The future of the biggest scientific center in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, is endangered. After the last parliamentary elections in 2009, the new administration announced their intention to close the Academy. Its budget in 2010 and the proposed budget for 2011 are drastically cut and now money is not enough even for the already miserable salaries of the scientists. Various projects for legislative changes are being advertised, all reducing to scattering the academic institutes among universities and/or ministries with their eventual subsequent closing. Many scientists, especially young ones, have already been forced to leave the Academy or are planning to leave it looking for better and more reliable means to make a living. Similar is the situation in many universities, especially in Sofia University, the leading educational center in Bulgaria, so the attack is not only against the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences but against science in Bulgaria in general.

We the Bulgarian scientists have been protesting for months against the destruction of science in Bulgaria. Now it is critical for us to get international support because this week both the new law for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the budget for 2011 will be voted in the Parliament.

Please support us by signing the petition at http://www.science.nauka2010.com/