Make brain, do not drain – facing the dilemma of scientific excellence

Emerging from the coronavirus pandemic, scientists are returning to international mobility. While the post-pandemic communications revolution has radically redefined the boundaries of scientific collaboration – especially in the humanities and social sciences – it has certainly not eliminated them. Although the traditional division of the scientific world into centre and periphery is sometimes problematized and its designations change – provoking questions such as: can the universities of the richest EU countries still be considered central? What role do Chinese universities play in the contemporary environment?  – the “brain drain”, understood as migration of the greatest scientific potential from poorer countries to the most developed ones, is still very much a current challenge.

As economic competition for the most outstanding minds does not seem possible (and factors such as reputation are sometimes independent of the actions taken by universities themselves), academic centres from developing countries are adopting other strategies in the fight for scientific excellence. This includes focusing on the process of “brain shaping”: creating key competencies and providing optimal conditions for the development of young talent.

The panel will explore the concept of supporting the construction and development of scientific careers, which ultimately aims to retain talented young scientists in their home universities. This concept, developed at the University of Silesia in Katowice, is being developed within a specially established Interdisciplinary Centre for Staff Development and the project “Transfer for European Research and Innovation” (implemented under the Horizon 2020 project). Its aim is, on the one hand, to develop the existing human resources potential and, on the other hand, to increase the attractiveness of the university for outstanding scientists.

Speakers invited to the panel:

1. Prof. Richard Griffith, Florida Institute of Technology (USA) ONLINE
2. Chairman: Barbara Kożusznik | director of Interdisciplinary Centre for Staff Development at University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland), professor at University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
3. Grzegorz Filipowicz | Director of Forfuture, President at Polish Society HR Business Partner Gdańsk, Poland
4. Małgorzata Kozusznik | professor at Ghent University Belgium
5. Mateusz Paliga | assistant professor at University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
6. Katarzyna Wiecek-Jakubek | HR Departament Head at University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

Institutions involved:

University of Silesia in Katowice