Hungary’s Academy of Sciences ignores Nobel laureate’s criticism of government campaign against science

Ferenc Krausz says he resigned from Hungary’s Corvin Chain Board because its actual role had drifted far from what a body of such standing should contribute to public, scientific and moral questions. The Nobel Prize-winning physicist also criticized the Hungarian Academy of Sciences for remaining silent about what he described as the government’s campaign against the scientific community.

In comments to Telex, Krausz said he had reached his decision after observing the board’s operation in recent times. “For me, one painful but only single example of this is the case of the Élvonal Foundation,” he said.

According to information cited by the publication, Krausz was particularly dissatisfied that the board did not support him when he sought a statement condemning a severe Russian attack on a children’s hospital in Ukraine. He also said the new government had not consulted him and that he learned about developments through social media.

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For me, one painful but only single example of this is the case of the Élvonal Foundation.

Krausz had written to Péter Magyar in an open letter in May: “I want to live to see Hungary become a country where people openly dare to say, on any issue, if they support someone or something, and where the Nobel laureates of the present and future do not leave, but come home.”

Magyar announced that his government would make ending the contract with the Élvonal Foundation, led by Krausz, one of its first measures. The agreement was worth 261.7 billion forints, and the government plans to reclaim 22.4 billion forints already paid. The foundation had intended to build internationally competitive research conditions for at least 25 internationally recognized researchers and about 50 exceptionally talented young scientists, while creating a nationwide talent-development system. Its trustees responded by seeking dialogue and stressing that nurturing talent served Hungary’s national and social interests.

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I want to live to see Hungary become a country where people openly dare to say, on any issue, if they support someone or something, and where the Nobel laureates of the present and future do not leave, but come home.