Science and Technology Center utilizes Ukraine's nuclear expertise (01/07/96)

Science and Technology Center utilizes Ukraine's nuclear expertise

by Marta Dyczok
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

KYIV - Ukrainian nuclear scientists have received $1.7 million in grants for projects that will channel their expertise into peaceful activities. The funds were allocated by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine during its first board meeting held in Kyiv on December 14-15. One project will apply Star Wars laser technology to advance ophthalmology. Another will use exhaust systems from nuclear rockets to develop a powerful system for boring tunnels.

The Science and Technology Center in Ukraine is an intergovernmental organization established by an agreement signed on October 15, 1993, by Canada, Sweden, the United States and Ukraine. Its main purpose is to promote non-proliferation by supporting civilian-oriented research and development activities of Ukrainian scientists and engineers formerly involved with weapons of mass destruction and associated delivery systems. A similar center exists in Russia.

Put simply, these centers were created to prevent Ukrainian and Russian nuclear scientists from emigrating to hostile Third World countries and selling their expertise. The initial donor countries allocated $18 million to Ukraine for this purpose and agreed that Canada would provide the executive director. The United States is responsible for filling the top position for the center in Moscow.

Following administrative delays by all parties, Canada appointed Ostap Hawaleshka to the position of executive director; he signed a contract on April 1. Under his energetic leadership the center became fully operational, announced its first call for proposals in May, prepared and moved to its premises at 3 Laboratornyj Provulok, and last week held its first board meeting.

Delegates from the four sponsoring countries sifted through the 100 proposals received, considered 30 and approved 13. Dr. John Boright, director of the Office of International Affairs, National Research Council at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, is the U.S. representative on the board.

After the conclusion of the meetings Dr. Boright said that in his opinion Ukraine has not had a problem with nuclear brain drain since most Ukrainian scientists are patriotic and are staying home despite grim employment prospects.

Prof. Wasyl Janishevskyj, dean of engineering at the University of Toronto and Canadian representative on the board, commented, "We hope that this will be substantive assistance for Ukraine, as it is targeted at an industry which is in great need of help in its conversion efforts." He continued, "Despite the many difficulties, this center is working very well, largely due to the efforts of Ostap Hawaleshka."

Before taking up this new position, Mr. Hawleshka headed the industrial engineering department at the University of Manitoba (he founded the department in 1970), served as president of the North Winnipeg Credit Union for many years, and co-managed a production company and restaurant in Winnipeg.

He has also worked as a consultant for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on projects in Europe, South America and the Caribbean Islands. Thus, he comes to his new job with international, scientific, managerial and financial expertise. In addition to these qualifications, Mr. Hawaleshka has a Ukrainian background, speaks the language fluently, and is familiar with the history and culture of Ukraine.

When asked what attracted him to the position, he said, "I was presented with unique opportunity to combine all my previous experience and practice to work on project which will allow me to make small contribution to the development of this country, the country of my parents."

At a time when the effectiveness of international assistance to Ukraine has come under close scrutiny, the STC appears to have the makings of a success story. The center itself strikes a visitor with its professional atmosphere, complete with a friendly and competent staff bilingual information presented upon request and an approachable, helpful executive director. Although these features are standard practice in Western countries, most international assistance offices in Ukraine have a rude, Russian speaking guard or receptionist who is unhelpful or even obstructive.

In response to compliments, Mr. Hawaleshka said, "This is an international project and will be run according to international standards."

The STCU plans to issue a call for proposals at least two times a year and provides assistance to Ukrainian applicants to develop and present proposals in a format and with sufficient detail to be submitted for Western-style scientific, peer review.

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