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Is 65 too old to stay at the helm of a major research center?
[...] Bréchot, who previously led INSERM, the French biomedical research agency, aspires to a second term, but he will turn 65 in July 2017. Under the governing statutes of the foundation that runs the Paris center, that disqualifies him for the renewal, Pasteur's 21-strong board of directors has concluded. Angered by the board's refusal to change the rules, Pasteur's General Meeting, a parliament-style governing body, dissolved the board in June. Now, Bréchot's future is in limbo.
[...] The board, which includes six Pasteur scientists, would not budge. Changing Article 12 would be a lengthy affair that requires government involvement and could lead to a complete review of the foundation's statutes to align them with those of other French foundations, says board chair Rose-Marie Van Lerberghe. That could damage Pasteur, she adds: For example, Bréchot earns a sizable salary but typical foundation statutes require an unpaid president, which would make it difficult to recruit a top candidate.
How old is too old for this job and others?
Would making the position unpaid like other foundation actually make it "difficult to recruit a top candidate"?
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/08/dispute-over-presidents-age-tears-pasteur-institute-apart
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bob_super on Thursday August 04 2016, @04:56PM
> Discrimination based on age is supposed to be illegal?
France has rules to push old geezers out of top positions and clear the room for younger people (using the logic that old geezers should enjoy their retirement benefits instead of keeping younger people from rising up or straight unemployed).
That's the kind of discrimination that gets made legal by evil left-wing people when your unemployment stays stuck around 10% (not he same math as the US).
(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 04 2016, @09:41PM
OK, but we're not talking about France.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 04 2016, @09:43PM
and I think this is exactly the sort of situation that they wanted to avoid, with a geezer holding on to a ruling position.
while it's true that for scientists a lot of productive work can take place after 65, I really think they should only be allowed to be the equivalent of postdocs if they insist on doing research.
they should definitely not be allowed in a decision making position.