Glasnost has arrived at NIU.

A research agreement between NIU’s biology department and a group of Soviet research institutes has culminated in one Soviet scientist’s arrival, with many more expected.

Bio-physicist Sergei Gavrilits, a specialist in theoretical population biology arrived at NIU two weeks ago for a month-long visit from the Soviet Institute of General Genetics. His arrival is part of a cooperative research effort with Biology Chairman Marvin Starzyk and professor Sam Scheiner.

In 1983, Starzyk traveled to the Soviet republic of Azerbaijan to teach microbiology at Azerbaijan State University. During a stay that took him through Soviet Georgia and nearby Tiblisi State University, Starzyk made contacts with members of the Soviet scientific community.

In 1988, Starzyk returned to the Soviet Union for a collaborative exchange. “We had a few impromptu talks during the time when things were just starting to open up,” he said.

Scheiner was contacted two years ago by Gavrilits to discuss funding for the project. “His (Gavrilits) institute paid the airfare to bring him to New York, and the College of Liberal Arts and Science paid the remaining amount,” Scheiner said.

He said research and teaching in the Soviet Union are conducted in separate settings, unlike the U.S. where both are done at the university level.

Gavrilits, who works exclusively with mathmatical models of evolution, was surprised to see lesser quality computers and laboratory facilities in the U.S.

“Many of Gorbachev’s top advisers are scientists, so even though times are difficult in the Soviet Union, scientists still receive support,” Gavrilits said. However, Gavrilits explained that continuing Soviet economic trends are leading to priority reassessment.

“Today the main concerns are how to feed families, and where to get soap.”