French Ambassador Tours JLab
Hall B Leader Volker Burkert (right) explains the workings of the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer to Ambassador Pierre Vimont and Consul General Michel Schaffhauser (far left).

Among the many ties that Jefferson Lab has with the international science community, some of the strongest exist with the French. In recognition of this fact, French Ambassador Pierre Vimont took a whirlwind tour of Jefferson Lab on Feb. 28. Joining Vimont on the tour were his consul general, Michel Schaffhauser, and Nicole Yancey, the honorary consul of France.

Their visit to JLab was neatly tucked between the ambassador’s speaking engagements at Old Dominion University and an evening dinner at Christopher Newport University. The events were co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads and the respective universities.

 Vimont and his associates visited Jefferson Lab to gain a better understanding of the Lab's research program and to learn about the close ties between Jefferson Lab and its French collaborators. Over the years, French scientists have played key roles in defining the science program at JLab, in constructing critical equipment and in executing, analyzing and interpreting important experiments at the Lab. French collaborators also are among the key collaborators laying the plans for new equipment associated with the 12 GeV Upgrade.

French involvement in the scientific program at JLab includes:
- French scientists are spokespersons on 14 approved experiments at JLab.
- One hundred and fourteen physicists are collaborators on experiments that have run at JLab.
- Twenty-one postdoctoral candidates have worked or are working on JLab-based research.
- Nineteen students have completed their Ph.D. research based on work at JLab.
- Twelve students have thesis projects in progress.
- Four high school students and 10 master’s students have been involved in JLab research projects.
- Eleven students completed their military service requirement as "cooperant scientifique" at JLab.
While here Ambassador Vimont took the opportunity to tour the accelerator (tunnel), the control room (Machine Control Center), and two of the Lab's cavernous end stations (Halls A and B) where physics experiments are run.
The ambassador was impressed with the depth and breadth of JLab's basic science program. He spoke with senior JLab scientists and several French collaborators currently at the Lab preparing for experiments.

During the 1990s, Vimont served as the European Communities’ director for development and scientific, technical and educational cooperation and then for cultural, scientific and technical relations. He was deputy director general of the entire Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations Department from 1996 to 1997 and then director of European Cooperation from 1997 to 1999.  Vimont was appointed ambassador by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Aug. 1, 2007. Prior to his present appointment, the ambassador was chief of staff to the minister of foreign affairs, a position he had held since 2002.