French research centre seeks to lure US-based scientists
The programme aims to attract foreign researchers whose work is threatened and French researchers working abroad, some of whom "don't want to live and raise their children in Trump's United States", said CNRS President Antoine Petit.
According to Petit, the "Choose CNRS" initiative has already resulted in some contacts, although the "vast majority are non-Americans".
The CNRS (
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
, or French National Centre for Scientific Research) is Europe's largest scientific research centre with some 34,000 staff.
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The initiative is part of a broader effort by France and European countries to cash in on US President Donald Trump's massive cuts in funding for education.
Since Trump's return in January, US universities have been threatened with massive federal funding cuts.
Research programmes face closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, whilst foreign students fear possible deportation for their political views.
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Calls in France to create new 'refugee' status for US researchers
President Emmanuel Macron urged France's research institutions in March to attract and welcome US-based scientists.
France's "Choose France for Science" initiative launched mid-April with a dedicated platform for applications to host international researchers.
"Some foreign researchers have already arrived in France to familiarise themselves with the infrastructure, waiting for the funds and platform to be set up," France's research ministry said.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend on Monday a "Choose science choose Europe" event, "at a time when academic freedoms face a number... of threats" and Europe "is a continent of attractiveness", the Elysee Palace said.
In France, the Aix-Marseille University launched its "Safe place for science" programme in March. It will receive its first foreign researchers in June.
Petit said the CNRS wanted researchers of all levels, from younger post-doctorates and junior professors to external research directors.
The CNRS also aims to recruit "stars" of international scientific research but money remains the driving force behind scientific research and Petit said the CNRS did not have a "very large" room for manoeuvre.
"The motivation of a researcher is never the remuneration," he said, but above all "the work environment, with its infrastructure and the opportunity to confront the best" scientists.
Petit expressed hope that the pay gap between scientists in France and the United States will narrow, once the lower cost of education and health, and more generous social benefits are taken into account.
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LeMonde
an hour ago
- LeMonde
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Help us improve Le Monde in English Dear reader, We'd love to hear your thoughts on Le Monde in English! Take this quick survey to help us improve it for you. Take the survey The nation's court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trump's sweeping conservative agenda, with hundreds of lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers. In the other DOGE order handed down Friday, the justices extended a pause on orders that would require the team to publicly disclose information about its operations, as part of a lawsuit filed by a government watchdog group. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argues that DOGE, which has been central to Trump's push to remake the government, is a federal agency and must be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 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Euronews
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- Euronews
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LeMonde
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