Gergely Toldi contacts MTA President László Lovász with his proposal that on the model of the Global Young Academy and the Young Academy of Europe, an organization for early-career researchers should also be founded in Hungary.
History of HYA
The Hungarian Young Academy (HYA) was officially launched on 7 May 2019. Prof. László Lovász, then President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), announced the establishment of the organisation a day earlier at the 191st MTA General Assembly, and the inaugural meeting took place on 7 May. The Hungarian Young Academy started out with 24 members, and admitting 12 new members each year in the first three years of its existence, it reached its full membership (60 persons) by 2022. However, the history of this interest representation body for young researchers goes back to as early as June 2016. For a detailed recollection of the beginnings and the first few years of HYA’s operation, please refer to a personal account by literary historian and HYA founding member Ágnes Máté, The Beginnings: An Anecdotal Narrative on the Founding of the Hungarian Young Academy (currently available only in Hungarian).
June 2016 – Preparatory work begins
10 May 2017 – 1st Young Researchers’ Forum organized at MTA’s 188th General Assembly
The participants of the event engaged in a lively discussion about the situation of young researchers working in various disciplines. The preparation of a questionnaire survey is decided the implementation of which is undertaken by a small team of young researchers on a voluntary basis.
https://mta.hu/fka/i-fiatal-kutatok-foruma-az-mta-188-kozgyulesenek-kereteben-2017-majus-109533
9 May 2018 – 2nd Young Researchers’ Forum at MTA’s 189th General Assembly
Donát Alpár presents the preliminary results of the survey analyzing the questionnaires of approximately 1500 respondents. After the event, MTA President László Lovász announces the creation of a temporary body called "Young Researchers' Ad-hoc Committee".
https://mta.hu/fka/ii-fiatal-kutatok-foruma-az-mta-189-kozgyulesenek-kereteben-2018-majus-109534
June–August 2018 – Research report analyzing the situation of early-career researchers drafted
The results of the questionnaire on the situation of early-career researchers are completely analyzed, and a research report is drafted to sum up the results and put forward suggestions.
June 2018 – Young Researchers’ Ad-hoc Committee formed
László Lovász sets up the Young Researchers' Ad-hoc Committee (FKEB) composed of senior members of the Academy and young researchers. The Committee is headed by academician Mihály Pósfai. The Committee is given the task of setting up the Young Academy of Sciences ("FTA").
January 2019 – 24-person initial membership formed
The Young Researchers' Ad-hoc Committee selects an additional 14 members from among the candidates: the 24-person initial team is thus formed.
March–April 2019 – HYA Statutes and branding completed
The final name of the organization is decided on (Fiatal Kutatók Akadémiája = Hungarian Young Academy). The draft Statutes and the logo are finalized, and the first website is launched.
6–8 May 2019 – Hungarian Young Academy officially founded
On 6 May, László Lovász, then President of MTA, announces the foundation of the civic association called Hungarian Young Academy at MTA's 191st General Assembly. HYA holds its inaugural session on 7 May and the 3rd Young Researchers' Forum on 8 May.