Centre national de la recherche scientifique
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The Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) is the largest and most prominent public research organization in France. It employs 26,000 permanent staff (researchers, engineers, and administrative staff) and a further 4,000 temporary staff. Its budget for 2006 was 2.738 billion EUR.
Contents |
[edit] Organisation
| French science |
| Universities |
| Grandes écoles |
| Grands établissements |
| EPST |
| Cemagref |
| CNRS |
| INED |
| INRA |
| INRETS |
| INRIA |
| IRD |
| INSERM |
| LCPC |
| EPIC |
| CEA |
| Ifremer |
The CNRS currently has 6 divisions (French: départements scientifiques):
- Mathematics, physics, planetary sciences ("MPPU")
- Chemistry
- Life sciences
- Humanities and social sciences
- Environment and sustainable development ("EDD")
- Engineering
The last two are "transversal" divisions, meaning that the associated research groups are also associated with one of the four "core" divisions. The National Commission for Scientific Research (CN), which is in charge of the recruitment and evaluation of researchers, maintains a parallel division of scientific endeavor into 47 "sections". Research groups belong to one or more départements; the researchers themselves belong to one section.
For administrative purposes, the CNRS has 18 regional divisions (including 4 just for the region of Paris).
The CNRS runs its research groups (French: laboratoires) either independently or in association with universities, other higher education institutions, or other institutions. Currently CNRS researchers are active in 1,256 research groups, 85% of which are jointly-run and also include non-CNRS researchers. The prevalence of such "mixed" research groups is an unusual characteristic of the French system.
[edit] Employment
Researchers directly employed by the CNRS are classified in two categories, in order of seniority:
- Research associates (French: chargés de recherche) (2nd class, 1st class)
- Research directors (directeurs de recherche) (2nd class, 1st class, exceptional class).
Theoretically, research directors head research groups, but this is not a general rule.
All permanent employees (both research and technical/administrative staff) are recruited through annual nationwide competitive campaigns. The selected candidates have the status of civil servants and are part of the giant fonction publique, which accounts for one-fifth of the French work force.
[edit] International relations
The Centre is represented abroad in Brussels, Beijing, Tokyo, Hanoi, Washington, DC, Bonn, Moscow, Tunis, Johannesburg, and Santiago de Chile.
[edit] Brief history
The Centre was created on 19 October 1939 by decree of President Albert Lebrun. Since 1954, the Centre has annually awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals to French scientists and junior researchers. In 1966, the Centre underwent structural changes. The changes led to the creation of two specialized institutes: the National Astronomy and Geophysics Institute in 1967, which became the National Institute of Sciences of the Universe (INSU) in 1985, and the National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (IN2P3) in 1971.
Recently, the performance of CNRS has been brought into question, with calls for wide-ranging reforms. In particular, the effectiveness of the recruitment, career management and evaluation procedures are under scrutiny.
[edit] Leadership
Catherine Bréchignac was named President on 11 January 2006. She was previously Director General from 1997-2000.
Arnold Migus was named Director General on 18 January 2006, after the dismissal of the reformist Bernard Larrouturou.
[edit] List of Presidents
- René Pellat : 1989 - 1992
- Edouard Brezin : 1992 - 2000
- Gérard Mégie : 2000 - 2004
- Bernard Meunier : 2004 - 2006
- Catherine Bréchignac : 2006-
[edit] List of Directors General
- Jean Coulomb : 1957-1962
- Hubert Curien : 1969-1973
- Robert Chabbal : 1976-1980
- François Kourilsky : 1988 - 1994
- Guy Aubert : 1994 - 1997
- Catherine Bréchignac : 1997 - 2000
- Geneviève Berger : 2000 - 2003
- Bernard Larrouturou : 2003- 2006
- Arnold Migus : 2006-
