Employees at France's public research body up in arms over funding strategy

A researcher examines plants in an environmental chamber at the Ecotron, a CNRS facility (National Centre for Scientific Research) where researchers can experiment and measure the sensitivity of ecosystems to climate change. AFP/Thomas Samson

Researchers and students from France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) organised protests on Monday, calling for its president to step down. They are concerned that huge budget cuts and a new funding strategy will penalise some sectors more than others.

Tensions are rising among the 30,000 staff members at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) following the announcement in mid-December to create "Key Labs".