Courtesy of Agnès Anne/LEM P7
During a day of mourning marking a three-month protest by French researchers, a brass band played a requiem as a living effigy of Louis Pasteur emerged from a Paris Metro station to mourn the "death" of French science reportedly brought about by government budget cuts and belt-tightening. This ghost of Pasteur declared himself revolted by the fate of the nation's young researchers: "They will discover the drugs and vaccines of tomorrow, but they are thrown away like vermin," he cried. "Your leaders understand nothing!"1
The leaders may still not completely understand French scientists' concerns, but they have certainly heard them. Three months of protests and widespread resignations have helped President Jacques Chirac's party to lose regional government seats, forced Chirac to reshuffle his cabinet, and prompted a slate of promises and concessions. But neither the government nor the protesters say the concessions will end tensions ...
