Backlash over call for ‘Darwinism’ in French research funding

Ahead of a new law that critics fear will reduce tenure rights, French scientists have opposed CNRS chief’s full-throated support for competition

Published on

January 21, 2020

Last updated

January 21, 2020

Twitter: @DavidMJourno

Source: Getty

Natural selection: Antoine Petit wrote in support of an ‘unequal, Darwinian’ law

Read more about

Read more about:

Research funding

Register to continue

Why register?

Registration is free and only takes a moment
Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
Sign up for our newsletter

Subscribe

Or subscribe for unlimited access to:

Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
Digital editions
Digital access to THE’s university and college rankings analysis

Please or to read this article.

Related articles

research scientist

Ex-CNRS head: don’t rip up French recipe for research success

Concerns that France’s flagship research body is too large and unwieldy to move with the modern times are unfounded, says former president Alain Fuchs

16 April

Competition drives researchers to counselling – and exit door

Poll of 4,000 researchers reveals half have sought or wanted help for mental health problems, and four in 10 are victims of bullying or harassment

15 January

Dutch end ‘one-sided’ research focus and hope world follows

Proposals include new job classifications, a rolling back of metrics, and shorter publication lists in a bid to end excessive ‘emphasis on research performance’

By David Matthews

3 December

French flag

Controversial head of French research agency resigns

Low grant success rates, a shrinking budget and concerns over evaluations preceded departure

By David Matthews

26 July

Sponsored