31%
of Russians believe that science is too complicated for people who are untrained. They also believe that reading news on the world of science is pointless, as people will not understand regardless.
50%
of Russians believe that academics have less exciting lives than other people do.
‘Pay Attention to Reality’
On the eve of the new year we spoke to the head of the International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation, Dmitry Leontiev about why positive psychology does not solve problems but keeps them at bay, is uncertainty dangerous and why shouldn’t we battle with anxiety about the future.
Universities Fall into Decay Because of Opposition to Changes
Universities decline not only due to a lack of money, enrollment of weak students, lack of ties with professional communities, and brain drain. Conservatism of their administration, lecturers and scholars is also an obstacle to the life-saving ‘reset’ of universities, Isak Froumin, Academic Supervisor of the HSE Institute of Education, and Mikhail Lisyutkin, Junior Research Fellow at this Institute, say in their paper ‘The Phenomenon of Degrading Universities in Russia. Stating the Problem’.
471
The number of people who won and were awarded prizes in the International Youth Olympiad, which was held on December 26.
‘Maths Teaches Modesty above All’
This year winner of the respected Fields medal Andrey Okounkov became the new head of HSE’s International Laboratory of Representation Theory and Mathematical Physics. In an interview for the HSE News website, he talked about what is a good mathematical education, why mathematicians are more free than other academics and what to tell people who find figures difficult.
59%
of people holding doctoral and candidate of science degrees are theoretically willing to change jobs if offered the opportunity to take part in a large-scale project that is important for the country.
Scholars Explore New Approaches to Women’s History in Russia
This year, a group of Russian scholars, published Women's History in Russia: (Re)Establishing the Field, which through a series of essays explores Russian gender and women’s history. The book’s editor, Marianna Muravyeva, Associate Professor, St. Petersburg School of Social Sciences and Humanities recently spoke with the HSE news service about the book and the growing interest in women’s history among Russian scholars.
Leading Universities Will Recruit Foreign Students Together
On December 24th 2014, a meeting of the Council of the Association of Global Universities took place at HSE. The Council decided to establish a centre which will focus on recruiting foreign students for universities who are participants of the project 5/100.
28%
of Russians would be delighted at their daughters’ desire to become software developers. 40% would be happy if their sons pursued a similar career.
Deadline for abstract submission - November 15