Soggy protest
Research in France is conducted by career scientists who are affiliated with large research organizations such as the CNRS or the INSERM (my employer), and as best they can, by scientist-professors who are hired directly by the universities. (I say that because they mostly end up marking exam papers if they actually teach.) The current university reform is another kettle of fish. However, I want to touch on the worry that is engendered by major administrative and structural reorganization without input from the people on the ground who will be most affected by these reforms.
This worry gave rise to a national protest that got rather rained on today. Literally. People who are more or less well-informed, like me, wanted to express their concern without investing too much time in trying to better the system themselves. Such as we feel like we could never garner enough power and influence to make a difference anyhow, the way things work currently. But a referendum would have been highly appreciated among the ranks.
Meanwhile, those of us who didn’t want to get wet feet (and who therefore developed cold feet instead) watched the bedraggled protestors at the Place du Capitole on webcam. And wondered, what could we do to show our concern and that we are not implicitly approving large-scale government action by our own inaction?
So, someone suggested a petition. It helped a bit back in 2003-2004, when it helped journalists to say that this many researchers in France had signed and were worried about the financial future of French research. I mentioned that I’m sure someone had already written one. And someone has, and over 27,000 electronic “signatures” have been harvested so far. Unfortunately, most of them look like this (scroll to bottom) so I am afraid the real humans have been outnumbered.
It’s hard work to stay idealistic when you actually look at the world. And I have to go pick up my kids in a rainstorm in a car that needs repairs again…
Posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am Categorized as:general science, personal, politics You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
