France - Science and technology



France Science And Technology 1304
Photo by: Ludmila Galchenkova

French inventors played a pivotal role in the development of photography and the internal combustion engine; to French ingenuity the world also owes the first mechanical adding machine (1642), parachute (1783), electric generator (1832), refrigerator (1858), and neon lamp (1910). French industry has pioneered in the development of high-speed transportation systems—notably the supersonic Concorde and the TGV high-speed train—and French subway companies have built or provided equipment for mass-transit systems in Montreal, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and other cities.

France is a leading exporter of nuclear technology and has developed the first commercial vitrification plant for the disposal of radioactive wastes by integrating them in special glass and then encasing the glass in stainless steel containers for burial. In 1965, France was the third nation, after the former USSR and the United States, to launch its own space satellite. The French no longer launch their own satellites, however, preferring instead to contribute to the European Space Agency.

The Acádémie des Sciences, founded by Louis XIV in 1666, consists of eight sections: mathematics, physics, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, cellular and molecular biology, animal and plant biology, and human biology and medical sciences. The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), founded in 1939, controls more than 1,370 laboratories and research centers. In 1996, the CNRS employed 19,391 researchers and engineers and 7,263 technicians and administrative staff. In addition, there are well over 100 other scientific and technological academies, learned societies, and research institutes. In 1995, France's total research and development expenditures amounted to 190 billion francs, or 25% of GDP. In 1987–97, research and development expenditures equaled 2.3% of GNP. In 1998, high-tech exports were valued at $54.2 billion and accounted for 23% of manufactured exports. Research and development personnel in 1987–97 numbered 2,659 scientists and engineers and 2,873 technicians per million people.

France has a large number of universities and colleges that offer courses in basic and applied sciences. The Palais de la Découverte in Paris (founded in 1937) is a scientific center for the popularization of science. It has departments of mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and earth sciences, and includes a planetarium and cinema. A similar Parisian facility is the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (founded in 1986). The city also has the Musée National des Techniques (founded in 1794) and the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (founded in 1919). In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 37% of university enrollment.

User Contributions:

1
Mouse
thanks so much this website was a great help on my social studies project!
2
jean
thanks so much this website was a great help on my social studies project
3
Sumerquen
thanks so much this website was a great elp on my social studies project!
4
Sade'
i really like your web
and it really tells a lot
cause i need it for school work
this was great. gave me some information for my social studies project on France. Go France!
6
Abby
Thanks so much! This helped me a lot for my honors project.
it helped me do my social studies project on France. Thank you!!!
thanks so much this website was a great help on my social studies project!
IT REALLY HELPS ME ON MY CULTURE REPORT, A LOT. ILOVE THIS WEBSITE.
This is a really great article and it helped me a lot. I love how it's simple and easy to understand, yet it has a lot of useful information. Thanks a bunch!
couldnt of done my essay without you!!! thankyou!!
thank you for posting, it helped a lot for my magazine article.
This needs to be updated, but other wise was good help.
it helped a lot for my sociology project thanks i would recommend this to every one i know
15
michael
amazing thank you for the information this was a great help please keep it up
16
michael
thanks so much helprd me for a project just what i neeed :)
17
David
who wrote this article? i need it for a project? :)
18
tania das
THANKS A LOT THIS REALLY HELPED ME TO HOW FRANCE IS DEVELOPED

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: