site.btaScientists Rally to Protest Government Underfunding

Scientists Rally to Protest Government Underfunding

Sofia, November 1 (BTA) - "There are just nine scientists under 25 years of age at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), 12 per cent of staffers are under 35 and the average age is over 50 years. We offer young scientists a starting salary of 450 leva while the average BAS salary is 200 leva lower than the national average whereas that at the Agricultural Academy is even lower," BAS Deputy Chairman Damyan Damyanov said during a protest rally held under the motto "Do We Want Science in Bulgaria?"

"A dignified income for a scientist would be 1,500 euro or 3,000 leva, to level the playing field in terms of at least the region, not Europe," Damyanov said, adding that a young scientist can be lured to stay and work in Bulgaria with a starting salary of 1,200-1,500 leva.

BAS will have a budget of 76-78 million leva in 2017, the official said, adding that 3 million leva have been provided for a new cyclotron and 1.5 million leva for a research vessel in the Black Sea alongside funding to keep the Rozhen observatory operational.

Damyanov said that 12 million leva are needed per year to bring the salaries of BAS staffers up to at least those of teachers. There is a five-year option that would put a more gradual strain on the state budget which calls for the provision of 26 million to 52 million leva.