Donald Trump went to war against scientists, especially the environment. Words and global warming have been prohibited on certain administration sites and hundreds of positions have been deleted. For his part, Emmanuel Macron jumps on the occasion and offers American scientists to come and work with us, But do we have the means?
For years, our French brains have fled in particular to the United States. Inversion of history, several French universities have already announced that they want to recruit American scientists. The University of Aix-Marseille, one of the largest in France, 80,000 students, immediately mobilized to offer 15 positions in the climate field.
“We wanted to react. So, we decided to devote a budget between 10 and 15 million euros over three years to this program. I am talking about scientific asylum and we claim,” says Eric Besson, the president of the university.
Nearly 300 candidates from the United States
Nearly 300 American researchers answered the call of the University of Aix-Marseille. Russel is one of these 300 candidates: “It is very hard to see the changes here in the United States and I am very grateful to have support in France. It is true that it is a little intimidating the prospect of having to start everything elsewhere, especially that we worked very hard to arrive where we are. But hey, If it is to advance research, I would be happy to have this opportunity“He explains.
The universities of Toulouse, and Saclay have also opened positions, but on the side of French researchers, it is starting to growl. Our scientists say they are united, but there are limits and other priorities, according to Théo Besson, a young pharmacy researcher. “There are a third of the university buildings which is in poor condition, according to a report from the Court of Auditors. There are buildings in which it is sometimes raining. A few years ago in Strasbourg, they had to cut the heating because there was no money. Sometimes, we have no money to finance our own research,” he explains a little.
“We ask ourselves the question of why we do not increase our budgets when there are superb teams in France too. There are thousands of temporary workers who are very poorly paid and who do not have a sustainable contract. It’s great to welcome foreign researchers, especially the Americans since they have a bad time, But we need money to work“He continues.
Researchers paid 3 to 4 times
You should know that in the United States a researcher is paid 3 to 4 times more than in France, a French postdoctoralist began his career at 2,000 euros net per month. In Harvard, it’s 6,000 euros. Imagine conversations with a coffee machine in a French college. The Americans will not move for nothing, the Minister of Research speaks of a budget of one million euros for three years for a position. This also includes the equipment and the recruitment of an employee, But it is rare that a French researcher gets as much.
We will therefore not see thousands of American researchers bring out in France. Last month, Emmanuel Macron launched the “Choose France” program, but today at the Sorbonne, the initiative will become rather “choose Europe”. According to the head of state, if someone has to spend money to bring them, It is up to Europe to do so. A real opportunity for the European Union to strengthen its research in the face of Chinese or Americans.
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