Basic Factors in the Organization of Science and How they are Handled in the U.S.S.R.

Abstract

It is explained how the development of sci'fic res in the USSR is org'ed, according to 3 main groups: (1) selection & training of sci'fic personnel; (2) choice of directions of sci'fic res appropriate to requirements of world sci & to the cultural & industr requirements of a given country; (3) provision of the necessary material resources for sci'fic res, such as res centers, an instrument-mfg industry, & information exchange. The main emphasis is on (1). The Moscow Physics & Technological Instit, established 25 yrs ago, trains sci'ts in various fields of physics & has a present enrollment of 3,000. Secondary Sch aims to provide its students with a certain quantity of knowledge according to a specific program. Selection is based on competitive exams. All training in special disciplines takes place at the foundational instit where the approach to each student is individual. The most gifted students may after graduation enter a still higher program for improving their skills in sci'fic res, known as internship. The selection of sci'fic res themes in the USSR is to a certain extent controlled by a centralized body of the sci'fic community, the Academy of Sci's. As in the US, approximately 3% of USSR gross nat'l income is allocated for sci'fic work. Allocation in the USSR is planned centrally. A method for the quantitative evaluation of sci'fic creativity is impossible to devise, but present efforts to study the processes of sci'fic creation & to evaluate specific sci'fic achievements may be very useful for the org of sci. M. Maxfield (Copyright 1974, Sociological Abstracts, Inc., all rights reserved.)