Economic, security and social factors influence return of scientists, children to Ukraine - opinion
Economic, security and social factors influence the return of scientists and children to Ukraine, says Iryna Zhdanova, founder of the Klim Churyumov Science Lyceum/Boarding School and director of the Open Policy Foundation.
"What can stimulate children and scientists to return to Ukraine? This is the main question. I think there are three main factors: the security factor, the economic factor and the social factor," she said at a press conference on "How to bring scientists and children back to Ukraine?" at the Interfax-Ukraine press center on Friday.
She noted that the first two factors are directly influenced by the state of scientific developments in IT, engineering, physics, radiophysics, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, as well as the retention of personnel: young people, scientists, engineers, laboratory assistants, and middle-aged researchers.
By the social factor, Zhdanova means quality education and medicine, availability of housing and work.
Zhdanova emphasized that young scientists with engineering and mathematical education constitute Ukraine's strategic reserve.
"Even if we already have high-tech factories, equipment, some laboratories already have such equipment, including those that work for national defense, but all this equipment and technology need professional engineers, laboratory assistants and people with the appropriate education. Such specialists cannot be trained in a year or two," she added.
In addition, according to her, quality online education for Ukrainian children abroad is an important factor in maintaining ties with Ukraine and returning citizens to the country.