front of SAV (source: TASR)
The transformation of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) was expected to make the lives of scientists easier. Instead, the institution is now struggling in a legal vacuum. To complete the transformation, it is necessary to register the academy on the list of public research institutions, administered by the Education Ministry. However, the ministry has refused to do so till now.
“SAV has submitted all documents necessary for the registration, plus some extra ones, to the Education Ministry,” its spokesperson Monika Hucáková told The Slovak Spectator.
The Education Ministry has responded that SAV is not telling the truth and that it is doing everything to complete the transformation process.
Scientists say that the current stalemate is hindering the proper operation of SAV’s institutes, while the president, politicians and even foreign scientific institutions are calling for speedy solutions to the current state.
Here is what the involved parties say:
