"Brain Drain" or "Brain Circulation": Social and Psychological Features of Scientist Migration
The article discusses the features of the scientific emigration of Russian scientists abroad. This topic is a relatively little studied one, because most of the work is devoted to migration in general, rather than the study of this social group. The frequently mentioned in the 1990s “brain drain” doesn’t reflect the identity of all the scientific migration in the 21st century.The purpose of the article is to describe the current situation of scientific migrants abroad, to indicate the specific characteristics of the labor market of the academic environment, to explicate the basic methods of integration in the international scientific community.Material and methods. The paper contains integrated information about Russian scientists who migrate to the United States and the European Union (as the most attractive regions). All cited studies have not been translated into Russian or Belarusian yet. The paper presents the author’s many years of experience in cooperation with foreign universities and international funds.Findings and their discussion. The authors make descriptive analysis of the labor market of the academic sphere and the impact of cooperationexperience (academic courses, temporary migration) with foreign colleagues on career prospects. A new factor is identified which affects the success of the social and psychological acculturation of scientific migrant; it is national specificity of the research discipline both in the country of origin and the host culture. It is most clearly noticeable in the humanities.In contrast to other social groups, scientists tend to be inclined to temporary or circular migration; this feature makes the process of psychological adaptation easier. Specific features of the phenomenon of brain drain are disclosed depending on the type of social system and positive redefinition into “brain circulation” is made.