Scientific work and the resercher’s condition (symposium)
“SCIENTIFIC WORK AND THE RESEARCHER’S CONDITION”, Venue: University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, near Paris, on February 11, 12 and 13, 2009
Proposed Topics of the Symposium
Youth and Scientific Careers:
The disaffection of the young for careers in Science is alarming. The situation of students and young researchers is becoming insecure. The image of Science is tarnished.
The Status of Scientific Workers:
Consideration of the precariousness of jobs in scientific careers (less and less limited to the early stages of the career) and of the rights and guarantees that must be defended, will be the occasion to highlight the existence and the role of the recommendations adopted by the Member States of UNESCO concerning the Status of Scientific Researchers (1974), and the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel (1997).
UNESCO has decided to carry out an overall assessment of the implementation of the 1974 Recommendation as well as of related documents adopted by the World Conference on Science of 1999. WFSW affiliated organisations have every reason to make sure that the governments of their respective countries adopt a positive attitude towards this assessment exercise undertaken by UNESCO.
Especially in the case of Europe, it is important to examine the present status of implementation of the EU Commission Recommendation of 2005 on the European Charter for Researchers and on a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
Research, democracy and sustainable development:
Technological advances, and the associated productivity gains, lead on a global level to increased consumption of energy, mineral resources and food. At the same time an accumulation of negative effects as, for instance, increased greenhouse effect, are by far not combated at the necessary pace by innovative measures intended to alleviate them.
This state of affairs imperatively questions society lifestyles and the definition of public policies. A democratic debate is necessary involving all components of society. Researchers must take part in such a debate as rightful citizens. Sustainable development is a democratic challenge.
Call to contibutions
The contributions with a maximum of 25000 signs are to be sent as text files (msword or openoffice) to the WFSW’s Secretariat fmts@fmts-wfsw.org.
They should be accompanied by an Abstract of no more than 500 signs both in French and in English, before October 31st, 2008.
