France's new socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin, made a promising dart last week to fulfilling a pledge to make research a national priority. The creation of an independent ministry for national education, research and technology has given a prominent political status to research in Paris. Responsibility in the previous administration was relegated to a junior minister; in contrast, the new ministry ranks third in importance after the ministries of employment and of justice in the ministerial hierarchy. The appointment of well-known geologist Claude Allegre as minister for education, research and technology has also been broadly welcomed by scientists (see below). His reputation for single-mindedness is widely judged as precisely what is needed to overcome the huge problems facing French universities and research organizations, including widespread resistance to reform.
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