Ivanets: All-round support for young scientists in Belarus

Youth policy is among Belarus’ priorities, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) Andrei Ivanets said at the international conference Youth in Science 2013 on 19 November, BelTA has learnt.

Two factors are crucial in the youth policy, Andrei Ivanets said. “The first one is a possibility for young people to fulfill their academic and creative potential, which necessitates the necessary conditions at workplace, adequate physical infrastructure, a possibility to attend international conferences, including those held outside Belarus, participation in meetings and training seminars,” Andrei Ivanets said.

He believes that a certain level of material comfort is also important for young scientists. This includes finances and accommodation and other everyday things.

“The first factor totally depends on employers and research supervisors who work directly with young scientists. If people choose to do science, it means they have reasons for it. Secondly, we need to improve the status of scientists in general and offer them the necessary material comfort so that young scientists would be able to focus on research,” Andrei Ivanets said. He noted that the government and the NASB Presidium are constantly working on it. They hold contests of innovative projects, offer prizes, scholarships and grants.

The international conference Youth in Science 2013 is taking place on 17-22 November. One of the organizers of the forum is the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The international conference is part of the events held within the framework of Belarus’ presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It is among the most important youth forums in 2013.

Young scientists discuss sustainable development in agribusiness; genetics, microbiology and biotechnology; preservation of biodiversity, environment; humanities and arts; topical issues of modern medicine; physics, mathematics and information technologies; engineering sciences; chemistry and Earth sciences. The focus will be made on applied projects and practical solutions.