Scientists take to the streets to protest "contempt" for R & D - The Bird

Hundreds of scientists

in Madrid yesterday joined the march proposed by the group ‘Charter for science’ to produce a manifesto in the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, along with about 40,000 signatures of support, which urges the Government to “not give back” to the sector. The march began at the Center for Scientific Research (CSIC), in which hall was previously read the document prepared by this group. Later, they marched down Paseo de la Castellana up to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, around 14.00.

According to the estimate of the organizers, the turnout was about 5,000 people. However, they said that number of unions stands at about 10,000 attendees, while police estimated about 2,300 protesters.

The goal of the participants was to deliver the manifest or to the Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, or to the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, but ultimately it was not possible. “The official version is that the minister is on an international act and Secretary of State had a ceremony with the presence of the royal family, which reflects the importance given to the investigation,” he told Europa Press spokesman platform Federation of Young Researchers (FJI), José Manuel Fernández.

In the letter written by the group highlighted the request of “coherence” to the executive in human resource policy to attract and retain talent in Spain. Also calls for the elimination of the restriction of 10% replacement of public employment across the sector of R & D investments to fulfill the commitment of 2% of GDP in 2013-2016, maintaining an investment public in basic science, the implementation of 100% of the approved budget for R & D, transfer of funds to schools and groups with approved projects and the creation of the State Agency of Investigation, among others.

Similarly

remember that since 2009 has reduced the sector’s budget by more than 40%, “plus the reduction in regional budgets, plus the fall in private investment,” recalled the confederal secretary R & D + i of CCOO, Salce Elvira, at a press conference this week.

Success

call

spokesman ‘Digna Research’, Amaya Moro-Martin, described as “successful” the call, noting that “the scientific community has realized that this does not count down”. “These cuts and decisions can have disastrous consequences for the scientific community and irreparable damage to society,” he said.

In the same vein, CCOO Education notes that “no development” without science and research, so that demands an end to “aggression” against the university, science and research, investment policies claimed “that the least brought up to Spain in the European Union average. “

Madrid

addition, demonstrations were also held in other parts of Spain such as Barcelona, ??Granada, Murcia, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santiago de Compostela, Seville and Valencia.