The resolution adopted by the Council notes the importance of practical work to integrate science and education and to support university science. It states that the state authorities and the business community should work together with education professionals to formulate modern curriculum demands for general, professional and higher education and, in accordance with these demands, should take the necessary steps to ensure a move away from dogmatic schemes and interpretations still found in teaching that do not reflect modern reality and do not conform to the modern demands of Russian society.
The Council will present to the President an analytical report on the situation regarding young scientists and measures to involve them more actively in science and teaching work in Russia. The proposal has also been made to hold a detailed discussion at one of the Council’s meetings on the results achieved by modernisation of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other academic institutions, including with regard to the areas outlined in the President’s annual address, namely the energy sector, space, aircraft building, modern communications and nanotechnology.
In order to boost Russia’s potential as a major exporter of intellectual services, the Council said it is necessary to create the conditions for giving Russian researchers broad access to the world’s information resources while at the same time making Russia’s own scientific, education and technological achievements open to the world and to a fruitful and free exchange of ideas.
The Council also examined the nominations for the Russian Federation State prize in Science and Technology for 2005.
Several dozen works in the areas of physics, medicine and biology, chemistry, economics, technology, history, philology and philosophy were nominated for the State Prize but only works that had received two positive expert reports were selected. The expert assessment was carried out by leading organisations fitting the relevant profile and by individual experts who are specialists in specific branches of science.
Candidates who received at least two thirds of the Council members’ votes in a secret ballot will be recommended to the President to be awarded the State Prize in Science and Technology for 2005. The prize winners will be named by Presidential Decree. An awards ceremony will take place on Russia Day at the Kremlin on June 12, 2006.
The Russian Federation State Prize in Science and Technology is awarded to Russian citizens for outstanding work, discoveries and achievements that have contributed to Russian and world science and have had a significant impact on scientific and technological progress. Each prize winner receives five million roubles (around $190,000).