By Maneh Hakobyan

Lebanese-born Bedros Joulakian, a professor of Theoretical Physics at Université de Lorraine in France, is now in Yerevan on a working visit.

While there are many Armenians living in the diaspora that have reached lofty heights in the sciences, there are quite few who, while willing to cooperate with their counterparts in Armenia, have searched and found such possibilities.

Years ago Joulakian, working at the Laboratoire de Physique Moléculaire et des Collisions, Université de Metz (France), organized a scientific cooperation project with Dr. Artour Ishkhanyan, head of the Theoretical Physics Division of the RA Engineering Center at the Academy of Sciences (now a part of the Academy’s Institute for Physical Research).

The cooperation was productive, several scientific grants were received and a number of projects were completed that were written up in leading international physics journals.

Prof. Joulakian first visited Armenia in 2005, to participate in the Laser Physics conference organized by the Academy of Sciences. He and his colleague, Prof. Jocelyn Hanssen, had meetings with various Armenian officials and Academy colleagues. They also met with the scientific attaches of the French Embassy in Yerevan.

As a result, various scientific cooperation agreements were signed. One such agreement, signed by the RA Academy of Sciences, the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the University of Metz, dealt with the creation of a mechanism to prepare future scientists.

Prof. Joulakian visited Armenia for the second time last October. Again, it was to participate in the annual Laser Physics conference and to attend a thesis presentation by Hrayr Azizbekyan, another graduate student in the French-Armenian program. The professor also gave a seminar talk at the State Pedagogical Institute.

Dr. Edward Kokanyan, head of the Theoretical Physics and Physics Instructional Methodology Faculty, said that Joulakian’s research, while a known factor in Armenia, would have far reaching application in the future in the areas of plasma physics, astro-physics and bio-physics.

In addition to the presentation of scientific research, the seminar allowed for the coordination of educational and scientific approaches in France and Armenia. Joulakian talked about the system of preparing teachers at the University of Lorraine, the unique aspects of the operations of the scientific-research laboratories, the organization of scientific research and how one goes about obtaining funding for research. In each respect, the differences between France and Armenia are striking.

The apparent indifference shown by officials in Armenia regarding the sciences and the government’s stingy funding of the sector, both surprised and irritated Prof. Joulakian. Of note is that while he is a soft-spoken person when it comes to voicing his opinion on such issues, Prof. Joulakian took the time to jot down some of his thoughts on the matter on a Facebook page entitled “We demand increased financing of the sciences” that has been created in Armenia by a number of young scientists who have sounded the alarm about what they deem is the government’s subordination of the importance of the sciences.

Prof. Joulakian wrote that while some might view his opinions as presumptuous, coming from a diaspora-Armenian, and while he isn’t fully informed about the situation in Armenia, what he has read and heard prompts him to speak out on the matter and to add his voice to those in Armenia raising their concerns.

The professor writes:

-       How can I remain silent when my scientific colleagues in Armenia are heroically trying to maintain the professional level of the sciences, when no possibilities are afforded post-doctoral students to return, and when scientific researchers are joining the ranks of the unemployed.

-       Why aren’t researchers given adequate salaries so that they can devote their time and energy to scientific pursuits rather than worrying about material concerns?

-       I will not list all the hardships and issues in Armenia. I will leave that to those much better informed than I who will suggest solutions. I believe that the resources exist to overcome these problems in Armenia. What is lacking is the political willingness. Thus, we must spur such resolve in the ranks of those responsible.

The question remains – are the government and those in charge of the sciences prepared to listen to Prof Joulakian and the scientific public sector in Armenia?  Do they possess the willingness and desire to make the changes necessary to save Armenia from the intellectual disaster on the horizon?