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Tears of rage wept in France
That gurgling sound you hear, is France going down the toilet bowl.
French researchers came together across the capital yesterday to mark a day of mourning for science. "Sciences at half mast" took place 1 week to the day before the planned mass resignation of research directors on March 9.
"'I weep for you,' the Walrus said. 'I deeply sympathize...'"
Several gatherings were organized throughout the city. Black humor sketches were scheduled to take place in front of Jussieu University, home to many of the capital’s science students. At the Museum of Natural History, researchers were due to celebrate the first public appearance of the homo scientificus.

Scientists assembled at their nearest locations, wearing lab coats and black armbands. They encouraged passers-by to sign a citizen petition, which has so far gathered 95,000 signatures. At the Métro station named after him, a mourning "Louis Pasteur" came back from the dead to the lamenting tunes of a brass band and declared himself revolted by the fate of the nation’s young scientists. "They are brilliant, motivated, the living strength of the nation, the future of our laboratories. They will discover the drugs and vaccines of tomorrow, and they are thrown away like vermin! Your leaders understand nothing!" He then re-christened the station. "France no longer deserves to celebrate my name. Henceforth, we will call this station ’The Rage.’"

"Like Pasteur, we are all enraged," said Alain Fisher, a specialist in genetic therapies from the Necker hospital. "It seems that these days, it is better to be a young waiter than a young researcher."

Last week, the French government said it would reinstate 120 of the 550 research posts it cut last year. According to the protestors, this is the equivalent of 2% of what the restaurant business received out of the 2004 budget. Many of the speeches at Pasteur focused on the bleak career prospects of young researchers. Bernard Dujon, of Pasteur, said: "The state of our universities is not worthy of an industrialized country." One young immunologist, recently back from a postdoc abroad, explained that there were only five positions open in her field this year. "I’ve been back for 6 months," she said, "and my only desire is to leave again. It saddens me because I was trained by France. We don’t all want to settle abroad." The crowd greeted her comments with murmurs of "sacrificed generation."
But when he finally beats it for the U.S. or wherever, chances are the job he gets won't be as a government flunky...
Over 58,000 French researchers have now signed a petition in protest of their government’s "planned destruction of the scientific engine." They demand that the government make "symbolic gestures" to show it is willing to work with its scientists toward a scientifically productive future. Failing this, those signatories that run research units and labs will resign on their administrative responsibilities next Tuesday. So far, the government has promised to pay their €300 million "debt" from the 2002 budget, reinstate 120 posts, and organize a national consultation on the future of research.
Head hunting time
Researchers remain unsatisfied. The announcement that the 2002 credits would be paid was welcomed but they are waiting for bank statements to confirm their government’s good intentions. The 120 posts, however, are "insufficient" and the protestor’s leaders are unconvinced by the organization of the government’s consultation. "If nothing changes before March 9," Fischer said today, "we must remain united and faithful to our decision to resign."
Posted by: tipper 2004-03-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=27506