While the University of Toulouse is preparing to receive US researchers, Bertrand Jouve, scientific coordinator of the Toulouse Initiative for the effects of research on society (Tiris °) explains how this greeting is organized. INTERVIEW.
What role does the Tiris play in the reception of American researchers?
After the “Stand for Science” movement in March, we decided to welcome American researchers. Today the Tiris has prescribed 22 files. We look at your CV and your cover letter and evaluate your obstacle, the relevance of research topics in relation to the Toulouse Ecosystem and the pillars of Tiris and the ability to carry out your research in Toulouse. Then they are validated by an external international jury who assess their scientific properties to clarify this because we only have 15 places. Between this summer and early 2026 we will give three waves from five researchers. We concentrate on the Americans for the moment, but for the next two waves we could open ourselves other countries in which researchers are prevented. There were also four devices: one for receiving postdoctoral and contract, one for the owner, one who receives the research teams and one that takes into account data. You have to make it possible to pay wages by guaranteeing a good work environment for these researchers. Half of the applications concern the area of humanities, i.e. human and social sciences such as history or studies on gender or racism. It is the most common field of Trump and the world.
How are these arrivals perceived?
There is strong solidarity. In the United States, the researchers have received orders to stop certain research. For a large country of science like the United States, it’s pretty crazy! In France and Europe, we always defend free, globalized, open and diverse research. Therefore, every arrival of external researchers is good and every mix of knowledge is productive. If American researchers want to stay after Trump, we will try to stay. Despite everything, university education and research in France are outsiders in the financial resources, which should not affect our French researchers. The reception of Americans consensus with Toulouse Research, but it is necessary to remind the government from the fact that it is not because there is too much money in research, but because it has a priority to defend a free, open and diverse science. American researchers will have the same salary as French researchers. It is less than you, but since the cost of living in France is lower, it is incomparable.
How do you feel personally for the welcome?
We are lucky enough to be in a country where research is free and calm. I can only be happy to help researchers enjoy them. It is also part of the international influence that we are in solidarity in Toulouse with foreign colleagues in difficulties and that we have the means to research under good conditions. We have the technical means and the scientific quality to welcome them. It is not easy with regard to financial resources, but we will do what we can do. We are lucky enough to conduct research that sweeps all major fields of science on the best world level.