Opinion of the UčSS Council on the forthcoming amendment to the Constitution

The Council of the Learned Society of Slovakia expresses its strong concern about the idea of the draft amendment to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, which subordinates decisions in the field of science, education and health care to national answers to the so-called cultural and ethical questions. Anchoring such an idea in the Constitution threatens modern standards of scientific research and education in line with current scientific knowledge. This way of thinking about science, education and training is reminiscent of the beginning of the Hungarian path of transformation of science, in which the social sciences and humanities, in particular, but not only, are severely restricted.

The Council of the Learned Society of Slovakia draws attention to the Code of Research Integrity and Ethics in Slovakia, which stipulates “independence from political, ideological or religious influences” as a prerequisite for freedom of scientific research and academic activity. It also draws attention to the European Code of Research Integrity, which stipulates that “research shall be based on the free formulation of research questions and theories, the acquisition of empirical evidence and the use of appropriate methods, in an impartial manner”. Research cannot be influenced by “pressure from research sponsors or by ideological, economic or political interests”.

These principles must not remain on paper; science must remain universal, international and intrinsically true.

prof. RNDr. Jozef Noga, DrSc.
prof. Ing. Miroslav Fikar, DrSc.
doc. Ing. Fedor Gömöry, DrSc.
prof. PharmDr. Daniela Ježová, DrSc.
PhDr. Eva Kowalská, DrSc.
prof. RNDr. Ľubica Lacinová, DrSc.
prof. RNDr. Ľubomír Tomáška, DrSc.