To: Minister of Science Mr. Mathan VILNAI
Copy: Deputy Minister of Immigration Absorption Mr. Yuly EDELSTEIN
From: Freddy ROMM, D.Sc.,
Leonid SHAPOVALOV, D.Sc.
Michael IOLOVICH, D.Sc.
Re: Discrimination of Russian-speaking scientists working in private companies
Dear Minister Vilnai,
We, undersigned, are writing to you with purpose to attract your attention to the problem of the discrimination of Russian-speaking repatriate scientists contributing the fundamental science while they get job in private research companies.
It is well known that Russian-speaking repatriate scientists are discriminated in offering job by governmental institutes in Israel. E.g., the number of Russian-speaking repatriates having 3rd degree in chemistry is more 600, while their presentation in academic positions in Israeli universities, colleges and governmental research institutes is negligible. This fact is not related to their qualification: even owners of 2nd-3rd degrees obtained in Technion-IIT or other Israeli universities cannot get academic positions and sometimes have no alternative to emigration from Israel.
Let us note also that the number of elite papers published by Russian-speaking researchers (per one person) is much more than the same result for their colleagues-native Israelis: for example, three authors of this letter published in last 5 years about 50 academic papers and got 1 international award, that is much better than found by Internet for chemical divisions in Israeli universities.
Aiming to soften the situation, some years ago the Israeli government authorized the program “Kamea”. Although, in the real practice, Kamea fellowship is just a primitive continuation of the repatriate scientists integration program. Though about 10% of vacancies “Kamea” were initially intended for eminent repatriate researchers, they are not available to scientists working in private companies.
We find the above-described situation untolerable and needing the urgent intervention of the Israeli government. As the first step to the improvement of the situation, we suggest to offer existing vacancies in Kamea program also to repatriate scientists working in private companies and accomplishing fundamental research with publication of novel scientific results in elite journals / books in Israel and abroad.
The list of our publications in academic sources will be provided if requested.
Sincerely,
F.Romm, D.Sc.
AMSIL Ltd., POB 73, Migdal Emek, 10550 Israel, 051-989411
L.Shapovalov, D.Sc.
CHEMONOL Ltd., POB 73, Migdal Emek, 10550 Israel, 04-6042174
M.Iolovich, D.Sc.
RADAMATE Ltd., POB 73, Migdal Emek, 10550 Israel, 04-6443488