1
Focus questions on topics ranging from any area of science to philosophy. Academics who continue to earn recognition are bestowed the title of professor, an honor awarded by Poland's president. Stojek, a university professor since 1991, was named a titled professor this year. Doctors of habilitation and university professors often lead laboratories of scien- tists, which include the U.S. equivalent of assistant and associate professors plus graduate students. Many scientists stay in one laboratory and university for most of their careers (2). Money, money, money Talk to any Polish academic long enough, and the conversation will invariably come around to money. Poland has moved quickly to a market economy and, al- though there are signs that the strategy is working, the price has been severe cuts in government support. In 1980, govern- ment research funding amounted to 1.6% of the gross domestic product; this year's budget comes to only 0.54%. In addition, academic salaries through- out Poland are notoriously low, says Stojek. Many graduate students and even faculty members hold down second posi- tions or tutor to supplement their sala- ries. Stojek and other professors pay their Ph.D. students as much as an extra 50% to keep them focused on research. His funding must also pay for laboratory space, telephones, paper and other neces- sities, and research supplies. To distribute these limited funds effec- tively, in 1991 the Polish government es- tablished the state committee for scientific research (Komitet Badah Naukowych, KBN) (3). One of KBN's first duties was to grade research departments throughout Poland on an "A" through "D" basis using the total citation index numbers. Depart- ments judged "A" receive the largest fund- ing; "D" departments receive nothing. The University of Warsaw's chemistry de- partment received an "A+" grade a dis- tinctionffivento only o ti e other chemistry institution belonging to the Polish Acad- emy of Sciences in Warsaw Within the University of Warsaw chem- istry department, the research funds com- ing directly from KBN are distributed among laboratories in proportion to their "scientific standing" as determined by their total publication impact factor. (In addition, pay increases for laboratory heads are a function of their scientific out- put and the quality of teaching of the members of their laboratory.) Despite the "At-" rating, funding is low— especially for a department with world-class ambitions. "In terms of papers, the univer- sity ranks with the recognized universities of the world, but in terms of money coming in, we are far below," says Stojek. .From a very good paper I would like to write an ex- cellent paper for example, an accelerated article in Analytical Chemistry. I can nse these papers are not cheap papers in terms of money spent You need some extra tech- nical innovation. You need some extra sup- port" There are expensive, state-of-the-art in- struments in Poland, says Stojek. Instru- ments are also accessible in western labo- ratories. However, Stojek adds, "The most important thing is what is in your own lab, not just what you can get from a two-hour examination in another labora- tory. I know that to produce reliable data, you need to spend a lot of time to learn the technique." The funding problems also affect teach- ing. University education is free in Poland, yet the funding is inadequate, say War- saw chemists. For example, Hulanicki says that most of the Polish-language ana- lytical textbooks are now 15 years o ld. For the 70 students in his third-year analyti- cal lecture, he uses primarily photocopied materials; that way Hulanicki can dis- cuss contemporary topics such as process analysis, enzyme applications, and con- tinuous flow. Because government funding for edu- cation is limited, departments cannot af- ford to provide high-quality education to all those wishing to study, say the Polish chemists. Therefore, some departments have opened paid "evening" classes, and these "evening" students have the right to attend regular classes. The chemistry de- partment has not done this yet However, Stojek says that as of three years ago the numbers of chemistry students began ris- ing significantly. The department ac- cepted 200 freshmen last year and from a student body of more than 41000 chem- istry can now claim 548 students Some much-needed support is now coming from the European Union (EU), which has funded a number of east-west research initiatives. One key program is TEMPUS, a cooperative program for higher education between the EU and eastern Europe that began in 1990 and Saving a tradition For 40 years, Chemia Analityczna was one of only two analytical chemistry journals in eastern Europe. Published by the Polish Academy of Sciences Committee on Analytical Chemistry, the journal contained articles written primarily in Polish. For many analyti- cal chemists in communist countries, the journal was a lifeline. Adam Hulan- icki the current editor-in-chief re- calls meeting an analytical chemist from the People's Republic of China who learned Polish because Chemia Analityczna the only analytical journal he received With the collapse of communism, many of its former readers can no longer afford the subscription charge. The editors of Chemia Analityczna hope to make up the shortfall with a new readership. Since 1992, all the arti- cles have been published in En- glish with Polish summaries. The journal appears bimonthly and is refereed with an estimated 30% rejection rate. Al- though many of the articles still come from Poland there are submissions from around the world including the United States. There are emotional ties to the jour- nal, says Hulanicki. For years it was the source from which Polish scientists learned about peer review. "It's a step- ping stone to publishing in western journals," he says. Hulanicki is actively pursuing western subscribers. For more information, contact Hulanicki at [email protected]. 424 A Analytical Chemistry News & Features, July 1, 1996

Facing the Future with Optimism: Saving a Tradition

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questions on topics ranging from any area of science to philosophy. Academics who continue to earn recognition are bestowed the title of professor, an honor awarded by Poland's president. Stojek, a university professor since 1991, was named a titled professor this year.

Doctors of habilitation and university professors often lead laboratories of scien­tists, which include the U.S. equivalent of assistant and associate professors plus graduate students. Many scientists stay in one laboratory and university for most of their careers (2).

Money, money, money Talk to any Polish academic long enough, and the conversation will invariably come around to money. Poland has moved quickly to a market economy and, al­though there are signs that the strategy is working, the price has been severe cuts in government support. In 1980, govern­ment research funding amounted to 1.6% of the gross domestic product; this year's budget comes to only 0.54%.

In addition, academic salaries through­out Poland are notoriously low, says Stojek. Many graduate students and even faculty members hold down second posi­tions or tutor to supplement their sala­

ries. Stojek and other professors pay their Ph.D. students as much as an extra 50% to keep them focused on research. His funding must also pay for laboratory space, telephones, paper and other neces­sities, and research supplies.

To distribute these limited funds effec­tively, in 1991 the Polish government es­tablished the state committee for scientific research (Komitet Badah Naukowych, KBN) (3). One of KBN's first duties was to grade research departments throughout Poland on an "A" through "D" basis using the total citation index numbers. Depart­ments judged "A" receive the largest fund­ing; "D" departments receive nothing. The University of Warsaw's chemistry de­partment received an "A+" grade a dis-tinction ffiven to only otie other chemistry institution belonging to the Polish Acad­emy of Sciences in Warsaw

Within the University of Warsaw chem­istry department, the research funds com­ing directly from KBN are distributed among laboratories in proportion to their "scientific standing" as determined by their total publication impact factor. (In addition, pay increases for laboratory heads are a function of their scientific out­put and the quality of teaching of the members of their laboratory.)

Despite the "At-" rating, funding is low— especially for a department with world-class ambitions. "In terms of papers, the univer­sity ranks with the recognized universities of the world, but in terms of money coming in, we are far below," says Stojek. .From a very good paper I would like to write an ex­cellent paper for example, an accelerated article in Analytical Chemistry. I can nse these papers are not cheap papers in terms of money spent You need some extra tech­nical innovation. You need some extra sup­port"

There are expensive, state-of-the-art in­struments in Poland, says Stojek. Instru­ments are also accessible in western labo­ratories. However, Stojek adds, "The most important thing is what is in your own lab, not just what you can get from a two-hour examination in another labora­tory. I know that to produce reliable data, you need to spend a lot of time to learn the technique."

The funding problems also affect teach­ing. University education is free in Poland, yet the funding is inadequate, say War­saw chemists. For example, Hulanicki says that most of the Polish-language ana­lytical textbooks are now 15 years old. For the 70 students in his third-year analyti­cal lecture, he uses primarily photocopied materials; that way Hulanicki can dis­cuss contemporary topics such as process analysis, enzyme applications, and con­tinuous flow.

Because government funding for edu­cation is limited, departments cannot af­ford to provide high-quality education to all those wishing to study, say the Polish chemists. Therefore, some departments have opened paid "evening" classes, and these "evening" students have the right to attend regular classes. The chemistry de­partment has not done this yet However, Stojek says that as of three years ago the numbers of chemistry students began ris­ing significantly. The department ac­cepted 200 freshmen last year and from a student body of more than 41000 chem­istry can now claim 548 students

Some much-needed support is now coming from the European Union (EU), which has funded a number of east-west research initiatives. One key program is TEMPUS, a cooperative program for higher education between the EU and eastern Europe that began in 1990 and

Saving a tradition For 40 years, Chemia Analityczna was one of only two analytical chemistry journals in eastern Europe. Published by the Polish Academy of Sciences Committee on Analytical Chemistry, the journal contained articles written primarily in Polish. For many analyti­cal chemists in communist countries, the journal was a lifeline. Adam Hulan­icki the current editor-in-chief re­calls meeting an analytical chemist from the People's Republic of China who learned Polish because Chemia Analityczna the only analytical journal he received

With the collapse of communism, many of its former readers can no longer afford the subscription charge. The editors of Chemia Analityczna hope to make up the shortfall with a new readership. Since 1992, all the arti­

cles have been published in En­glish with Polish summaries. The journal appears bimonthly and is refereed with an estimated 30% rejection rate. Al­

though many of the articles still come from Poland there are submissions from around the world including the United States.

There are emotional ties to the jour­nal, says Hulanicki. For years it was the source from which Polish scientists learned about peer review. "It's a step­ping stone to publishing in western journals," he says. Hulanicki is actively pursuing western subscribers. For more information, contact Hulanicki at [email protected].

424 A Analytical Chemistry News & Features, July 1, 1996