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French research student in my laboratory". This, he ad­ mits, is not the best solution, but nothing else-other than new regulations- would Trouble brews in the ranks allow him time for research. He - like NEw regulations demanding more teaching mentaires, lecturers preferring to devote many of his colleagues - is bitter at the from lecturers (for the same pay) and a leak the time to research. So in such disciplines contrast in treatment between the univer­ of the long-awaited regulations which ap­ the net increase in teaching load seems like­ sities and the grandes eco/es, the tiny pear to restrict the career hopes of tech­ ly to be compensated by a reduction in engineering schools where trains its nicians were causing French university research time. An increase in the number of elite but where with few exceptions little researchers and laboratory technicians to statutory managing committees in univer­ research is done. Thegrandeseco/esarevir­ feel distinctly unhappy at the end of last sity departments from two to three, defin­ tually untouched by the higher education week. Technicians in a major research area ed in the new higher education law (which law and the new regulations. at Grenoble, traditionally the thermometer has passed its hurdles in the National The consequence has been a sharp swing of feeling in the research ranks, immediate­ Assembly and goes to the in Sept­ of mood among French scientists, especial­ ly went on protest strike for an hour on ember) is likely to have the same effect: to ly those whose votes helped to bring in the Friday. And in , the head of a scien­ reduce the time for research. present government in May 1981. In tific department in the university said he Unless, that is, people feel inclined to Chevenement's time, there was great ex­ would have to "cheat" the proposed new fool the system, like the University of Paris citement and, as the physicist said last teaching regulations, announced by the professor, who will be over-claiming on week, "people in research were told they government last Wednesday, if his research administration time and counting as teach­ were the best. But now," he added, "all was not to suffer. If the government gets its ing time "any time when there's a single that seems to have gone." RobertWalgate way, the new regulations with take effect this autumn. French nuclear tests In Grenoble, the technicians had learned that the new rules affecting them - un­ published but now before the Prime Invitation to Muraroa on table Minister, , for approval­ Canberra that the scientists may be severely restricted were "completely different" from the A SPECIAL envoy of President Fran<;ois in what they might do. It is not clear at this grading and salary agreements that had Mitterrand of France has invited each in­ stage if the scientists may take along equip­ been negotiated over two years with the dependent South Pacific state to send a ment nor how long they may stay. Con­ previous research minister, Jean-Pierre scientist to the French nuclear testing site at ceivably, the delegation may be able to tell Chevenement. Mururoa Atoll. The invitation marks a whether the atoll is sinking, cracking, or According to the director of a Grenoble change in policy by the French Govern­ both, under the strain of the testing, as has physics laboratory, the unions seem to ment which has hitherto been insensitive to been alleged by anti-nuclear groups. have been treated "very badly" by the new protests at the testing of its "independent However, all previous geological, minister, . They had assum­ nuclear deterrent" in the South Pacific. meteorological and radiation data, which ed that the regulations before Mauroy were M. Regis De bray, personal adviser to the would be needed for comparison, have the ones negotiated; now it seems they are President, was sent on the mission to de­ been compiled by the French. not, and that key problems dealt with in the fend nuclear testing and to defuse tension New Zealand, which has long been press­ Chevenement rules - such as the present in the region before the South Pacific ing for an observer at the tests, has taken up lack of promotion or salary advancement Forum meeting in Canberra which has the invitation with alacrity, and Dr Hugh for good work once a technician has reach­ on its agenda the nuclear tests and in­ Atkinson, a radiologist of the New Zealand ed mid-career - remain unresolved in the dependence for French . National Radiation Laboratory, has been Fabius version. Indeed, regulations pro­ Debray's trip follows soon after the asked to head the delegation of scientists. posed by Pierre Aigrain, the science Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob As a further concession to New Zealand, minister of the previous (conservative) Hawke, protested in person to the Presi­ some French technical information, denied president, Giscard d'Estaing, might have dent and suspended a shipment of uranium in the past, will be made available to the been more acceptable, it is being said in bound for France from Queensland, in ear­ laboratory. Grenoble. "As a director of a laboratory, I ly June. The fate of the whole export con­ Australia's position is rather more com­ really hope the government will restart tract with France is now in doubt. plicated, and it has not so far taken up the negotiations", the Grenoble physicist said Although there is little doubt that the French offer for fear it may be intepreted as last week. Otherwise, research in Grenoble French were planning some concessions of a tacit acceptance of the tests, although the and throughout France seems to be the kind offered by Debray before the federal cabinet is expected to discuss the threatened with disruption by strikes. Hawke visit and although France is not matter soon. The government has to ap­ Among university lecturers and pro­ dependent upon Australian supplies of pease a strong, restless, anti-nuclear left­ fessors, tension now centres on the new uranium, the top-level meeting in Paris wing faction in caucus that has been less teaching demands of four hours of lectures may have hastened the French gesture. than happy with the recent granting of per week for 32 weeks compared with three Certainly France regards suspension of uranium mining contracts to two com­ hours for 25 weeks at present. At the same uranium shipments as "an unfriendly panies in face of promises that no new time, the institution of paid heures com­ act". uranium contracts be entered into. In addi­ plementaires - essentially overtime The French offer to open the site to in­ tion, Australia will push for a nuclear-free teaching - which cost the ministry of spection, strictly a one-off affair, does not zone in the South Pacific in the coming education FF 100 million (£8.7 million) a in fact amount to much. If taken up by meeting of South Pacific Forum countries, year to finance, is to be abolished. Student South Pacific countries - the invitation and vigorously campaign for a comprehen­ numbers are also to increase. extends to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, sive test ban treaty in the United Nations. The result is complicated, and will vary Vanuatu, Western Samoa and Tuvalu as Against this backdrop, the cabinet may greatly from discipline to discipline. In the well as Australia and New Zealand - the well try to extract more concessions from humanities, for example, where most delegation will visit the site only after the the French, using export contracts with heures complementaires are taken, the net testing is over for the year. Furthermore, France as a lever, such as asking for an in­ effect may be to reduce lecturer's take­ Debray says "the French Government creased number of scientists and greater home pay. But in the hard sciences there is draws an absolute distinction between in­ freedom to conduct experiments. little tradition of teaching heures compte- spection and monitoring", which implies Vi mala Sarma

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