JOIN USFrench varsity to collaborate with City research centres
Very few people from the west would admit that they could be insular to such an extent that they may not even know a country like India exists. But among the few who do admit, is the President of Pierre and Marie Curie University, Jean Chambaz.
In an interaction, Chambaz told Deccan Herald that visiting India was not just about fellowships and funds. “I want my students to see the real world, reality as it is and the everyday life of people. India will be a learning curve for the French students who come here. And Bengaluru is a very important point in this journey,” he said.
Chambaz, accompanied by three professors and the vice-president of the Curie University, said, he is in Bengaluru to give a concrete shape to the Indo-French ties. “We are here to forge institutional relationships. The Marie Curie University will work with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) on a wide number of projects.
Normally, I don’t like to name one area or topic. The collaboration will be on a range of issues. Just to mention a few, we will work on material sciences, climate change, life sciences, new medicine and developments in bio-sciences. Bengaluru students will come to Curie university and vice-versa and be part of an institution depending on the area of collaboration,” he added.
We want a circulation of minds, says Chambaz, hinting that not much is happening on that count. “We have a plan to send our students to places with rich variety and diversity. India is clearly one of them. We want our students to understand how people live and do things in places like Brazil, China and India. They have to be exposed to cultures and civilisations other than their own.”
According to Chambaz, even if the university has its focus on science, it supports the social sciences too, particularly sociology. It has fostered an exchange of intellectuals and has built clusters around law and social science. The University also has a tradition of hosting philosophers and one of the great ones in France is philosopher Lilian Thuram.
In the natural sciences, the collaboration between Bengaluru and the Marie Curie University will draw on a rich experience of bio-tech companies like Biocon, given that cell biology is one of their major concerns. The NCBS too has plenty of experience in cell biology, and its director, Dr Satyajit Mayor is a well-known scientist in the field. There is also Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics at IISc which will help in understanding the genetic factors influencing health profiles of people. The JNCASR is carrying out high-density research in nano sciences which has major applications in biological sciences.
Deficiency in funds
It is learnt that funds are not vastly available in Europe as it was a decade ago. “Europe is in recession and reforms are being undertaken to curb wasteful public expenditure. Budgets are also tight for higher education. But we pushed for a special fund for this collaboration and we have been successful in getting financial support from the government,” the University President said. “Indian and French students are now looking forward to exchange visits.”