Chapter 564: A New Era for French Science
"You've truly made so many sacrifices for France!"
President Le Roy was deeply moved. He admitted that if he had won the award, he certainly wouldn't have given it up so easily. Yet, the Crown Prince, solely for the sake of the Supreme Louis Prize's reputation, had graciously yielded it to another.
He sighed, "In truth, several judges and I believed that even the literary prize should have been awarded to you. I've read your 'Ladies, Please Stop,' and its captivating plot made me lose my appetite for meals."
Although these novels were published under the names of "ghostwriters," over time, everyone had come to know that they were actually the Crown Prince's works.
Joseph immediately felt even more awkward. 'This was a blatant plagiarism of a great author's work; it was truly embarrassing...'
He quickly changed the subject. "Ahem, President Le Roy, how is the reorganization of the French Academy of Sciences progressing?"
"Oh, it's going quite smoothly, Your Royal Highness," Le Roy replied promptly. "Currently, the new departments of Mathematics, Geometry, Mechanics, Astronomy, Optics, Agriculture, and Chemistry have begun operations.
"Newer departments, such as Thermodynamics and Surgical Medicine, are still being established.
"As for the departments you requested, like Geology and Electrical Engineering, they may take some more time due to a lack of sufficient scholars..."
Prior to this, neither the French Academy of Sciences nor the Royal Society in London possessed more than two departments: Mathematics and Physics.
Further subdivisions of fields were simply nonexistent. This led to numerous obstacles in scientific research. For instance, in terms of funding allocation, how could electrical studies, with its nascent theoretical framework and still part of the Physics Department, possibly contend for funds with the established masters of mechanics? Not to mention geology, which the titans of traditional physics wouldn't even deign to acknowledge.
The same applied to management. For example, Lavoisier was the second director of the Physics Department. But what did he know of physics? His work was entirely in chemistry, so how could he possibly lead the Physics Department?
Many rising stars in physics would submit papers to him. His inability to understand them was a minor issue, but occasionally delaying a highly promising young talent could result in a monumental loss.
Therefore, Joseph instructed Le Roy, Lagrange, Condorcet, and Laplace to reorganize the Academy of Sciences according to the common disciplinary divisions of later eras.
This would ensure greater efficiency in future scientific research and more rational allocation of funds.
Concurrently, these specialized departments would also attract more talent to France.
For instance, a brilliant mind dedicated to geology might elsewhere be relegated to working under a group of theoretical physics giants, with little prospect of advancement.
But upon arriving at the French Academy of Sciences, they could, by virtue of their solid academic foundation, directly assume the position of Head of the Geology Department!
It was a complete transformation.
At the very least, everyone in your department would be engaged in related research, and wouldn't constantly look down their noses at you.
President Le Roy continued, "As for the national laboratories supporting each department, most of them are now complete. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should all be finished before August this year."
These national laboratories, established by Joseph through the Academy of Sciences, were also considered a groundbreaking innovation of the era.
At present, scientific research remained an incredibly lavish undertaking; one truly couldn't engage in it without immense personal wealth.
Take laboratories, for instance: universities could only provide the most basic equipment. To conduct cutting-edge research, one had to fund it personally, hire staff, purchase equipment, and build private laboratories. Such endeavors often cost tens of thousands of francs.
Lavoisier's private laboratory, for example, had seen investments totaling over a hundred thousand francs, with tens of thousands of beakers alone.
In such circumstances, producing research results didn't guarantee recouping the costs, and failing to achieve any breakthroughs inevitably led to financial ruin.
Hence, the scholars of this era fought purely for their ideals and the pursuit of truth, each one worthy of admiration.
However, this also caused many exceptionally talented but impoverished scholars to sigh with regret, unable to fully utilize their abilities.
Joseph, on this occasion, allocated 1.2 million francs to the French Academy of Sciences to construct several large national laboratories, built to the highest standards. Any scholar could apply to use them, free of charge.
This would not only facilitate research for French scholars but also attract a significant number of talented, financially constrained individuals from abroad to apply for laboratory access.
Before their experiments were finished, they would have to live in France, and their research materials would surely accumulate there. How troublesome would it be to move them back and forth? Essentially, the entire research process would take place in France. After living in France for a few years, they likely wouldn't want to leave.
Furthermore, the use of standardized laboratory equipment would foster rapid advancements in experimental science.
As Joseph and Le Roy were speaking, their carriage slowly came to a halt. Noisy conversations drifted from outside, indicating that a large crowd had already gathered.
Eman opened the carriage door and stood bowing respectfully to the side.
Joseph then saw a vast cluster of villas encircled by red brick walls. On a massive stone outside the wall, the words "Palace of Great Scholars" were carved.
In reality, the so-called "Palace of Great Scholars" was a high-end residential complex prepared for attracting talent. Joseph had initially intended to name it "Home of Talents," but Brienne believed the name wasn't grand enough and suggested "Palace of Great Scholars" instead.
So, there was no actual palace here, but the quality of construction and its elegant style were absolutely top-tier. Furthermore, it was not for sale to the public. Only individuals recognized by the talent acquisition program could rent residences here at a very affordable price.
This ensured that all your neighbors would be first-rate scholars.
Once your cumulative academic contributions reached a certain academic ranking, this luxurious villa would be gifted to you directly. Naturally, it could not be sold privately.
As the principal in charge of the talent acquisition program, Mirabeau was already waiting in the fountain plaza in front of the Palace of Great Scholars. Upon seeing the Crown Prince arrive, he immediately signaled the band to play.
The surrounding crowd immediately bowed towards Joseph.
Academic events of this kind usually didn't attract many onlookers, but thanks to extensive publicity for the talent acquisition program, today, over a thousand people had gathered.
Among them were many children who, after seeing the impressive villas of the Palace of Great Scholars, had secretly resolved to become scholars and one day live there themselves.
Joseph delivered a speech as usual, then spoke to the assembled journalists about France's emphasis on talent. Following that, he observed as the first batch of scholars moved into their new homes at the Palace of Great Scholars.
Around 6 PM, the ceremony concluded. Joseph boarded his carriage, preparing to return to the Tuileries Palace.
Mirabeau quickly jogged over from behind, saluted him respectfully, and seemed to hesitate to speak.
Joseph motioned for him to get into the carriage and asked, "Is there something you wish to discuss?"
Mirabeau hesitated. "Your Royal Highness, I would like to request that you postpone the subsequent construction phases of the Palace of Great Scholars. Oh, and also, it would be best if we could delay the dividends from the Industrial Development Fund."
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