Analysis of the contingent of scientific workers shows the risk of low potential for intergenerational replacement of scientific personnel of the highest scientific qualifications. This is due to a decrease in the influx of young people into science over the past three years. Despite the fact that the total number of workers engaged in R&D has remained virtually unchanged (2020 – 22.6 thousand people, 2022 – 22.4 thousand people), the number of young scientists under the age of 35 this period decreased from 7.3 thousand to 6.6 thousand people.
Interview with Asiya Ermukhambetova, PhD in Chemical Engineering, University College London. Founder and Chairman of the Young Researchers Alliance.
- Now there is an assumption in society that the profession of a scientist is not considered prestigious among young people. Please tell us why you decided to go into science and what interests you had?
Every child is born an explorer. In my case, it all also began in childhood with my questions about the structure of the world, what certain things are made of, why certain natural phenomena occur. At first I found answers from my parents, then I turned to books and encyclopedias, and that’s how I became interested in chemistry. At school they gave me large encyclopedias on chemistry, I studied them from cover to cover, and experimented.
I didn’t come to science right away; after my bachelor’s degree, I managed to work in the field of technical regulation of the oil and gas industry in a subsidiary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At some point, I became involved in vocational training and decided to continue my studies under the Bolashak program. After completing a master's program at University College London, I wanted to work in an academic environment, where I could grow not only on the career ladder, but also professionally. In science you need to constantly search, understand, construct new knowledge, and learn new things.
We are inspired by the opportunities to collaborate with foreign scientists, undergo internships, and participate in international conferences. When you conduct research, you compare yourself with foreign colleagues and feel part of the international community.
It is impossible not to note the crisis in Kazakhstani science in Kazakhstan, which has been going on for decades, a crisis that has affected the profession, which has ceased to be popular among young people. In general, there has been a brain drain from science to other areas over a long period of time. The average age of an employee with an advanced degree is 57 years old and more than 15% of employees have reached retirement age. The situation is changing, perhaps not as quickly as we would like, but it still takes an average of 7 years or more to train one researcher.
Conditions are created for young scientists; there are opportunities not only to engage in research, but also to create their own scientific startups. There are already successful cases where scientists, after completing their training, conduct scientific research, create products and open their own companies.
Also, starting from 2020, scholarships for doctoral students are annually increased, separate competitions for young scientists are held, and grant funding for young scientists “Zhas Galym” is held. In general, over the past few years, funding for science has increased several times.
There is still a lot of work to be done to popularize science, so that more young people come to science and practice a scientific approach in their activities. In this regard, it is appropriate to involve media tools to popularize scientific activities.
- In your opinion, is it more difficult for a woman to make herself known as a scientist? Is there a gender stereotype regarding female scientists in our country?
In science, people are judged not by gender, but by achievement. On the other hand, there are indeed fewer women in natural and technical sciences; this situation is observed not only in Kazakhstan, but throughout the world. Therefore, to draw attention to this problem, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science has been celebrated by the UN since 2016.
Regarding the gender stereotype, I would cite the fact that despite the fact that in 2022 we have more than 54% of women involved in science, we have more educated women, but we do not have a single educational institution, scientific institute, scientific award named after our outstanding women scientists. For example, Nagima Aitkhozhina is the first woman president of the Kazakh Academy of Sciences, Nailya Bazanova is the first female academician in Central Asia, Patshayim Tazhibaeva is the first geologist in Central Asia who made a great contribution to the development of lithology. There are actually quite a few such names, but we do not see their names in the school curriculum; they are not as well known to the general public as their male colleagues.
- You are also the founder and chairman of the Young Researchers Alliance. Please tell us what is the goal of the organization?
For the past six years, we have been bringing together young scientists and holding events to popularize science. I am proud that today we have the largest organization, with 343 members, scientists from various scientific fields and disciplines. One of the Alliance’s tasks is to break stereotypes about scientists and promote scientific values. We also build a dialogue between scientists and interested parties, representing the interests of the scientific community at various platforms. Three of our members, me, Beibit Abdikenov and Dias Tastanbekov, became members of the National Council for Science and Technology under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Our members also actively participate in the Club of Young Experts at the Senate of the Parliament, in public councils, in working groups and expert commissions, thus having the opportunity to provide their recommendations and contribute to the development of society.
- In 2022, the salaries of scientists were doubled, and a mortgage program was introduced. In your opinion, what steps should the state take to support science and young scientists?
Mortgage programs began working in 2023, I agree that this is an excellent opportunity for scientists to purchase their first home. In general, in addition to these measures, the most important thing for any scientist is the scientific environment, which includes infrastructure and the opportunity to find like-minded people and create their own scientific teams and directions. In this regard, there is currently a lack of support for infrastructure upgrades.
- Tell me, in your opinion, what is needed in order to popularize science? How to ignite the hearts of young researchers?
Wide popularization of science is necessary not only for the influx of talented youth into science, but also for the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the scientific approach. The scientific approach and research skills are applicable and even necessary in everyday life, for example, when deciding on vaccination, choosing treatment, nutrition, and profession.
Currently, a significant arsenal of means for popularizing scientific knowledge has been accumulated: popular science literature, magazines and other popular press, television and radio broadcasts, films and a YouTube channel. But so far we still have little high-quality scientific content in the Kazakh media space.
Thanks for the interview!
Interviewed by Zauresh Zhangabyl, expert of the National Research Center “Youth”
Photo materials from the personal archive of Asiya Ermukhambetova
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this material are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official position of the Youth Research Center. In addition, the Center is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained in this material.