Research politics

The "omnipresident", as Sarko is affectionately known to readers of Le Canard Enchaîné, recently gave a speech about reforming French research culture - more fixed term contracts, more involvement of the Ministry in assessment and setting programmes, more patents and engagement with the private sector, and as a carrot, higher wages for researchers. Several leading lights of French research have put together an open letter of reply which has been published in Le Monde, and made available on the web. It would be a lot more creditable if they hadn't put it in comic sans font - idiots.