ICN2 researchers talk at ‘Els matins’ about the new reform of the Spanish Science Law

by Virginia Greco

The reform introduces a new type of contract of indefinite duration for researchers working in public institutes that have no permanent position.

The reform of the Science Law recently approved by the Spanish Government introduces a new kind of open-ended contract (as opposed to the usual limited duration ones) for researchers, with the aim to reduce the job instability experienced by many scientists working in public research institutions. Currently, most postdoctoral researchers are employed by means of the so-called “works and services contract”, which is usually linked to project-related tasks and is normally funded through national and European projects. This measure is expected to impact about 20 thousand researchers in the country.

Journalists of the Catalan TV3 visited us at the ICN2 to ask some of our researchers their opinion about this new reform. The interviews with Dr José Hugo García, from the Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience Group, and ICREA Prof. Gustau Catalán, leader of the ICN2 Oxide Nanophysics Group, were broadcast within the program Els matins on April 7. The full recording of the program is available here (the discussion on the reform of the science law starts at 1:57:25).