How to attract young people to science? (based on materials of sociological research)

Abstract

Involvement of young people into science at the present time is relevant not only in Russia but as well in countries with big experience in this process. The article states that profession of scientist is considered prestigious in the United States and positioned at 4th place in the rating, wheras in Russia it is only at 19th place in the similar rating. The conclusion is based on the sociological studies conducted in the United States and Russia. The authors speculate that changes in public policy in Russia, aimed at recovering of scientific potential, had an impact on young people's ideas and motivation for scientific work. The article provides an analysis of the sociological study conducted by the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), which aims to determine the willingness and possibility to engage in scientific work. The authors note that TPU entered the federal program "5-100-2020" at 4th place in the ranking of the best universities in Russia and has extensive experience, research base, international training programs, exchanges, and internships with best universities in the United States and Europe. The main conclusions of the study is that master students are ready to engage in scientific work; conditions created at the university are the backbone for the development of scientific career of the students; the highest motivation for students is the satisfaction in their scientific advisors.