To the Prime Minister and the Chair of Parliament
of Bulgaria
Gentlemen,
Some of our esteemed colleagues from Bulgaria have informed us of the
dreadful financial situation of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and
some of the leading Bulgarian Universities, in particular Sofia University.
During my entire scientific life, from the late sixties of the past
Century untill the present, there has been a steady flow of important
results in my field of science, theoretical physics, coming from
Bulgarian colleagues. Quite a number of them are internationally
respected and admired, and we have greatly profited from their insights.
However, they tell us that, under the present conditions, they will not
be able to motivate young people in Bulgaria to stay in science and
that, as a consequence, science will decline alarmingly in your country.
Mathematics and the Natural Sciences have played and will continue to
play an absolutely crucial role in the economic, social and cultural
development of a country. The discoveries of mathematicians, physicists,
chemists, life scientists and engineers have brought about the creation
of a tremendous amount of economic wealth, including a huge number of
jobs. There is every reason to expect that this will continue to be the
case in the future! One may argue that, in difficult times like the
present ones, emphasis should be placed on applied science and
engineering. However, as many great scientists have pointed out
repeatedly, and as one may argue on a large number of examples, there is
no sharp boundary between applied and fundamental science. Fundamental
science is the oxygen that keeps applied science alife and robust. Thus,
adequate funding of applied AND fundamental science is crucial in
maintaining a viable scientific community and infrastructure and thereby
helping economic development of a country like yours.
But Science has further tasks to fulfill, beyond fueling economic
growth. Arguing on the basis of knowledge, evidence and reason,
scientists are able to advise government bodies and parliamentary
committees on decisions of a technical nature of which there will be
ever more numerous ones. Through their teaching, they transmit knowledge
and scientific culture to the younger generation and teach it the power
of rational reasoning and clear thinking. In a time when sloppy thinking
and decision making on the basis of emotions instead of reason are
progressing more and more, the role of scientists in keeping rational
decision making alife and promoting scientific culture cannot be
overestimated.
Finally, good Science turns out to be entertaining and to inspire
enthusiasm and drive in the younger generation. A country that looses
the younger generation looses its future. Scientists will help more
efficiently and successfully to prevent this from happening than many
other players in our societies (such as, e.g., athletes, etc.)
In conclusion, I recommend in the strongest terms that you make sure
that the academic institutions in your country be supplied with adequate
funding and be held in the esteem they deserve! You will not regret
taking appropriate action in this direction.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Juerg Froehlich
Professor of Theoretical Physics
ETH Zurich, Switzerland