The CNRS is now one of the largest fundamental research centres in Europe. The flagship of French scientific research, the CNRS has the status of a public institution and is now attached to the Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Physicist Louis Néel, who has just received the Nobel Prize for his research on ferrimagnetism, describes his report to research. According to him, his research was first guided by his passion for physics and less by the possible applications of it. He explains with a great deal of modesty that, at first, he did not imagine the scope of his work on ferrites.
Survey on the working conditions of researchers. Reportage shot at the Gustave Roussy Institute in Villejuif: Mr ARREL, a master in cancer research, defines the profession of researcher and expresses himself on the material conditions of this profession.
Reportage in two CNRS laboratories in Meudon following the reform carried out on this institution by the Secretary of State Mr Aigrain, aimed in particular at bringing fundamental research closer to industry. Commentary on images of researchers working on phenomena on the surface of metals and new materials, followed by a series of images illustrating the rallies and calls to protest against this reform.
Researchers at the CNRS de Gif sur Yvette and agronomists at INRA in Versailles are developing a new cultivation technique: above-ground cultivation (hydroponics). In their laboratories and greenhouses, the roots of pineapples and banana trees are fed by nutritional solutions and the bean plants are fed by a piping system. The Antibes Rose Garden is the first large-scale application of soil-free cultivation.
Report on the Odeillo solar oven, developed by the CNRS. Interview with Professor Félix TROMBE, doctor of the Odeillo solar energy laboratory who explains how this oven works.
A report at the CNRS in Toulouse, where the researchers developed the SPIROU spectropolarimeter, which will be able to search for exoplanets that can host life. Commentary on images of the laboratory work on this telescope and the Pic du Midi observatory, alternating with interviews with François DONATI, astrophysicist, research director CNRS - observatory of Pic du Midi and Driss KOUACH, CNRS engineer project manager SPIROU.
Reportage in Toulouse’s Rangueil district on the "ball" containing Europe’s most powerful electron microscope. With this project funded by the CNRS, we hope to be able to observe for the first time living cells. Explanations on its operation, aerial views of the dome and images of the installations.
Reportage consacré à l'analyse des glaciers de l'Antarctique. Au laboratoire de glaciologie de Grenoble, Claude Lorius, directeur de recherche au CNRS, décrit comment l'analyse de carottes de glace prélevées en Antarctique permet d'étudier l'histoire du climat terrestre et le mécanisme des pollutions. Tous les éléments sont sources d'information dans ces blocs de glace vieux de 30 000 ans : eau, bulles de gaz, poussières. Commentaire sur images du prélèvement de ces carottes et du centre de glaciologie de Grenoble suivi de l'interview de Claude Lorius.
Reportage In the basement of the Louvre Museum, the Aglaé particle accelerator dedicated to works of art allows to analyze the ancient objects and to know how they were made, without damaging them. Gallo-Roman statuettes of the Bavay treasure are currently being screened. Comment on images of this device.
A series of interviews on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the CNRS. CNRS Executive Director Pierre JACQUINOT briefly describes the career opportunities available to researchers within the CNRS. One researcher explains why he decided to embark on research, including 'participating in an international competition'. Another researcher explains that private industry is in no way in competition with the CNRS, since researchers devote their efforts to basic research.
François KOURILSKY, Director General of the CNRS, answers questions from François PONCHELET and refutes some misconceptions about this public institution. He recalls that while CNRS researchers are civil servants, all French Nobel laureates are civil servants. He then recalled that, contrary to the common idea that the CNRS would do only basic research, this institution is the largest patent holder in France.
Hubert CURIEN, Director-General of the CNRS, recalls that since the creation of this institution by Jean Perrin, the number of researchers has increased eleven-fold. It describes the distribution of appropriations, recalling that democratic bodies oversee this organization. Finally, he gives some examples of great discoveries and innovations that have taken shape at the CNRS, recalling nevertheless that "if science is made of great discoveries, it is also made of the conjunction of a cluster of small discoveries".
Report made in Toulouse on the occasion of the award of the CNRS gold medal to economist Jean TIROLE. Commentary alternating with the researcher interview, Welcoming this award and recalling that he now wants to work in partnership with private companies in the region and interview different students of the School of Economics of Toulouse, convinced that this distinction will also have positive repercussions for doctoral students.
Report devoted to mobilising against government reform in research. Scientists denounce the precariousness of this reform. In particular, CNRS researchers fear that basic research will be shifted to more profitable projects but also to lose prerogatives vis-à-vis the university. Comments on the images of the events of researchers, archival images illustrating the work of researchers in the laboratory, images of the ceremony in honour of Professor Albert Fert in Orsay, where Nicolas Sarkozy recalled that the government wanted to lead the scientific policy alternating with the interviews of Vanina BOUTE, ethnologist at the CNRS, Yves LASZLO, associate professor at the École Polytechnique and Valérie PECRESSE, Minister for Higher Education and Research.
A report on the crisis in the research community, which is demanding more positions and resources from the government. Interview of biologist, Axel KHAN, geneticist of the Institut Cochin in Paris, Alain TRAUTMANN, director of research at CNRS. Story of the events. Alternation of factual images.