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IZOLDA TAKÁCS: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
and would ease the unnecessary difficulties, but in no way would it affect the
accomplishments and merits reguired for entry.
"To summarize: we cannot evade the immediate action the Academy needs
to take in order to grow the numbers of its female members in the short-term"
— writes Péter Csermely, correspondent member of the Academy."
INFORMATORY FRAGMENTS TO GIVE GUIDANCE WITH SOME MISTAKEN
PRECONCEPTIONS!"5
— ABOUT THE ELECTION SYSTEM OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Oh, would an age might once dawn that should melt
This cold indifferent world, and with new strength
Confront the outworn lumber of the past...'”°
Before I unpack further my commentaries on the quota system, I believe it is
important to take a closer look at the extant election system of the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences — a system that has been referred to as outdated, even
incorrect by some members of the Academy — and I will also outline how the
Academy works.
During its long existence, the Academy has become the most important
institution of the Hungarian Sciences. Istvan Széchenyi’s well-known statement
in the Hungarian Parliament on the 3rd of November 1825 — “[...] and if an
institution shall come forth to unfold the Hungarian language, helping our
fellow countrymen in their Hungarian education, I am willing to expend the
proceeds of one year of my earnings on that” — began the Academy’s own
journey, named the Scientist Society at that time, which eventually held its
first directory meeting in Pozsony (Bratislava) in November 1830.
In February 1831 it was followed by the first general meeting of the
organization, based on whose measures the Scientist Society started to function
to enrich and nurture Hungarian culture, science and language. There were 6
classes in it — 42 full members and 24 complimentary members. The Hungarian
Scientist Society changed its name to Academy in 1840 and — luckily — it started
its undiminished advancement in spite of the storms of the Hungarian history
of the 19th century.”
4 Csermely, P.: A nők tudományos előmenetele mint felülről korlátozódó hálózatos jelenség,
Magyar Tudomány, 624, 2017, http://www.matud.iif.hu/2017/05/16.htm (accessed 5 May 2017).
75 Based on the full title of Istvan Széchenyi’s book Vildg [World].
16 Madách, I.: Az ember tragédiája [The tragedy of Man], Budapest, Mora, 1977, 104.
7 Tarjan, M. T.: 1825. november 3. Széchenyi István felajánlja egy évi jövedelmét a Tudós
Társaság számára [3rd of November 1825. Istvan Széchenyi offers his earnings of one year
to the Scientist Society], https://rubicon.hu/kalendarium/1825-november-3-szechenyi-istvan¬
felajanlja-egy-evi-jovedelmet-a-tudos-tarsasag-szamara (accessed 19 July 2022).
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