The “Reci NE” petition

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

On March 10, 2011, as a result of political infighting, the Serbian Government dissolved its Ministry of Science, and in so doing cut the principle mechanism that has been funding science in the country since 1945. This was done within a reconstruction of the Government conducted as a cost-cutting exercise. The measures enacted resulted from a political quid pro quo between different parties making up the governing coalition.

Rather than creating a more efficient administration the measures increased inefficiency. By targeting Serbia’s research and technological development sector, arguably the country’s best performing and internationally most competitive sector, the measures have a important negative potential for Serbia’s long term development. The first victim of this political “friendly fire” is the ambitious National Strategy for Technological Development.

A group of young researchers organized an active campaign over the Internet explicitly opposing this decision. Within a month more than 5500 people signed their on-line petition (http://www.ministarstvonauke.com) and many more took an active part through their group on Facebook. The majority of the petition’s signatories ere active scientists, representing close to 50% of the total number of researchers in the country.

The petition resulted in pronounced media visibility and represented a marked success in activation of the general public to the problems and status of science and high technology in Serbia. The following is a brief and incomplete press clipping in both print and electronic media:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=luwLpMXkL5s