CNRS

CNRS

Introduction

The CNRS Office for the USA and Canada in Washington, D.C., covers all the domains of the research organization, from social and life sciences to hard sciences. The projects and activities of the Office are based on the thematic priorities of the 2006 CNRS strategic plan (life sciences, technology and computer sciences, nanoscience and nanomaterials, astrophysics).

The particular attention given by the Office to political, social and scientific life in the US allows for the identification of new priorities and for the exploration of new possibilities for Franco-American collaboration. One of the most important functions of the Office in Washington is to facilitate the creation of new CNRS research units: GDRI, or International Research Groups; LIA, or Associated International Labs; and UMI, Joint International Research Units.

The Office also assures the follow-up of already existing research units. Projects for the creation of new research units in 2008 exist in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Chicago, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. CNRS supervises 35 international programs for scientific cooperation found in universities throughout the country, which are collaborations that could evolve into an LIA or UMI. The Office also helps French researchers coming to North America, when possible (more than 6,500 missions to North America were financed by CNRS in 2007), and also helps American researchers going to labs in France (visas, letters of invitation). The Office in Washington is an institutional moderator between the CNRS and federal agencies, universities, research organizations and associations in the USA and Canada. The NSF, DOE, NIST, NIH, EPA, NOAA and AAAS are among the most important partners.

Visibility of the CNRS for French Scientists

Increasing the visibility of the CNRS for French scientists in North America is an important priority for the Office in Washington. In cooperation with the Inserm (French National Institute for Health and Medical Research) Office in Washington, we survey the French expatriates working at universities and labs in the USA and Canada, either by direct contact with American labs and post-doctoral associations, or by contacting French lab directors. At the end of 2007 we had surveyed more than 1,230 French researchers working and living in the USA and Canada, 75% of which are post-docs. We have increased our visibility to these expatriates through a weekly newsletter, "Le Fil de Marianne," published in conjunction with the Inserm Office in Washington. The first edition appeared in January 2006. This newsletter aims to keep French scientists in North America informed of what is happening in the research area in France and of possibilities for employment within the French scientific community. Most of the newsletter is therefore dedicated to job offers, workshops, calls for applications, and conferences in France and Europe.

The CNRS Office in Washington has participated in several career fairs (MIT European Career Fair, APEC International Career Fair in 2008, NIH International Opportunities Expo in 2007, 2008). We have also visited universities throughout the USA (UCLA, UC-Riverside, UC-San Diego, Berkeley, University of Maryland-College Park…) to come into direct contact with French researchers and explain the CNRS recruitment process in France.

Promotion of French Science

The CNRS Office for the USA and Canada organizes events in order to promote French science to the North American public, distinguishing two main types of activities: conferences for professionals, scientists and the public at-large, and activities for young people who are still in school. Many events have been organized in Washington DC in cooperation with the Office for Science & Technology at the French Embassy:

 Exhibition and debate on the subject of “Women in Physics” with the participation of Geneviève Hatet-Najar and Anne Pépin (March 2007)
 Presentation of the movie “Toto le Némato “ and debate on parasitology with Frederic Thomas (October 2007) Activities for young people have included the creation of CNRS Clubs at French high schools in the Washington metropolitan area (Lycée Rochambeau, Bethesda, MD) and in San Francisco (Lycée La Pérouse).

Within the framework of theses Clubs the Office has done the following:
 Presentation of the movie “Toto le Nemato” and debate on parasitology with Frederic Thomas at both schools.
 Presentation by delegates from the French ADEME (Agency for the environment and energy control) at Rochambeau.
 A student and a teacher from La Pérouse were able to attend the CNRS “Colloque Sciences-Citoyens” in Poitiers, France.

The CNRS Office is also helping to promote the quarterly publication in English of the “CNRS International Magazine,” which is sent to more than a thousand people in North America.

Examples of activities and actions

 Participation at the MIT European Career Fair in Boston (2006-2012)
 Missions to California (April 2007, March 2008)
 Workshop on nanosciences with the participation of the DOE (Department of Energy), CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) and CNRS (June 2007)
 Visit of Mr. Arnold Migus, Director General of CNRS, to Washington, for meetings with the NSF, NIH, and DOE (October 2007)
 Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on the ECTA program (European Career Transition Award) with the NIH (October 2007)
 Attendance at hearings and conferences in the Washington metropolitan area (NSF, Congress, other embassies, think tanks, and scientific associations).

Contacts

Jean Favero
Director, CNRS in the USA, Canada and Mexico
Washington, D.C.
Tel : +1 (202) 944-3240
Fax : +1 (202) 625-3009
E-mail : jean.favero@cnrs-usa.org

Stéphanie Jannin
Deputy Director, CNRS in the USA, Canada and Mexico
Washington, D.C.
Tel : +1 (202) 944-6238
Fax : +1 (202) 625-3009
E-mail : deputy-cnrs@ambafrance-us.org

Sarah Mondet
Associate Director
Washington, D.C.
Tel : +1 (202) 944-6243
Fax : +1 (202) 625-3009
E-mail : associate-cnrs@ambafrance-us.org