Ukraine is facing a serious personnel crisis in fundamental sciences. Today, the country is noticeably short of physicists and chemists, despite high demand for these specialists in various industrial and research sectors. This was stated by Anatoliy Melnychenko, Rector of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" (KPI), in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

Undervalued Fields

According to the university head, fields related to physics and chemistry remain undervalued among prospective students. Students often choose more popular majors, failing to realize the real market need for chemical engineers and physicists.

"The volume of chemical engineering specialists that Ukraine can absorb is much larger than what is currently being trained," Melnychenko noted. He emphasized that the university definitely lacks such personnel.

The Rector also drew a distinction between classical and applied physics. While classical physics is represented, for example, at Karazin University in Kharkiv, applied physics, which is necessary for the real sector of the economy, suffers from a lack of attention.

A Global Problem Exacerbated by War

The problem of reproducing the profession of a physicist or chemist is not unique to Ukraine alone. Melnychenko noted that this challenge is relevant for Europe and Britain as well. Digitalization and other factors are changing the landscape of demand for specialists.

However, the situation in Ukraine has its own specifics. "And for us — it is exacerbated by the war," the official emphasized. This creates additional barriers for the development of science and personnel training.

How to Fix the Situation

The KPI Rector is confident that the current situation can be influenced and outlined key areas for change:

  • Support for schools and teachers. Melnychenko believes that if a child is not "infected" with a love for physics or chemistry while still in school, they will not come to university out of fear of not understanding the material.
  • Changing the image of the scientist in society. It is necessary to move away from the stereotype of the "nerd." The Rector recalled Hollywood movies where the scientist saving the world from collapse is a successful and intelligent personality.

Practical Application of Knowledge

It is important to show prospective students the practical significance of their future work. As an example, Melnychenko cited the work of the Clean Water Technologies Center at the university.

"After all, access to water is a global problem. Even before the occupation in Donbas, there were always problems with water. And it is chemists who must create technologies for its purification or desalination," the specialist concluded.

Experts have previously noted that science in Ukraine has faced personnel losses due to the emigration of scientists. Furthermore, the state is changing its approach to funding science, introducing new benefits and grants to support researchers under wartime conditions.