Scholar support office: analysis of science popularization projects and performance audit

Abstract

The article provides a summary and presentation of some of the tasks and projects carried out by the Scholar Support Office in its first year of operation. It emphasizes that supporting scientists and popularizing national science are crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of the country, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting the well-being of our state. This direction of organizational activity in the field of science requires support from the government, scientific institutions, higher education establishments, civil organizations, and the scientific community itself. The presented activities of the Scholar Support Office, as described in this publication, are aimed at: developing the individual career trajectory of scientists; providing organizational and social support for scientists’ interests; promoting cooperation among scientific institutions and/or higher education establishments, international scientific institutions, and foreign scientific institutions; popularizing the scientific achievements of Ukrainian scientists, among other goals. Additionally, the article outlines factors that hinder the popularization of national science, including the absence of targeted state support for science popularization and increasing the prestige of scientists, the lack of communication between scientists and media professionals, mistrust of scientists toward the work of journalists, and the absence of specialized professional training (or skills development) for scientists in various aspects of popularizing their own scientific results and developments and building a scientist’s brand, among others.