Can the old-european tradition be dangerous? Petrification of the science system in Poland: a lesson for the future

Can the old-european tradition be dangerous? Petrification of the science system in Poland: a lesson for the future Karol Grela Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44/52, P.O. Box 58, 01-224, Warsaw, Poland http://zinc.icho.edu.pl/

A letter Dear Dr. Grela, I would like to ask you to present a lecture on your view on the current situation and the future of science in Europe with a particular emphasis on chemistry. I consider it particularly important to learn how young scientists from different parts of Europe think about our common future. Prof. Dr. H.-G. Schmaltz

Doing research D in Europe?... An interesting alternative! o i n g r e Steven P. Nolan Department of Chemistry University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA 70148 U.S.A. Steven P. Nolan Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) 43007 Tarragona, Spain E.U.

We are highly motivated... Motivation We are a team of highly motivated young chemists trying to make a difference. We believe that Germany and Europe need a change in mentality: AUFBRUCHSTIMMUNG and OPTIMISM! Let's go for it! Prof. Dr. Frank Glorius (year of birth: 1972) Professor at the University of Marburg http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb15/ag-glorius/ 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 4

Andreas Kirschning University of Hannover Institute of Organic Chemistry Schneiderberg 1b, 30167 Hannover Biography 1986 Diploma thesis (Prof. Dr. E. Schaumann, University of Hamburg) 1989 Ph.D. thesis (Prof. Dr. E. Schaumann, University of Hamburg) on synthetic organo-silica chemistry 1989-90 Post-doctoral fellowship with Prof. H. G. Floss (University of Washington, Seattle, USA): Biosynthetic studies on macrolactam antibiotics 1991-96 Habilitation (Technical University of Clausthal): Synthetic and biosynthetic studies on desoxyglycoconjugates 2000 Professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Hannover 2001 Director at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Hannover 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 5

Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224, Warsaw, Poland Biography 1979 Ph.D. at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences 1981 Post-doc in the USA 1990 Habilitation at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences 1999 Full Professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences 2005 Director at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 6

Frank Glorius (Year of birth: 1972) Philipps-Universität Marburg Fachbereich Chemie Hans-Meerwein-Straße 35032 Marburg, Germany Biography 1997 Diploma thesis with Prof. A. Pfaltz and Prof. H. M. R. Hoffmann, Max-Planck- Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim/Ruhr and the University of Hannover 2000 PhD thesis with Prof. A. Pfaltz, University of Basel and Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim/Ruhr. 2001 Postdoctoral studies with Prof. D. A. Evans, Harvard University. since 2001 Work towards the Habilitation at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung and the University of Dortmund (Mentor: Prof. A Fürstner) 2005 Professor (C3) at Philipps-Universität Marburg 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 7

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography 1977 1985 Basic school (8 years) 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 8

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography 1977 1985 Basic school (8 years) 31.08.1983 - Warszawa, Marszalkowska str. 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 9

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography 1977 1985 Basic school (8 years) 1985 1990 Dipl. Technician.: High Technical School (Technikum), Warsaw, Poland Specialization: Analytical Chemistry. Abitur : 1990 practices: 2 practices abroad: 0 1988, 1989 The prize of XXXIV and XXXV Chemical Contest (National level) 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 10

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography 1977 1985 Basic school (8 years) 1985 1990 Dipl. Technician.: High Technical School (Technikum), Warsaw, Poland Specialization: Analytical Chemistry. Abitur : 1990 1990 1994 M. Sc., Eng.: Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika), Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw, Poland. Thesis: "Synthesis and Electron Impact Mass Spectra of Tertiary C-Nitrosonitriles" under the supervision of Dr. Marek Włostowski: 1994 1994 1998 Ph. D.: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. Thesis entitled "Preparation of Active Metals and Organometallic Reactions in Liquid Ammonia" under the supervision of Prof. Mieczysław Mąkosza: 1998 practices abroad: 1 (Bayer R&D, Wuppertal, 2 months) publications: 6 conferences in Poland: 3 conferences abroad: 0 1998 1999 Foundation for Polish Science, Domestic Fellowship for Young Scholars '98 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 12

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography 1977 1985 Basic school (8 years) 1985 1990 Dipl. Technician.: High Technical School (Technikum), Warsaw, Poland Specialization: Analytical Chemistry. Abitur : 1990 1990 1994 M. Sc., Eng.: Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika), Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw, Poland. Thesis: "Synthesis and Electron Impact Mass Spectra of Tertiary C-Nitrosonitriles" under the supervision of Dr. Marek Włostowski: 1994 1994 1998 Ph. D.: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. Thesis entitled "Preparation of Active Metals and Organometallic Reactions in Liquid Ammonia" under the supervision of Prof. Mieczysław Mąkosza: 1998 1999 2000 Post-doc at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (Prof. A. Fürstner). Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 13

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography [...] 2000 2003 Habilitation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. Thesis entitled Preparation of New Catalysts and Extending the Scope of Alkene and Alkyne Metathesis : 2003 So-called Fast track at Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences [3-5 years of duration, PhD allowed, no slave duties] Funds: IOC PAS (research money, co-workers) Alexander von Humbold Foundation VolkswagenStiftung joint grant Industry (Boehringer-Ingelheim GmbH, LigandChemie GmbH) State Committee of Scientific Research, Poland 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 14

Karol Grela (Year of birth: 1970) Biography [...] since 2003: Dozent (senior researcher and group leader) at Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland Research group (2003-2006): 3 PhD students (2 positions) 1 post-doc (industrial projects) 4-6 students or short-term visitors/year PhD students: 2,5-4 years; 5-11 papers, 5-10 conference communications (incl. oral presentations and lectures in Roche, Degussa), 1 sabbatical (Marie-Curie, VolkswagenStiftung or DFG- PAS; 1-3 months) Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. Mobility Awards from the ilab initiative programme for attending conferences. Diploma and undergraduate students, short-term visitors: 1 month - 1 year; 0-2 papers, 1-3 conference communications (incl. oral presentations), 1 sabbatical (via University) Foundation for Gifted Pupils (visitors from schools) diploma students undergraduate students visitors from schools 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 15

The European Congress of Young Chemists YoungChem Flogiston / Warsaw University of Technology (2003-2006) last edition: Rydzyna castle, Poland, 12 16.X.2005 http://www.youngchem.com/ The YC 2005 conference fee was 150 euro (4 nightstands in two-bed rooms in a comfortable hotel, full meal, banquet, conference materials, integration-sightseeing trip, etc) 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 16

Dr. Grela: Invited lectures at Universities and R&D Departments (2003-2005) Abroad in Poland Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Germany, 2005 Universität Dortmund, Germany, 2005 Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland, 2005 (Polish Chemical Society invited lecture) University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany, 2005 Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, France, 2005 Technische Universität Clausthal, Germany, 2005 Université de Bourgogne, France, 2005 Université Bordeaux I, France, 2005 Université Rennes 1, France, 2005 CNRS Toulouse, France, 2005 Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH, Germany, 2005 ETH Hönggerberg, Switzerland, 2004 Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, 2004 Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, 2004 Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, 2003 University of Debrecen, Hungary, 2003 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 17

Building a research group in Poland habilitation required to become a group leader no PhD supervision allowed during habilitation many other duties (slave duties) mentor acts as inhibitor/competitor low salary/no special habilitation fellowship low research money (difficult to get a grant) habilitation (years): 5 - Reading: Once they have been promoted, the professors are no longer required to do any real research. Their titles are bestowed for life, and a head of department keeps that position until retirement. Cezary Wójcik, Eastern Europe: progress stifled by the old guard Nature, 427, 196 (2004) I was interested in returning to Slovakia to pursue my scientific career there. [...] I have realised that, unfortunately, there are no fellowships that would allow me to go back to Slovakia. Juraj Gregan, Eastern Europe nurtures talent for the West Nature, 421, 786 (2003) 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 18

Building a research group in Poland habilitation required to become a group leader no PhD supervision allowed during habilitation many other duties (slave duties) mentor acts as inhibitor/competitor low salary/no special habilitation fellowship low research money (difficult to get a grant) habilitation (years): 5 - Reading: Educated, hard-working scientists flee whenever possible, either by abandoning science altogether or by emigrating, usually to the United States Cezary Wójcik, Eastern Europe: progress stifled by the old guard Nature, 427, 196 (2004) Poland, like many of its neighbours, has too many scientists who aren't internationally competitive, and who cling to the certainties of the socialist era. Unfortunately, many of them sit in senior positions and intend to stay there, which sends genuine achievers to seek opportunities abroad. Too quiet on the Eastern front Nature 421, 459 (2003) 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 19

Building a research group in EU The resources to pursue an independent research career, including the development and building up of a research group are provided by, i.a.: European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs) in cooperation with the European Science Foundation (ESF) grants the European Young Investigator Award (EURYI) VolkswagenFoundation offers the Lichtenberg Professorship Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 20

Jörg S. Hartig, Lichtenberg-Professor for Chemistry of Biologically Functional Materials University of Konstanz Universitätsstr. 10 78457 Konstanz, Germany Biography 2000 Diploma Thesis with Prof. Dr. Michael Famulok, Kekulé-Institute University of Bonn, Germany 2003 PhD-Thesis with Prof. Dr. Michael Famulok, Kekulé-Institute, University of Bonn, Germany Grade: "summa cum laude" 2005 Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Eric T. Kool, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, USA 2006 Lichtenberg-Professor (as Junior-Professor) for Chemistry of Biologically Functional Materials Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Germany 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 21

Building a modern and independent research group in Poland A special programme, directed to young scientists and scholars from CEE with outstanding research records shall be created. The aim of such grant is to give them an opportunity to concentrate on high-level, innovative research work of their own choice, fully independently and virtually without any administrative constraints, and thus to promote the internationalisation of research in these countries. Such grant should allow the winners to finance their own working groups (incl. PhD students!) at selected university and non-university research institutions and to cover their living expenses. 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 22

Building a modern and independent research group in Poland FNP s HOMING Programme Support for the reintegration of researchers after their stay abroad and fostering cooperation with their former host institutions Duration: Two years with a possible extension to three years Amount: Ca. 50 000 PLN a year no funds for coworkers (only a stipend for the laureate) cooperation with the former host institution and the guarantee of pursuing scientific career FOCUS Programme: setting up new laboratories to support young scientists in obtaining independence, building a new research group and organizing laboratory in the selected disciplines. For PhD holders with 6 years of experience Age limit 37. Group leadership for no longer than 2 years disciplines are to be selected by Foundation every year. In 2006 this is mathematical modelling of biological processes. 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 23

The End...? 19.04.2006 Dr. Karol Grela 24