J. Pótó, M. Tolnai, P. Zilahy (eds.): Understanding the Hungarian Academy of Sciences : a guide

Ferenc Glatz: Introduction

INTRODUCTION The Hungarian Acadcmy of Sciences was founded not by imperial edict but by the will of 19th-century patriots. Thus it has been rightly regarded as a national institution throughout its 175-year history. In accordance with traditions, the Academy must continue to play an active part in the life of the state and the nation. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is unique among European scientific civil organisations insofar as: it is an organisation of national meritocracy and the public body of Hungarian researchers with academic qualification. Presently there are more than 9600 public body members who participate in the work of the more than one hundred special committees maintained by the Academy's scientific sections. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the organisation of a Hungarian-speaking elite of researchers. Similarly to the Hungarian academic qualification system, it is a two-level organisation. Researchers who have received their university qualification, or Ph.D., commonly recognised in the world, occupy the first level. The second level consists of those who meet the requirements of the Academy's own qualification system. They are the Doctors of the Academy and Academy members, or academicians, elected from among them. This qualification system requires that researchers with a Ph.D. who seek to obtain the title of Doctor of the Academy write a scientific dissertation. The respective sections of the Academy prepare a report on the candidates' previous research activity, appoint opponents to give an opinion of the dissertation, and give the candidate the opportunity to defend the dissertation in an open debate. At the end, the candidate may receive the Doctor of the Academy degree. There are about 2200 people with this degree today. The academicians then select the new members of the Academy, or academicians, from among the Doctors of the Academy. At first, members are granted corresponding membership, then, based on subsequent scientific achievement, they become ordinary members. The law stipulates that the Academy have 200 members under 70 years of age, but those over 70 also retain full membership. Accordingly, the corps of academicians numbers 304 members today. Doctors and members of the Academy receive regular financial support guaranteed by the Hungarian state. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is a civil organisation of meritocracy. Similarly to most civil organisations, the Academy, too, has its own assets. It was mostly self-supporting up to the post-war inflation in 1922. Between 1922 and 1949, it relied partly on its own resources and partly on state subsidy. In 1949, its assets were nationalised, and only a fraction was returned after 1990. Today, it is maintained mostly by state subsidy, while the income from its own activities and entrepreneurial activities linked to research, as well as fees and grants acquired from external sources, constitutes 22-25% of its budget. The basis of operation of the Academy as a civil organisation is the corporate spirit. Beside the President and the Secretary-General, the internal organisational reform assigns a greater role to the various leading organs, the Governing Board and the Presidium, in leadership. Publicity is a fundamental requirement in the operation of a civil organisation. The newsmagazine Akadémia, which provides information on Academy events and plans, was launched with this in mind in 1997. After a seven-year interruption, the Almanac was revised in December 1997. The Academy's Yearbook will document annual events. In addition to these, the Academy Bulletin, the official publication containing the Presidium's standpoints, the President's and SecretaryGeneral's decisions, will continue to appear as well. We see the Hungarian Academy of Sciences as serving a threefold function in Hungarian scientific and public life in the coming decades, namely: 7