Pro-test action in Oxford

process reminiscent of the 'pop idol' format, conceived under Bulmahn's aegis, is now taking off with an initial budget of over 140 million euros. The idea is to identify universities that could compete internationally with the likes of Harvard and Cambridge and give them selective boost funding to propel them into that higher orbit. With this budget, Schavan claims, the government is on track to meet the EU objective of spending 3 per cent of GNP for research and development by 2010, provided that others follow suit. " We have set a precedent, " she said. " We expect from the regional governments and from the economy that they, too, increase their investment in research and development. " Reaching the famous 3 per cent target, which the EU set itself in 2000, would require an extra 0.5 per cent of the GNP to be mobilised for research and development. While additional federal and industrial funds may be forthcoming, there is a problem. " The more precisely the experts of the federal government calculate, the more clearly the decisive weak point comes to the fore: the Länder, " comments Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The newspaper did a quick poll among the 16 regional governments and found out that not a single one of them could present a concrete finance plan for increasing their contribution to the research and development spending. Persuading the regional governments to join the funding effort may become the hardest part of Schavan's role in research, but then again, she is already immersed in discussions with them over education and the reform of the federal system. If her theological background helps her to exorcise the sectarian spirit of German federalism and clear the way for Merkel's " excellent prospects, " it might become useful after all. Michael Gross is a science writer based at Oxford. He can be contacted via his web page at www.proseandpassion.com The tide of animal rights protests which has seriously impaired Oxford University's plans for a new biosciences building turned last month with a demonstration by supporters of the need for animal tests in research. But both sides are now predicting an escalating conflict after the two sides clashed during the weekend demonstrations. Both groups pledged to step up campaigns which have already resulted in death threats aimed at advocates of animal testing and panic buttons installed at the home of a leading animal test …