91% of Bulgarians support the existence of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

 91% of the population is of the opinion that the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences should continue to exist, showed a survey conducted by the National Center for Public Opinion Research (NCPOR) between March 5-12 this year, announced yesterday the BAS (National Academy of Sciences). According to the survey, the society supports the reforms in the Academy. Overall, 42% of the respondents aged between 30 and 49 thought that the closing down or merger of the research institutions will affect the Bulgarian science. 27% of people, mostly over 59-year-old age, do believe that this will injure Bulgaria's interests. 21% of Bulgarians who are under 30 years of age also support the BAS. According to them, the shutting down and merger of the institutes will affect the young people's development. The survey showed that the majority of Bulgarians polled (41%) felt that the closure of science departments is in favor of those who will benefit from the lack of a serious science development in our country. A considerable number of respondents expressed the view that the BAS should continue to exist. However, they think that the Academy should be reformed with the establishment of fewer, but thematically oriented research institutes. 83% of the Bulgarians expressed a similar opinion. 34% of the respondents are optimistic about the BAS future after the reform. They are mostly Sofia residents with a high standard of living. About 17% of the polled are convinced that the discussed reforms will not lead to no good for the Bulgarian science. With respect to the reduction the funds allocated for science in times of crisis, 64% of the  Bulgarians replied that it had been unjustified, while around 36% believed that spending should be curtailed in times of recession.