Research Centers: Continental Europe vs. USA
On your left: the research building of Ecole Centrale Paris, a prominent French engineering school, covering all disciplines of pure and applied science. Disclaimer: the picture was taken today. You see? Winter is not bad at all in Paris.
On your right: one of Stanford University’s 101 research centers (this one’s especially dedicated to research on cancer).
Guess who wins? It’s time for continental European corporations & governments to build strong ties with educational research centers. Europe ‘produces’ great engineers, but its research is too ineffective. As a proof, take a look at the home university of 90% of the articles published in the very best scientific reviews.
Richard M. Lucas… looks like he’s from my family!
Comment by alexandrelucas — November 29, 2006 @ 11:51 pm
I completely agree with you in terms of a better link between academic research and industry. another question which would have to be answered quickly: how to keep engineers and researchers in our lab rather than letting them working in foreigns lab.
I would a bit more circumspect about publications. 2 parameters must be considered:
- in high impact factor journals (mainly american journals), there is a quota for european submitters.
- many french lab does not label their paper correctly. I remember a note from INSERM (the french NIH equivalent) saying that non negligible % of papers published by Inserm researchers are not counted in statistics because of an incomplete adress or label !
Comment by LF — November 30, 2006 @ 12:01 am
Alexandre> Yeah, George Lucas too I guess.
Laurent> I didn’t know about this quota thing. But I’m very surprised, and actually doubt it’s true since I heard research papers are submitted anonymously. Could you back your stance with a tangible source? Many thanks, and sorry for the homework.
True about the label thing. But if the French can’t fill in an address, why would you want to take their papers seriously?))
Comment by Jeremy Fain — November 30, 2006 @ 12:09 am
The european researchers quota is not a public rule, of course. Unfortunately, I have no direct proof of that. A couple of years ago, we met an editor of one of the best journal who told us that story wohch, according to him, is the rule for most of journals. According to many old researchers, it could the truth ?!I’m a bit like you: which credit can we afford to that ‘legend’? I still hope publishing in one these high impact factor journals before the end of the year;-)
For the anonymous publication, I can just say that in our field, you must give your complete details to the journal before being reviewed. You must also add the name of 2 or 3 people you would like to be your reviewers, and 2 or 3 names of people you don’t want them to read your paper before publication. I have no idea about the other domain of science.
PS: I’m really sad since I’ve heard that you won’t be part of our VCIC team! I hope I could see you soon.
Comment by LF — November 30, 2006 @ 12:29 am
Thanks for your answer Laurent. Sorry about the VCIC thing: I have an exam right during the event. But we can see each other anyways: I’ll pop up at HEC tomorrow and will give Alex a call.
Comment by Jeremy Fain — November 30, 2006 @ 1:04 am
cool. We’ll try to meet tomorrow.
Comment by LF — November 30, 2006 @ 1:14 am