National Committee of Scientific Research

Presentation

The National Committee for Scientific Research (CoNRS) is a collective body comprising the Scientific Board, Institute Scientific Boards, specialized sections in each discipline, and Interdisciplinary Commissions.  The CoNRS plays a key role in French science.
Its members are representatives of the scientific community who apply their expertise to support the core mandate of CNRS: "To identify, carry out (or have carried out), either alone or with partners, all research that advances science or contributes to the country's economic, social, and cultural progress".

Thanks to the work of its governing bodies which manage around 20,000 files each year, CoNRS helps define the scientific policy of the CNRS, analyze the current situation and outlook, recruit researchers and promote their careers, as well as monitor research unit activity.

Missions

The main missions of CoNRS governing bodies are defined in French decree no. 82-993 dated November 24, 1982.

Thanks to the work of its governing bodies which manage around 20,000 files each year, the CoNRS helps define the scientific policy of the CNRS, analyze the current situation and outlook, recruit researchers and promote their careers, as well as monitor research unit activity.

Organisation

The National Committee has four types of governing bodies (with five-year maximum mandates) and three Coordination Authorities.

Governing bodies :

- The Scientific Board (CS)
- The Institute Scientific Boards (CSI)
- Sections
- Interdisciplinary Commissions (CID)

Coordination authorities :

- The Conference of Presidents of the National Committee (CPCN)
- The Scientific Secretaries Committee (SSC)
- The CoNRS Executive Committee (C3N)

Composition

The National Committee for Scientific Research brings together more than 1000 national and international experts.
The members, appointed or elected, the vast majority of whom are CNRS employees, take part in the work of the following bodies

- 30 members on the Scientific Board (CS)
- 240 members (24 x 10) in each of the 10 Institute Scientific Boards (CSI)
- 861 members (21 x 41) in each of the 41 sections
- 126 members (21 x 6) in each of the 6 interdisciplinary commissions (CID)

Members are elected by and from among the staff of the Centre and persons contributing to its activities. They belong to electoral

  • colleges*

    • All permanent CNRS staff and personnel working in CNRS-associated research units (representing over 60,000 people) belong to electoral colleges.

      College A :
      A 1 : CNRS Directors of Research and Research Fellows
      A 2 : University Professors and/or equivalent (outside CNRS)

      College B :
      B 1 : CNRS Researchers
      B 2 : University Associate Professors and/or equivalent (outside CNRS)

      College C :
      CNRS engineers and technicians, and/or equivalent

defined by regulations:

  CS
CSI
 Sections CID
ELECTED
A1
3
3
3
6
A2
2
2
3
B1
2
2
3
5
B2
2
2
2
C
2
3
3
3
Total 11
12
 14 14
APPOINTED
19
12
7
7
Number of members 30 24 21 21

 

Each body of the National Committee for Scientific Research (CS, CSI, sections et CID) has a bureau (composed of 5 members: 1 president, 1 scientific secretary and 3 bureau members) responsible for preparing the work of the plenary meetings.