{"id":963,"date":"2017-06-23T15:00:04","date_gmt":"2017-06-23T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.reading.ac.uk\/the-forum\/?p=963"},"modified":"2021-11-12T15:47:14","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T15:47:14","slug":"a-french-foreign-legion-of-climate-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/2017\/06\/23\/a-french-foreign-legion-of-climate-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"A French foreign legion of climate scientists?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

By Phil Newton, Research Dean for Environment, University of Reading<\/em><\/p>\n

Science is a global business. Very few truly great advances in science happen these days without some level of international collaboration. A quick look at the list of recent Nobel Laureates for Physics<\/a> tells that story.<\/p>\n

But the organisation of science, like many other things, is influenced by politics. Which is how we should view the offer of French President Emmanuel Macron to recruit foreign climate scientists to French institutions.<\/p>\n

Macron is riding the wave of populist politics that also helped sweep Donald Trump to victory in the United States. But Macron\u2019s popularity is based on very different foundations to Trump\u2019s. He has wasted little time in opposing the US administration\u2019s policy on pulling America out of the Paris climate change agreement.<\/p>\n

What’s really going on here?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Macron has already made overtures<\/a> to US-based researchers, disgruntled with Trump\u2019s views and policies on climate change. At the weekend, he committed \u20ac30 million<\/a> of public funding to help tempt some of them to cross the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

Could this be the sign of a land-grab for the future of climate science? Could France become a new centre of gravity for the world\u2019s best researchers in environmental physics?<\/p>\n

Probably not. First of all, while \u20ac30 million isn\u2019t an insubstantial amount, in the world of national-scale scientific grants, it\u2019s a drop in the ocean. For Macron to be unveiling policies on this scale shows this has at least as much to do with his positioning of himself in opposition to Trump as it is to do with increasing the scientific capability of France.<\/p>\n

Rigid system<\/h4>\n

The offer has irked some scientists<\/a> already in France, who would like to see more funding for French research institutes. Others have called it a publicity stunt.<\/p>\n

David Ferreira, an oceanographer in the Department of Meteorology, started his career in France. He points out that while Macron\u2019s offer could help lure some high-profile climate scientists, there are still fundamental problems with the way French research positions are handed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe system is still very rigid,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a two-speed system in French universities between faculty and research-only positions. With heavy teaching loads\u00a0and\u00a0little time for research, French faculty\u00a0positions are unattractive when compared with equivalent positions in\u00a0other countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want a research-only position, you need to be known by lots of senior people, which means you have to spend a lot of time networking, rather than getting on with your research.\u00a0Whereas in the UK, the hiring system is relatively straightforward, offering a fairer chance\u00a0for all to compete, including\u00a0outsiders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brexit challenges<\/h4>\n

Of course, the UK science system is facing its own severe challenges right now, with international politics playing a role in our ability to stay at the top table of scientific research. With Brexit negotiations beginning this week, I and many of my colleagues are anxious that negotiators on both sides can quickly strike a deal which guarantees the rights of EU nationals in Britain \u2013 including many outstanding researchers \u2013 to remain here, and UK nationals to remain in Europe.<\/p>\n

The UK also needs to ensure that a new, nationally-controlled system of immigration does not to cut off our ability to attract the best international students and staff. Otherwise, top British universities, including the University of Reading, will struggle to play a world-leading role in scientific research.<\/p>\n

In addition, it\u2019s essential that after Brexit, UK researchers are still able to access the funding and collaborations that come with EU-funded research. Without that access, UK science could be diminished, as Europe\u2019s brightest minds and most useful research facilities become more out of reach.<\/p>\n

So while President Macron\u2019s gesture is welcome in some respects, the real challenge is for the UK and the USA to get their own politics in order, to enable the very best climate science through a global scientific endeavour free of political dogma.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Phil Newton, Research Dean for Environment, University of Reading Science is a global business. 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