The work is devoted to the analysis of key attitudes within the scientific community, on which, as expected, the image of the scientific and technological future of Russia directly depends. It has been established that the civilizational self-identification of researchers largely does not coincide with the sentiments of the general public. A cautious and often skeptical attitude towards the mobilization of science, increased emigration sentiments among scientists, primarily young ones, allowed the authors to conclude that the country’s scientific community is in crisis, antagonistically divided by contradictions regarding basic value orientations and management issues. The unifying factor is the need for comfortable working conditions and the demand for science by the state and society. It was quantitatively determined that only half of the researchers adhere to pro-state sentiments and could potentially be usefully involved in solving scientific and technical problems. The other half of the scientific community becomes at least a group of opponents who have doubts or are undecided regarding the scientific and technological course. The youth wing of science, as it turns out, is largely imbued with cosmopolitanism and therefore does not represent an anti-crisis force. Strengthening the mobilization readiness of the scientific community and resolving its internal conflicts is considered from the point of view of improving the quality of science management, including effective personnel policies.