[Taxacom] Fate of the Hungarian Natural History Museum

[Francisco Welter-Schultes]

The problems in Hungary are really serious and we have to dig quite deeply
in Europe's history to find something to compare with the the current
conditions.

The unfortunate situation is not in line with the significance of
Hungarian research activities in Europe. In malacology Hungary is one of
those countries in Europe where the output of the country's scientists in
the past 100 years has covered significantly more than the own country's
fauna.

I'd wish we could do a little for our Hungarian colleages. In contrast to
them, we do not face the threat of being dismissed if we raise our voices.

Within very short time after having been elected the Hungarian right-wing
government has gained the second worst reputation in Europe after Belarus.
In the case of the new press laws it seems that international conscience
and in particular European protest has helped a little.

The German minister of defense (Guttenberg) had to withdraw a few months
ago after ten thousands of Ph.D. students and scientists had signed with
their names and academic titles a list of signatures organised by some
students (the minister was accused of plagiarism in his own Ph.D. thesis,
this was later confirmed by the involved university). I would not
necessarily say that the scientific community has no power.

Francisco


Dr. F. Welter-Schultes
Zoologisches Institut, Berliner Str. 28, D-37073 Goettingen
Phone +49 551 395536, Fax +49 551 395579
http://www.animalbase.org