Careful not to sound too desperate, Russia's Education and Science Ministry announced a new incentive intended to lure back some of the thousands of Russian scientists currently living and working in countries that are decidedly not Russia. The offer allows a hundred four-eyes from abroad the chance to lead important teams and conduct fancy seminars on the condition they live in Russia two months of every year.

According to The Moscow Times, it will take more than the promise of recognition or even material wealth to win back the brains that left Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The pay crisis has been largely assuaged in the past 10 years, so what's keeping more than 40,000 Russian scientists working outside of Russia, compared to the 30,000 working in the country itself? Among the concerns voiced by Russia's scientists at large: Soviet-era equipment and Putin-era politics.

The incentive clearly answers the presidential call for intensified headhunting of scientists at home and abroad, issued by Medvedev last November. The country's domestic nerd resources have been dwindling for over a decade, with young people snubbing the field of science in favor of business or economics. Well. Bet they feel stupid now.

Russia Wants Its Brains Back [Moscow Times]