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Announcement by the SAS Presidium regarding a challenge

30. 5. 2016 | 1335 visits
Announcement by the SAS Presidium regarding a challenge from participants of the 15th session of the Slovak Historical Society at the SAS, "The humanities and social sciences in today's world", from 11 May 2016

This is a challenge especially to the general public, urgently drawing its attention to the significance of the social sciences and humanities in finding solutions to the problems of the world today. The mission of such sciences is precisely an analysis and understanding of this very complex situation for humanity as well as the development of ideas for its possible resolution.

The Presidium of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) fully understands the concerns of historians about the state of the world today and agrees with the opinion that no scientific progress can be made without support from society, including financial. The Presidium of the SAS continually strives for such support, not excluding the social sciences and humanities, since it respects their character and particularities. At the same time, it also continues in its endeavours to enhance the contribution and outcomes of these sciences.

The SAS is organizing a "round table", to be led by the Third Department of the SAS, regarding the status and roles of the social sciences and humanities at present.

In addition, this challenge is aimed at those who make decisions about the management and financing of science. In this connection, the Presidium of the SAS states that its acts are fully in accordance with the principles on budget allocation approved by the Assembly of the SAS with regard to institutional funds. It equally acts in accordance with the approved rules and principles when allocating grants, whether in terms of the VEGA Grant Agency or such other financing schemes as the SASPRO/Marie Curie COFUND Scheme and the Štefan Schwarz Supporting Fund. In all these schemes, social science and humanities disciplines are represented adequately and proportionally in accord with their activities and projects. Taking into account all these facts, the opinion of the current Presidium of the SAS on discrimination against the social sciences and humanities is that it is not in accordance with its policy.

Bratislava, 30 May 2016.