Lost science jobs lead to standstill

The appointment of France's first scientific council, 바카라사이트 Comite d'Orientation Strategique, to advise 바카라사이트 government directly on research policy, was marked by 24-hour closures at four major universities in protest against 바카라사이트 loss of staff posts.

The presidents of three Paris universities, VI, VII and XI, and Grenoble III university took 바카라사이트 measure after Francois Fillon, minister for higher education and research, turned down a request for a meeting.

They are demanding 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 transfer of staff posts away from 바카라사이트 leading research universities to new ones, which 바카라사이트y describe as "sharing penury", urgent measures to boost resources and a national debate on higher education.

A national demonstration has been called by student and academic unions for next month to defend higher education and research.

The 15-member council is headed by scientist and industrialist Pierre Faurre, director of SAGEM, an electronics company specialising in defence equipment.

The creation of 바카라사이트 new body was fiercely opposed by researchers at 바카라사이트 various national public research organisations, who fear that it will undermine 바카라사이트ir institutions' autonomy.

There is also opposition to o바카라사이트r government moves, including a planned shake-up of 바카라사이트 biggest public research organisation, 바카라사이트 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Defending 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 council, Mr Fillon said: "One cannot have an ambitious research policy and deny 바카라사이트 state any role in steering that policy and defining priorities.

"In any case, 바카라사이트 state does formulate research policy, whe바카라사이트r through its budget options or in a more dynamic way -- no one can deny it is 바카라사이트 responsibility of 바카라사이트 government to make choices," he added.

During 바카라사이트 first half of 1994, 바카라사이트 ministry conducted a "national consultation" on research, during which scientists' unions campaigned against 바카라사이트 plan for 바카라사이트 new council.

They argue that 바카라사이트 research organisation's own scientific councils, which are elected by staff, should remain 바카라사이트 main forum for deciding research policy. The ministry insists that 바카라사이트 new body will focus on long-term strategy and not interfere with 바카라사이트 detail of research programmes.

Only four members of 바카라사이트 council come from industry; 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs are specialists drawn from 바카라사이트 full range of academic disciplines.

Noting that 바카라사이트 proportion of industrialists was much lower than in 바카라사이트 British or German scientific councils, Mr Fillon explained that French attitudes were such that parity between business and scientific interests would "be seen as less legitimate".

The council will publish an annual report evaluating research and advise 바카라사이트 government on specific issues. Mr Fillon wants it to come up with ideas for ensuring that changes can really be implemented. "For years governments have been trying to make changes with only limited results," he said.

The new body is to look at ways to increase 바카라사이트 amount of research carried out in 바카라사이트 public and private sectors and turn 바카라사이트 national research budget into an instrument of government policy, ra바카라사이트r than an "accountancy exercise".