The France-Australia research network - www.ambafrance-au.org/science/A sub-group of FEAST

Newsletter no. 11 13 March 2006

Contents

INTRODUCTION AND GREETINGS

ABOUT THE NETWORK… New Liaison Officers FAST: results to be published by mid-March FEAST-France website updates

SPECIAL MARION DUFRESNE Australian-French marine science cooperation The second “University of the Sea” A student’s experience: Heidi Pethybridge

NEWS 4th French-Australian Symposium on Nuclear Medicine Official visit to Australia of Mr François Baroin, Minister for Overseas

Territories Galileo in Australia Talk by Dr Pierre Pouliquin on the latest trends in the battle against heart failure Visit in Melbourne by the Ambassador of France to Australia “Australia on the map”: celebrating Australia’s 400 years of Australian history

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Check out all the early 2006 funding opportunities!

10 different grants are available this month, for all researchers of both countries

Ambassade de France en Australie

Editorial Committee:Robert Farhi (Science & Technology Attaché, French Embassy)Frédéric Vanhove (FEAST-France Bilateral Liaison Officer,French Embassy)

Embassy of France in AustraliaScientific section6, Perth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600Tel: +61 (0) 2 6216 0139; Fax: +61 (0) 2 6273 0156E-mail: science@ambafrance-au.orgWebsite: www.ambafrance-au.org/science/

Dear FEAST-France members,

This year has started at its maximum speed! Many events related to French-Australian science andtechnology cooperation have happened in the past few weeks. Most important was certainly theresearch cruise of the Marion Dufresne in Australian seas. A great reward was awaiting thismagnificent ship on its arrival in Sydney after 10 days at sea… One night in Darling Harbour! Aceremony was also held on board to welcome the vessel, its crew, and the “University of the Sea”students. See our special report for the full story.

FEAST-France network has also been very active since the beginning of the year. Talks (AFASACT), visits to universities and research institutes, the 4th symposium on Nuclear Medicine, … havepunctuated the months of February and March.

Many events and activities are yet to come! Several workshops are to be held in 2006, innanotechnologies, transports and their security, water governance… But it is not finished! Below area few topical activities that you should hear about in the near future:

Besides the International Associated Laboratory on “grasslands from climatically stressful regions” tobe officially created very soon between CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), theuniversities of Grenoble 1, Montpellier 2, and Paris 6 on the French side, and ANU and CSIRO onthe Australian side, an other project on “experimental approaches on water governance” couldemerge from a bilateral workshop to be held in Montpellier this coming April. Strong collaborationsalready exist on water governance between: ANU, CSIRO, and the French CEMAGREF andCIRAD.

Turning to the huge field of nanotechnologies, an Australian delegation from the Australian Academyof Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) visited France in April 2005 and opened the wayto a more integrated approach in between the two countries. Their aim is the possible creation of abilateral network, a part of which could benefit from the already existing and fruitful networkOzNano2Life. A French delegation is expected to visit various Australian potential partners nextJuly.

France’s knowledge and experience in transportation (road, railway, etc.) is of a high level due to itsvery dense network. A French delegation of INRETS (National Institute of Research on Transportsand their Security) went to Australia last November, which resulted in some fruitful discussions andexchanges between researchers, and a bilateral workshop is also to be organised in 2006.

The Embassy strongly supports all of these initiatives, as they could give rise to virtual labs, or atleast strong networks under the “FEAST-France” label.

For more information, don’t forget to check regularly the FEAST-France websitehttp://www.ambafrance-au.org/science/. It contains all the information you need to know about theFrench-Australian S&T cooperation and it is updated weekly.Please feel free to send me any of your comments/appreciations about this newsletter, for it canalways be improved.

Enjoy FEAST-France newsletter #11!

Frédéric VanhoveFEAST-France Bilateral LiaisonOfficerFrench Embassy in Australia

ABOUT THE FEAST-FRANCE NETWORK

FEAST-France Liaison Officers

Special welcome to:

State City Title/Name OrganisationSA Adelaide Mr. Don McMaster ARI - Research Branch

The University of Adelaide

Note: If you wish to become a point of contact (Liaison Officer) in your organisation (Government,University, research institute, or Private firms), please send an email to Frédéric Vanhove at:science@ambafrance-au.org.

FAST: results to be published by mid-March

FAST (French-Australian Science & Technology Program) is jointly managed by the AustralianDepartment of Education Science and Training (DEST) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Itsupports travel and short stays for scientists involved in collaborative research projects in exactsciences over a 2 years period.The 2006 call, which closed on 26 November 2005, was a huge success. 156 applications werelodged and assessed by the Australian and French boards of experts.Then, on 3 February 2006, the Joint Steering Committee for the program was held. Participantsincluded people from DEST scientific & international relations, the French Ministries of ForeignAffairs and of Research, from the French Embassy. This meeting resulted in the selection of theFrench-Australian projects to be supported. Results are to be published by mid-March.

FEAST-France Website Updates

Since the last FEAST-France Newsletter issue, a few modifications have been made to the scientificsection’s website (http://wwww.ambafrance-au.org/science). The grant section was developed, andyou can now find a webpage specific to all calls for proposals/funding opportunities that are currentlyon offer. This month, this page is quite full! Please visit http://www.ambafrance-au.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=294

Another addition on our website is a presentation of the major French and Australian researchinstitutes. For instance, you will find an overview of CNRS, CSIRO, ARC as well as French andAustralian research institutes in medicine (INSERM and NHMRC)… Universities are not listed yet,but will be included as soon as possible. These presentations are available at:http://www.ambafrance-au.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=228

SPECIAL MARION DUFRESNE

Australian-French marine science cooperation

Long standing cooperation between Australia and France in the field of marine sciences has resultedin joint projects between French and Australian institutions in fields such as coral reefs, seabedresources, fisheries, and marine biology.Part of this collaboration has involved joint research on board one of the world’s leadingoceanographic research facilities, the French vessel the Marion Dufresne (120 metres long). Thisresearch brought together key French and Australian marine science bodies such as the French PolarInstitute (IPEV - Institut Paul Emile Victor), the French Institute for Research for Ocean Resources(IFREMER), Geoscience Australia and the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences of theAustralian National University (ANU).

26 February 2006. The Marion Dufresne entering Sydney Harbour.Photo courtesy of Robert Farhi

The French researchvessel the MarionDufresne was in Sydney(Darling Harbour) onSunday 26 Februaryhaving just completed avoyage between NewCaledonia and Sydney.During this timeAustralian and Frenchresearchers on board thevessel explored the sea-bed to assess the presenceof gas hydrate deposits,as they have the potentialto be used as a fuelsource in the future.

On the occasion of the visit, the Ambassador of France to Australia, H.E. Mr François Descoueyte,Neil Williams, CEO of Geoscience Australia, and Yvon Balut, Chief Operator, French Polar InstitutePaul-Emile Victor, had the pleasure to invite guests for a reception on board the ship.

The second “University of the Sea”

As part of the reception, the Ambassador of France awarded diplomas to a group of 19 students from10 countries (Australia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua-New Guinea,Solomon Islands, South Korea, United Kingdom) who took part in the “University of the Sea” heldon board the vessel, providing young researchers with the opportunity to use the latest equipment foroceanographic research. Lectures given by French and Australian scientists on marine biology,mapping and sea location, physicochemical analysis and geology ensured that maximum benefit wasgained from the course. This “University of the Sea” project was the second edition, following thegreat success of the PECTEN cruise in June/July 2005, between Port Moresby and Darwin, on boardthe same vessel.

The “University of the Sea” 2006 cruise departed from Auckland on February 7 and went viaNoumea, to finish in Sydney on February 26. The shipboard programme was supervised by Drs JockKeene and Julie Dickinson from the University of Sydney, Dr Greg Skilbeck from the University ofTechnology Sydney, and Professor Patrick De Deckker from the Australian National University. The“University of the Sea” students joined a research program developed by marine geoscientists fromGeoscience Australia. Part of their 'Lord Howe Rise Project' was to evaluate the levels of gashydrates ('frozen' methane) in sediments.

Geoscience Australia's survey primarily involved the collection of six giant CALYPSO piston coresover areas of possible gas hydrate (bottom simulating reflectors, BSRs) on the northern Lord HoweRise. The targets were areas of seafloor underlain (at a depth of 500 to 600m below the seafloor) byBSRs on the western flank of the Fairway Basin and the central part of the Capel Basin identified onGeoscience Australia multi-channel seismic lines collected in 1996 and 1998. Previous coring in theregion using standard piston and gravity corers (typically recovery of 4 - 5 metres length) failed to getbelow the surface oxidation layer and therefore failed to produce unequivocal geochemical evidenceof the presence of gas hydrates at depth. It is expected that the use of the CALYPSO corer withtypical recovery of 40 to 60 m will overcome this problem. Pore water and head space gas sampleswere collected from the cores and then analysed on shore.

Mr. Denise Chand receiving his

certificate from the Ambassador ofFrance to Australia, H.E. François

Descoueyte

Dr Neil Williams, CEO ofGeoscience Australia

Mr Yvon Balut, French PolarInstitute Paul-Emile Victor,

Chief Operator

In addition to the coring program, swath, sub-bottom profiler, gravity and magnetometer data werecollected on transits to and from the sampling sites. These data will provide detailed information onthe bathymetry and structure of the seafloor and underlying geology, particularly of the continentalmargin of central and northern New South Wales and of the eastern flank of the Lord Howe Rise.

For more information on the “University of the Sea” and a day-by-day account, please visit theirwebsite: http://uos.anu.edu.au/

A student’s experience: Heidi Pethybridge

“Being a 2006 University of the Sea student onboard the French research vessel the Marion Dufresnewas a great educational and personal experience. Having only just met each other the night before,all participants were in an excited state as the expedition got started in Auckland. At 21:00 hours itwas anchors away and full steam ahead to Noumea. We quickly had to adjust to the roll, pitch andyaw of the ship in finding our sea legs, which most of us did. The next day we explored the hugeship, met and greeted shipmates and enthusiastically embraced the French style, five course meals,especially the fromage. It took some time to know the ins and outs of the ship and many of us continued to get lostin the various decks (A to H), laboratories, corridors and stairs.

As we steamed along at 14 knots we realizedwhat a state of the art ship the MarionDufresne is with a lot of high qualityinstruments and equipment at its disposal toinvestigate various aspects of oceanography,geophysics and sea floor bathymetry.Although work wouldn’t start for anotherweek we attended a series of lectures whichclued us in on all the scientific jargon and thefields of research that would be conducted.Short presentations given by fellow studentsdemonstrated the diversity of the group, bothculturally and academically.

It was on the second leg from Noumea toSydney where the real work began which formany meant shift work right into the weehours of the morning. Much of our time wasspent processing, describing and packingsediment cores; getting them ready forgeochemical analysis. By the end we all werefamiliar with what ‘foram nanno ooze’ feltand looked like as well as recognize differentlayers and the depositing of ash from volcaniceruptions. With a ping pong table and 2badminton courts onboard in our spare time,much fun was had playing in the tournaments.

Heidi, who is working on sharks for her thesis,was pleased to extract a fossil shark’s tooth fromthe debris (see palm of her hand). It will beidentified and its age determined. Photo courtesyof “University of the Sea”

The University of the Sea allowed for a unique experience for graduate students to see what isinvolved, and the many complexities associated with the operational side of undertaking marinescience and life at sea. It was most exciting to watch collaborative science in action. To be involvedwith the daily acquisition of new explorative scientific data, especially on the sea floor bathymetry, istruly amazing and indescribably rewarding. It has been an honor to be exposed to the instrumentationand operational facilities supplied by the RV Marion Dufrense. I will walk away from this with notjust a greater understanding for undertaking marine sciences, but about various different cultures andwith many friends.”

Heidi Pethybridge is a Cotutelle student between the University of Tasmania and the Université deBordeaux. Her thesis deals with “Trophic ecology, reproduction investment and ecotoxicology oftwo commercially and economically important deepsea shark species”.

NEWS

4th French-Australian Symposium on Nuclear Medicine

A unique gathering of world leading French and Australian nuclear scientists met at Melbourne’sRialto Hotel on the 6th March to exchange the latest ideas on medical applications of the nuclearsciences. Experts in the emerging fields of radiochemistry, neuropharmacology and molecularimaging from both countries took part.The convenor of the symposium, Sydney University’s Associate Professor Michael Kassiou,described the event as an extraordinary opportunity for Australian science to strengthen its links withworld leading French researchers and to keep Australia at the forefront of molecular imagingresearch. “This will allow us to build on the strong collaborations that we have already establishedwith our French colleagues and should provide a big boost to our collaborative research” AssociateProfessor Kassiou said.

6 March 2006, Melbourne.4th symposium on Nuclear Medicine.From left to right: Prof. Robert Farhi(French Embassy), Prof. MichaelKassiou (University of Sydney), Prof.Denis Guilloteau (Université de Tours),and H.E. François Descoueyte (FrenchEmbassy)

The Symposium was opened by His Excellency François Descoueyte, the Ambassador of France toAustralia. Participants included the French Attaché for Science and Technology, Professor RobertFarhi, and visiting representatives of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the University-Hospital of Tours, the Cancer Centre Jean Perrin and University of Clemont-Ferrand. Australia wasrepresented by the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute, Austin Health, thePeter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation(ANSTO).The symposium focused on the use of radiolabelled drugs (radiopharmaceuticals) to study molecularinteractions of biological processes in living subjects. The multidisciplinary field known as molecularimaging utilises the nuclear imaging techniques positron emission tomography (PET) and singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT).They are used clinically to aid in the diagnosis ofvarious human disease’s including cancers and brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. They arealso of fundamental importance in basic research into disease mechanisms and drug discovery.Molecular imaging is continually improving and evolving as a result of new advances in theunderpinning sciences of radiochemistry, neuropharmacology and imaging physics. “This symposiumaims to facilitate such advances”, Associate Professor Kassiou said. A reciprocal meeting will beheld in France in 2007.

For further information, please contact:Associate Professor Michael Kassiou

Mobile: 0410660616 Tel: 02 9515 5150 (work)Email: mkassiou@med.usyd.edu.au

Official visit to Australia of Mr François Baroin, Minister for Overseas Territories

Mr François Baroin, Minister for OverseasTerritories, made an official visit to Australia onMarch 2 and 3, 2006. As part of the meetings he had in Canberra onThursday, March 2, the minister met withEnvironment and Heritage Minister IanCampbell. This meeting focused chiefly oncooperation between France and Australia andon questions involving the Pacific, such as coralreef preservation and the CRISP project.Let us remember that the Initiative for theProtection and Sustainable Development ofCoral Reefs in the South Pacific (CRISP) wasinitiated by France in 2002. The AgenceFrançaise de Développement (FrenchDevelopment Agency – AFD) designed thetechnical content of the project, which comprisesthree main components to be supervised by fourlead agencies (CI, CNRS, IRD, UNF),coordinating the work of 17 operators in 15island countries and territories of the SouthPacific. Component 1 addresses the definition ofan ecoregional strategy for reef biodiversityconservation, the setting up of MPAs andsupport for existing ones and the development of

tools for integrated coastal management(including watershed management, land tenure,socio-economics and sociology). Component 2encompasses knowledge development,monitoring, rehabilitation and economic use ofreef ecosystems. Component 3 specificallytargets communication, knowledge collectionand sharing and coordination of the wholeproject.

The initiative seeks to serve as a vector forregional integration between developed anddeveloping countries of the South Pacific. Thedevelopment of partnerships with all otherresearch or funding agencies involved in thesustainable development of coral reefs in theSouth Pacific and other oceans around theworld is therefore a priority.

For more information, please visit CRISPwebsite: http://www.spc.int/CRISP

Galileo in Australia

GALILEO is Europe’s initiative for a state-of- the-art global navigation satellite system (GNSS),providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control.Galileo is based on a constellation of 30 satellites and ground stations providing informationconcerning the positioning of users in many sectors such as transport (vehicle location, routesearching, speed control, guidance systems, etc.), social services (e.g. aid for the disabled or elderly),the justice system and customs services (location of suspects, border controls), public works(geographical information systems), search and rescue systems, or leisure (direction-finding at sea orin the mountains, etc.). Life expectancy for the satellites is 15 years.

The Galileo Structure. Photo courtesy ofGalileo Project

Initiated in 2001, and under development since 2002, the Galileo project has now enteredDeployment and commercial operation phase. Galileo is expected to generate 470 milliard euros peryear from the year 2025. 500,000 new positions should be created in Europe subsequently toGalileo’s development and success. Data collection stations are to be built, along with control andtracking stations. 30 data collection stations are to be built by 2008, 1 of them is to be located inAustralia. Discussions are also in progress concerning the construction of a test facility inQueensland.

A Galileo forum in AustraliaHosted by the Queensland Government, the European Commission, QUT and CSIRO the firstGalileo Information Forum took place in Brisbane on 14-15 February. The Forum was designed toinform industries, researchers, educators and government about Galileo – Europe 's new generationsatellite radio navigation system able to pinpoint locations to within 1metre anywhere around theglobe. There were over 200 attendees from around Australia and 23 industry sectors wererepresented. The presentation focused on the opportunities for Australian business industries andresearch institutes to further invest in Galileo’s current development phase and in the working oncethe system is in place.

Following the Forum, European Commission officials took part inofficial discussions with the Federal government. Closer cooperation onGalileo is an integral part of the Agenda for Cooperation betweenAustralia and the EU.

For further information on the Forum visit:http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/property/surveying/galileo.htmlFor information on Galileo: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/index_en.htm

Source: European Delegation in Canberra and Galileo website

Talk by Dr Pierre Pouliquin on the latest trends in the battle against heart failure

On Tuesday 14 February, to celebrate the start of the New Year and Valentine’s Day, AFAS(Australian-French Association for Science and technology) ACT held its first 2006 meeting.Dr Pierre Pouliquin, from the John Curtin School of Medical Research, at the ANU, was invited as aguest speaker. He kindly accepted to give an instructive overview on the “Latest trends in the battleagainst heart failure”.The talk especially focused on better understanding of the role and structure of the calcium channel(the ryanodine receptor), and explained why this receptor has become a new therapeutic target againstheart failure.Many thanks to Pierre Pouliquin for his very interesting talk, to Rod Boswell for hosting the meeting,and to existing new AFAS members who were present.

Visit in Melbourne by the Ambassador of France to Australia

After his opening speech and participation in the French-Australian symposium on nuclear medicineon Monday 6 March, the Ambassador of FRance to Australia, H.E. François Descoueyte, tookadvantage of his visit to Melbourne to meet with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) ofMedical Research team. He enjoyed the discussions and explanations from scientists and academicson French-Australian cooperation in Medicine. WEHI is very much involved in internationalcooperation, and strong links with France, with the Institut Pasteur in particular, have been existing

for a few years. Student and researcher exchanges occur very often between both institutes, and theAmbassador was pleased to count not less than 10 French researchers present at WEHI at the time ofhis visit!

Continuing in the field of medicine, H.E. François Descoueyte was then invited at SwinburneUniversity, where he visited the Brain Science Institute. He also met with Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Young. Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancelor for HigherEducation, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors Research and International. Our Liaison Officer, Dr.François Malherbe, who organised the meetings, joined the delegation too. After being given anoverview of the university’s research activities and educational system, the Ambassador visited theCentre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing.

“Australia on the map”: celebrating Australia’s 400 years of Australian history

"Australia on the Map: 1606-2006" (AOTM)is a national not-for-profit grass rootsorganisation dedicated to helping andencouraging the people of Australia planevents for 2006 to commemorate the 400thanniversary of the first European contactswith the Australian continent. The organisation’s focus is particularly onthe many mariners who (whether by accidentor design) charted its coasts – and put“Australia on the Map”, thereby making it

known to the world over an extended periodof time. The festivities on offer may rangefrom international events and nationwidecommemorations to state and local events.

As part of this year’s program, two exhibitions relating French expeditions to Australia will beparticularly highlighted:

The expedition of Bruni d’Entrecasteaux, looking for La Pérouse, set up a temporary village andscientific observatory on the NE Peninsula of Recherche Bay for 4 weeks in 1792 and others in thesouth of the bay for 3 weeks in 1793. Labilliardière identified over 100 new species including theblue gum, Eucalyptus Globulus, now Tasmania’s floral emblem, the flag iris, Diplarrena moraea,and the native cherry, Exocarpus cupressiformis.95% of Labilliardière’s Tasmanian collection of 5000 specimens comes from here. Its foundation forhis Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen (1804-1806) is considered to be the first general Flora ofAustralia.

On display from 10 October to 3 December 2006 at the National Library of Australia (ACT), will bethe ”Carte générale de la Nouvelle Hollande, dressée par M.L. Freycinet, Commandant la Goelette leCasuarina, an 1808 »Freycinet was cartographer on board Baudin’s scientific expedition to Australia in 1802. Publishedone year before Matthew Flinders’ chart of Australia, Louis de Freycinet’s map of the continent wasthe first to completely define the coastline as it was known at this point. It combines both the Englishas well as the French knowledge of the Australian coastline together with the earlier Dutchinformation.

Check your local events list on AOTM’s website for more information: http://www.australiaonthemap.org.au/

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

French Ministry of Research - "Grant for Cotutelle"

Competitive grant of 5100 € to the French Laboratory/University for travel expenses of theAustralian/French student involved into a Cotutelle.

Deadline 2006: 24 March 2006 Info: The rate of success in 2002 and in 2003 was around 30% for more than 400 applications peryear worldwide. French Ministry of Research Website: www.recherche.gouv.fr/appel/2006/ct.htm

Ministère de la Recherche (MR) - "Initiative Post-Doc program"http://www.recherche.gouv.fr/appel/2006/proginipostdoc.htm

DL2006: 03/04/06 Info: To return to France. For young French Post-Doc researchers currently abroad, who want to goback to work in France. Between 3000 and 5000 euros, covers the flight and the living expenses inFrance.

Ministère de la Recherche (MR) - Aires Culturelleshttp://www.recherche.gouv.fr/appel/2006/ac.htm

DL2006: 24/03/2006 Info: To visit Australia. Short visits in Australia for PhD students studying in France. Offers fundsfor travel and stay for 3 up to 12 weeks.

City of Paris http://www.paris.fr/

DL2006: 14/04/06 Info: To visit Paris. Monthly grant provided to young post-docs and eventually senior resarchers tocome to a Parisian research institute. From 2 to 11 months, from 2500€ per month. More information athttp://www.paris.fr/portail/Education/Portal.lut?page_id=99&document_type_id=2&document_id=16259&portlet_id=827

French Lessons for Scientists

French lessons for researchers, academics and professionals, sponsored by the Embassy of Franceand the Alliances Françaises are offered to FEAST-France members (researchers, research managers,other professionals, PhD students...). DL2006: 15 March 2006 For more information: http://www.ambafrance-au.org/article.php3?id_article=952

Department of Education, Science and Training - International Science Linkage - (ISL)https://sciencegrants.dest.gov.au/ISL/Pages/Home.aspx

DL2006: 31/03/05

Info: To visit France. Competitive Grants for international research, development cooperation andrelated activities in order to enhance Australian access to global research and technologies.

CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) Office of international relations http://www.cnrs.fr/DRI

Grants for "Programmes Internationaux de Coopération Scientifique" (PICS): collaborationsdeserving, beyond specific exchanges, to be supported on a long-term basis within a framework morestructured. The duration of PICS is 3 years, with possibility of extension, the usual support rangesfrom 8 to 15 K€ per annum. DL2006: 31/03/06 Hosting associated foreign researchers: many provisions allow the laboratories of CNRS to hostforeign associated researchers for a given duration. More information at: http://www.drei.cnrs.fr/rub4/CNRS/pics/;view

INRIA (Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique) http://www.inria.fr/index.en.html

130 research stays of 1 year in INRIA research units. DL2006: 31/03/06 (Information for next Call will be announced in the homepage when available.) Info: To visit France. For young graduates (less than 1 year) mainly in the field of Information &Communication. Grant of 2150 € per month. More information and application, at http://www.inria.fr/travailler/opportunites/postdoc/postdoc.en.html

Australian Research Council (ARC) - "Linkage-International fellowship" grants for longstays by French researchers, from young post-doc to high level http://www.arc.gov.au/apply_grants/linkage_international.htm

DL2006 : 14/07/06 Info: To visit Australia. Valid only for work in universities (not for research bodies like CSIRO).Offers AU$ 2500-5000 net a month, for stays of 6-12 months, plus international air fare, participationin one conference and social security.

INSERM (Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale) http://www.inserm.fr/

Avenir: a program for the promotion of young scientists, clinicians, post-doctoral fellows (nonationality restriction) with a top-ranking scientific project. The Avenir program will provide theawardees with allowance, in kind and financial support. DL2006: 30/03/06

More information and application, http://www.inserm.fr/fr/actualites/appeloffre/index.jsp?action=view&id=1013

The Young Researchers Program: recruits young researchers, French and non-French post-doctoralfellows on temporary contracts. This call for candidates includes positions for foreign post-doctoralscientists. DL2006: 31/05/06 More information and application: http://www.eva.inserm.fr/AppelsOffres/Frameset.htm