UNAM scientists ask Creel for an open parliament to discuss the Science Act initiative

Members of the technical councils for humanities and scientific research affiliated to UNAM The request of the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Santiago Creel Open for public hearings to discuss the draft decree initiative Common Law for the Humanities, Technologies and Innovation To exchange ideas about the initiative in the committees

argument, in the letter to Creel Miranda Is that there are concerns among the academic community regarding humanities, science, technology and innovation policy. Points of interest include:

1. It restricts the freedom of research by setting aside the basic sciences and opening up new fields of knowledge.

2. It contradicts the existing legal framework that refers to the intellectual property of scientific and technological developments.

3. Generates disadvantages for students (according to their major) in the allocation criteria for awarding scholarships.

4. Do not set specific and disparate standards and policies for the development of human sciences, technology and innovation.

5. They do not make budgetary measures in accordance with our political constitution.

“We demand a broad participation exercise with the people and institutions to whom the initiative is directed so that a proposal can be built that reflects on the needs and characteristics that our country requires in terms of science and technology,” they signed. More than 110 board members and board guests.

They warn that the science bill slows down the training of scientists and encourages a brain drain

Mexican students in the UK have been warned initiative Common Law for the Humanities, Technologies and Innovationmakes it difficult to integrate a new generation of researchers So they urged a community colleagues Young researchers are integrated into the consultation processes to reform the above Law; In addition, they alerted this proposal from Law It is particularly harmful to development and viability Scientific talent youth in Mexico.

the students He asked legislators to consider the study conditions and long-term prospects of young people in training and to take into account that the current debate is alienating a large number of students from scientific career.

The uncertainty created by the current debate also comes at a cost. without the participation of trainees Consit and researchersresearchersit is not possible to consider discussing the current proposal for LawNot to mention seeking their approval Legislature. Faced with this situation, it is necessary to approach universities. Think young.”

They warned in a statement that “our society is convinced that science, technology And innovation, as well as the promotion of higher education, are central and irreplaceable tools for the development of our country.

The Mexican Students Association UK gave four examples:

The first is to reduce the funds allocated by the government to Sciencestechnology and innovation. The budget cut was very serious and leaves Mexico far behind other countries. Likewise, it reduces employment opportunities and creates an increasing inability to generate Scientific knowledge that solve national problems.

He noted that for reference, the number of Scholarships Grant has declined critically and steadily in recent years. For example, for the period from 2018 to 2021, Scholarships For postgraduate studies abroad, the key to the transfer of scientific and technological skills, it has been reduced by about 50%.

In addition to scheduling amounts Scholarships to the foreigner who is granted Consit Not only has it not been updated since 2013, but it went down in the last call, which completely ignores the high cost of living and makes the scientific work of young researchers/interns very risky,” the community criticized.

The second problem, the student community reported, is the successive changes in the Scholars National System (SNI) regulations, which are delaying the career path of researchers It generates uncertainty about the continuity of support that accompanies academic variances by adjusting them to annual budget negotiations.

A third example is the increasing difficulty for students from private higher education institutions to participate in Scholarships postgraduate studies, and researchers affiliated with these institutions are excluded from participation in SNI support schemes.

It is also intended to bring this into law, which would generate an exclusive regime. It is unacceptable that young people researchers/ In private higher education institutions do not have the right to receive Scholarship SNI, which is the main catalyst for research in Mexico.”

The fourth example is the reduction of chairs and their possible disappearance CONACYT To integrate young doctors with high potentials and talents into ongoing projects in public institutions in priority areas. This eliminates the way and opportunity to establish employment after many years of training. Despite the disintegration in the development programs Professional scientific In Mexico, obviously, the presidents were abolished CONACYT (instead of reforming and strengthening it) deepening the fragility of the young Mexican scientist.