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Françoise Praderie passed away in Paris on the 28th of January 2009 | Claude Kordon passed away in Paris on June 2, 2008 at the age of 74.
Neurobiologist, studied in Geneva, Paris and Boston and worked at the University of California in Los Angeles and in San Francisco before becoming Head of a Research Unit of the French Institute of Medical Research. He joined the group of scientists who founded Euroscience and was elected its first president in 1997. A former Chief Editor of the journal Neuroendocrinology, he served in several Scientific Evaluation Boards in France, Germany, Canada and India, and is currently a member of the French National Ethics Committee. |
A short notice cannot describe the multiple aspects of Françoise’s life. The following lines written a few hours after her death should not be taken as a formal biographical notice but rather as a collection of spontaneous testimonies of her friends and colleagues, like stones along her life path.
- I -
Françoise secondary studies culminated by her admission at the École Normale Supérieure de Sèvres (the one for young ladies, Sèvres and Ulm were united only in 1985). Her interests were not limited to her scientific studies, she was involved in catholic organisations with social preoccupations : the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne (JEC) for students, later in the Comité Catholique des Intellectuels Français (CCIF) where, according to a scholar, among many men, « Catholic intellectual women sought to resolve the questions posed to the believer’s intelligence by the latest developments of knowledge ». Françoise was also a member of the Union catholique des scientifiques français. In a 1996 debate launched by Le Monde by a paper “The silence of the intellectuals” and looking back to that period of her life, Françoise wrote:
(…) 1968 was also the year when the Encyclic "Humanae vitae" was published. With that text, several alliances collapsed, in particular those that were developing in the context of the Catholic Center of French Intellectuals with scientists like myself who were discussing the contribution of scientific research (...) Many laymen working in the intellectual and scientific professions or in politics, and who followed paths similar to my own, lost the will to fight so that the Church would stop holding discourses of authority and would start looking around itself, using the best available tools of thought, before it was too late.
In the France of the sixties, contestation of ruling institutions, political parties and ideologies was not limited to catholic circles . A tiny minority of young scientist initially catholic, protestant, socialist, communist funded the Centre National des Jeunes Scientifiques, probably the first French think tank about science and society issues… and provider of the main ideas in the field during the year of 1968 and the early seventies. Of course, Françoise was one of its active member and will never stop in one frame or another to be not only an analyst but an actor of science and society policy.
- II -
In the early 60s, Françoise's scientific career, essentially devoted to stellar astrophysics, was already fruitful. Very early she recognized the importance of atomic physics for the determination of chemical species abundances in stellar atmospheres, and acted strongly for developping intensive collaborations between physicists and astrophysicists.
Françoise was more specifically concerned with intermediate stars of spectral type A, and studied in particular their chemical peculiarities. Starting in the early 70's, the availability of the first UV spectra in which many lines remained unidentified reinforced the need for better atomic parameters, and therefore a strong interaction with atomic physicists.
Francoise was also particularly interested in stellar magnetism. She participated to the early development of stellar spectropolarimetry, and gave the necessary momentum to the emergence of this field, which today is one of the recognized french specialties.
Starting in the 1980's, Francoise devoted a major part of her activity to stellar micro variability. Françoise was among the first to understand the enormous potential of micro variability for asteroseismology and the sounding of stellar interiors. In the early 80s she was involved in ESA and French space projects (she was Principal Investigator of EVRIS up to 1988). These years were crucial for the maturation of asteroseismology, thanks to Francoise’ strong will and energy. Unfortunately EVRIS was lost at launch in 1996, but it opened the way to CoRoT, which is a success, as will be attested during the international symposium convened next week at the Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris.
For decades Françoise was a major player in stellar astrophysics, as demonstrated by the book of reference she has co-authored with Evry Schatzman “The Stars”.
In 1988 the late Hubert Curien was called for the second time to be Minister of research and Technology. He asked Françoise to be in charge of the Space, Universe and Earth and Ocean Science of the Direction de la Recherche. This was a new phase in Françoise’s career. She was now the head of a sector, which she knew well, since she, the previous year, had pushed her scientific community to support the Very Large Telescope. It was decided by ESO in 1987. In these responsibilities Françoise helped French science to be more aware of the international and European dimensions and to the necessity to build a European policy for research infrastructure.
When in 1992 OECD Science Ministers decided to create a common and prospective approach for future R&D large infrastructure, the French Minister proposed the candidature of Françoise Praderie to establish the secretariat of the OECD Megascience Forum (now called Global Science Forum). This was accepted, with enormous energy, dedication and enthusiasm, Françoise put in place a whole series of principles and procedures that serve the committee to this day. When she left in 1995, she had helped to turn an experiment in international science policy into a smoothly running and recognised venue for intergovernmental consultations. It is fair to say that without her and her indefatigable energy, the forum would never have taken off the way it did, and the international science community is deeply indebted to her for this achievement.
Françoise was already convinced that a top down approach was insufficient to deal with science and society issues, even at the European level. A bottom up approach was mandatory, hence her involvement with the late Claude Kordon and others in the creation of Euroscience in 1997.
Françoise Praderie: Astronomer, Science Politician, and Lady
Not always … One of the coldest early spring days of 2005 Françoise called to my office in IPG in Paris, and we agreed to have a lunch in restaurant “Voie lactée” (Milky Way) to discuss how to promote various activities of Euroscience. Unfortunately we did not meet, because we could not find each other in this small “Voie lactée” … We met later many times before her illness (she did not allow me to visit her once I knew that she got ill. I do not know the reason and only can guess). We had phone conversations many times till end 2008 discussing new cooperation of European scientists across the national borders, urgent problems of society, role of science in risk mitigation and sustainability, problems of astronomy and geophysics, and many other topics.
For the first time I met Françoise in Strasbourg in March 1997 at the constitutive general meeting of Euroscience, and we became friends. I was impressed by this Lady’s enormous activity, her bright mind, and her politeness. She was happy working, especially when working to help and encourage others. Throughout her life she enjoyed using her quick and resourceful mind to accomplish an enormous amount of work, and at the highest standard. Françoise Praderie was the first elected Secretary General of Euroscience, and the young organisation gained extra impetus. Her vision and leadership drove expansion into exciting, new areas of cooperation of European scientists. A remarkable time for me was the first Euroscience Open Forum in Stockholm, where together with Françoise I organised a workshop on risk science, society and sustainable development.
Françoise Praderie passionately believed that astronomy provided the best way of understanding the complex natural system and that a good education was the best route for enabling the most able people to address really important practical problems. She rose to the top of her profession and was greatly admired. Françoise was a leading astronomer and was recognized for her excellence not only by the Paris Observatory, and also by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). She dedicated her life for this organization being a member and an elected IAU Secretary General. She had the highest standards of intellectual integrity and a natural humility: qualities that made her approachable and warm and very easy to like and to trust.
Françoise was a deeply loved and remarkable individual - a woman of enormous energy and warmth, whose flame burnt brightly until just days before the end of her life. I admired her for her talent and for the friendship that she offered so freely and so warmly. She will be remembered with enormous gratitude by her colleagues, by her friends, and by very many others, whose lives she enriched by encouraging them, supporting them and acting as a superb role model.
Françoise will be greatly missed.
Alik Ismail-Zadeh
Karlsruhe, 30 January 2009
Françoise Praderie was one of AlphaGalileo's staunchest friends in Europe and in France. It will not be just be AlphaGalileo that misses her support and encouragement. I have lost a very good friend, someone, who like Claude Kordon, inspired affection, trust and respect, but in a very grand, real way, Europe has lost one of its fiercest advocates.
There are times when you can hear history moving onwards. This is one of those times.
Managing Director
Alphagalileo
Comme beaucoup, j'imagine, je suis très triste, mais je vais garder de Françoise la mémoire de son dynamisme au service de beaucoup de causes, et son coeur sur la main.
Une anecdote qui me revient sans cesse. Nos bureaux se faisaient face à la DRI du CNRS au début des années 2000 et j'étais allée un matin me plaindre auprès d'elle de l'attitude d'un de nos chefs commun. Françoise, je l'entends encore : "Écoutez, ma petite, je suis Astronaume-titulaire, j'ai l'âge que j'ai, et ce type m'em... aussi, comme vous! alors, considérez une fois pour toutes que cela fait partie du boulot, et vous verrez, cela ira mieux..."
J'ai raconté depuis cette scène à bien de mes jeunes collègues et je dois dire que nous nous en sommes toutes portées très bien. Merci, Françoise!
Je devrais parler du souci qu'elle avait chevillé au corps de nos collègues de l'ancienne URSS, très profond chez elle, et bien sûr, des tout débuts d'Euroscience, ce premier tract bidouillé sans bien savoir qui le paierait, mais ce soir il me revient cette Françoise-là, à la fois toujours rétive et toujours positive.
Je pense beaucoup à Philippe.
Marie-Hélène Mandrillon
Centre d'Etudes des Mondes Russe
Caucasien et Centre-Européen
UMR8083
CNRS-EHESS
It is for me extremely difficult to speak about Françoise Praderie without a very strong emotion.
We met at the beginning of the creation of Euroscience, when I was still a junior researcher in a pharmaceutical company. Fair is to say that she is at the origin of a turn in my career, and probably in my life. She gave me the taste, or should I say the flame for international science policy, which I still bear with me today.
Despite my youth at the time, she was incredibly supportive and encouraged me in chairing the emerging working group on science policy at Euroscience, and then later to become vice-president. Her dedication to the ideal for a united Europe, and for a European scientific area, her incredible energy to bypass all the political hurdles to achieve these goals, her strength in convincing even the most skeptic opponent, made of her an exemplary figurehead. I cannot recollect how many discussions we had, on so many initiatives, ideas, projects, on politics, society, mankind... Her mind was so clear and her will so strong, she was lending her strength to all around her to move ahead while still retaining this incredible modesty and friendliness which is the makeup of the truly great.
Françoise was also for me far more than just that, and I won’t say much more, save to say that I owe her much, and that we should not let her ideal fading away.
Frédéric SgardProject administrator, OECD Global Science Forum
Please accept my condolences to Francoise's family and to all her friends.
She was among the first initiators of Euroscience. She was like a star and like an example for imitation for me. I liked her very much. She was like an elder friend.
I remember how we prepared an application to NATO ARW in 2003. I remember how she was in St. Petersburg together with her husband. And many, many others meetings with her.
I will be remember her at all times.
St. Petersburg, Russia
Please accept our condolences.
Dr. Francoise Praderie was a great friend and advocate of the Georgian National Section of EuroScience. She will be remembered with enormous gratitude by members of ESGNS.
On behalf of the Georgian Section:
Dr. Levan Z. Urushadze
Honorary Chairman of the Section - Head of the Department of the Humanities
Tbilisi, February 2, 2009
It is a great sorrow to hear this sudden and sad news, especially being unaware on the illness of Francoise. I was one of those who were charmed by the personality of Francoise Praderie, by the attitude to work and people of this outstanding astrophysicist, editor of a major European journal (Astronomy & Astrophysics) and finally, as one of the founders and promoters of Euroscience.
She is greatly missed.
We are used to the expression “founding fathers”… I feel Francoise was the founding mother of Euroscience. What I regret is that I didn’t say this aloud when she was alive. Unfortunately, this seems to be part of the human condition: not to witness to those we love and respect all the good feelings we have in our hearts for them in the due time. Now it is late… But it is not late to speak about her and everything she gave to ES and to all of us because this could give a new momentum to our commitment to the cause of ES, her cause...
Sofia, 4 February 2009
Simeon Anguelov
I will never forget all the help Francoise gave me when I first began as editor of Euroscience News: she was always generous with her praise, delighfully frank but positive in her criticisms and a great help in planning the first few issues.
I think Alik in his wonderful message has said all of the other things about Francoise I would have wished to add.
Honorary Archivist, The Biochemical Society
I didn't know Françoise well. I had the opportunity to work with her in the context of Euroscience in 2003 and 2004, preparing a conference and through this experience I was able to appreciate her strong personnality. I will regret her loss.
I met Françoise for the first time in 2003 when she was preparing the symposium "Spreading the word" at the First ESOF in Stockholm with Pierre Baruch and Simeon Anguelov (http://www.euroscience.org/esof-2004.html). Françoise was an astrophysicist and she will remain for me the woman looking at the sun to find her way in Paris. Once we had a meeting in a district of Paris that I didn't know. When I got off the subway, I looked carefully at the map of this district to find my way. But as usual (I have some problems with orientation) I took the right road, but the opposite side, and therefore I lost some time and arrived late. When I apologised, explaining what happened, she told me without irony : "And you didn't look at the sun?"
Françoise was present with Simeon Anguelov at the origin of the creation of our WG on Scientific Publishing. I saw in the last issue (December 2008) of the Euroscientist, the article on digital author identifiers written by three members of our WG. When I see three scientists coming from three different countries and working in three different fields, expressing their ideas via Euroscience and trying to convince other European scientists to follow them, I think that Françoise certainly started something very useful.
Thank you Françoise. You will be missed.
Depuis 1991, ma première rencontre avec Françoise, nos chemins se sont croisés, du Ministère de la Recherche à l’OCDE. Ils se sont rapprochés, quand elle m’a incité à la rejoindre à Euroscience. La collaboration s’est renforcée quand, avec Siméon Anguelov, nous nous sommes tous trois lancés dans la construction d’une session à ESOF 2004 (Stockholm) dédiée à la publication scientifique. La suite en a été la création du groupe de travail sur ce thème, piloté maintenant par Hélène Bosc. Ce chemin nous a même conduits au Sénat, quand nous avons voulu mettre en garde le législateur contre un excès de zèle dans la lutte contre le « piratage » sur Internet, qui aurait mis en danger l’accès à la connaissance scientifique.
Nous nous rencontrions aussi en été sur les hauts plateaux de l’Aubrac, très proches de la petite ville de la Canourgue où Françoise avait ses attaches. Je me rappelle, entre autres, une belle nuit d’été, où, en astronome, elle regrettait la disparition des beaux ciels étoilés, voilés maintenant, même en altitude, par la pollution atmosphérique et lumineuse.
C’est ainsi que, au cours des années, j’ai pu admirer Françoise, dans sa volonté à construire, avec Euroscience, une maison commune aux scientifiques d’Europe. Elle y mettait toute son énergie ; sa capacité à rassembler des collaborations était inépuisable. Elle avait un grand projet, réunir les chercheurs européens pour faire entendre leur voix. Elle a pu, dans une conjoncture favorable, avancer considérablement sur cette voie. Cependant, dans une brève conversation téléphonique, il y a très peu de temps, elle me faisait part de son souci sur l’évolution d’Euroscience. Les réunions ESOF sont certes un grand succès. Mais par là même, elle craignait que cette réussite masque quelque peu les objectifs initiaux d’Euroscience. Elle aurait souhaité, comme Claude Kordon aussi l’avait suggéré, que l’association renforce ses moyens d’agir efficacement à Bruxelles.
C’étaient les derniers mots que j’ai eus d’elle.
Avec cette lucidité, ce courage, cette volonté d’agir, elle nous laisse un magnifique souvenir.
I met Françoise at this occasion and just by meeting her I signed up for a long contract with Euroscience. She convinced me to candidate in the Euroscience board election at the General Assembly in Freiburg in July 2000 where I succeeded her as secretary general. I could then fully realise Françoise’s achievements in the pre-birth and in the baby years of Euroscience. With intelligence and method, supported by a profound trust in the European future, she promoted Euroscience and won the interest of personalities, institutions, academies, learned societies all over Europe.
All these years in my position at the Euroscience office I have been grateful to Françoise for her stimulating ideas and her active participation in the life of the association. She was our “think tank”. This did change little during the years of her illness. She was always present either at the phone or by mail during the intermission periods of her therapy.
Françoise’s personality has durably shaped the mission and aims of Euroscience.
We miss her and we will remember the conclusion sentence of her reflections after the first 10 years of Euroscience:
“A stronger feeling of European identity among scientists, a sense of European citizenship, is also a small but – I believe – a significant brick in the construction of Europe”.
Claude Kordon died on June 2nd 2009. First President, in 1997, of the newly created association Euroscience, he was already at the time deeply engaged in the rejuvenation of the European Science Foundation (ESF).
Claude was (with Pierre Papon) one of two French representatives on the ESF Executive Council in the 1990s (1992-1997), when some of its members believed that the Foundation should play a more strategic role in European science policy and in the building-up of what is today called a European Research Area. Claude devoted a lot of his diplomatic talent and patience (he was fluent in four European languages…) to bringing French research institutions and their European partners to take a more active part in the ESF. He himself was convinced that the scientific challenges of the turn of the century were so enormous that European cooperation on a large scale was absolutely essential. Thus he was led, after sowing seeds in ESF territory, to his commitment in the creation of Euroscience.
In the years 1995-97, when Euroscience was in preparation, and in 1997-2000, with the help of an excellent Governing Board, Claude strove to launch the fledgling association. He understood the importance of dedicated individuals for the success of our first steps, spent time in lengthy discussions with colleagues from different countries (all the Euroscience initiators used their lists of addresses and contacts) and produced, in speech and in writing, many a bright idea for the development of the association.
Euroscience certainly started modestly, but Claude gave us confidence to forge ahead, come hell or high water. He chaired a Board representing 15 nationalities in an agreeable, elegant and positive manner, and occasionally also helped raise the spirits of the secretary general besieged by material difficulties.
Thus Claude was obstinate, but always gracefully so. He put in a lot of effort when he was aware of failings in European policy. He was firmly convinced – as were all Euroscience members – that research in Europe was too dispersed and fragmented, partly because of narrow national policies, and that scientists should constitute a lobby to voice, at the European level, their common needs and common proposals for improved efficiency and worldwide advancement of science and innovation. He was a visionary in supporting, among these common needs, the cause of young researchers. For several years he advocated the setting up of a European job bank, a service which obviously Euroscience could not establish with its own resources, but which was finally picked up by the European Commission: there is now a portal for scientists' mobility and job offers (www.europa.eu.int/eures). He also laid the foundation of the European Charter for Researchers by organising in 2002 the Bischenberg Conference on “New science- and-technology-based professions in Europe”.
These man-of-action qualities were rooted in Claude's deep knowledge of the research system, both national and European. He had a perceptive and generous mind, and as a careful observer of the European scene, he anticipated where new actions should take place. Then he launched or helped launch new initiatives.
With Claude, Euroscience chose not to be embedded in the closed circles of pure research: we met, offering our considerations, with the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, a number of research decision-makers in European countries, and of course the European Commission.
Let us end by quoting Simeon Anguelov, a Bulgarian chemist, former ambassador of Bulgaria in France, and former member of the Euroscience Board:
“Claude did a lot for intellectual life in Europe. Not so numerous are those for whom science is not a job among others but a mission, a responsibility, a vocation. I had the fortune to know him and to work at Euroscience in his wake. During my stay in France, this was one of the most enriching experiences I had on the intellectual plane”.
Nous perdons un très grand ami, un homme droit et réfléchi, peu avare de sa peine, qui n'hésitait jamais à entreprendre et conduire de justes batailles, par la parole ou par ses écrits, et qui, évidemment, a été le pilier essentiel dans la fondation d'Euroscience.
Françoise Praderie
Claude Kordon a été le premier président d’Euroscience. Il a été un Européen convaincu et Euroscience est née des initiatives de Claude et de quelques amis sur la nécessité de bâtir l’Union européenne à partir des individus, avec une attention particulière aux jeunes scientifiques. L’action de Claude comme président a marqué durablement la vie et les activités d’Euroscience. Sa personnalité chaleureuse et son charisme ont permis à l’association de jouer son rôle avec succès entre les institutions et les aspirations européennes des scientifiques et des citoyens.
L’annonce du décès de Claude est un moment de grande tristesse. Je ne peux que m’associer à tous les témoignages d’amitié et de reconnaissance. Euroscience a profité de sa clairvoyance dans la manière d’appréhender les problèmes et d’atteindre les objectifs.
Par son intégrité, son ouverture
d’esprit et son énergie il a imprégné la vie d’Euroscience durant une
grande partie de ses dix années d’existence.
C'est effectivement une bien triste nouvelle. Claude, qui faisait tellement confiance à la médecine et à la technologie en général, ne méritait pas de partir de cette manière.
Je rassemble mes souvenirs des moments que nous avons partagés depuis qu'il m'a passé le relais d'Euroscience. Je garderai toujours à l'esprit son immense optimisme et la confiance qu'il exprimait inlassablement aux jeunes. Claude entrait difficilement dans les arcanes souvent byzantines de la politique scientifique européenne, dont les intrigues l'exaspéraient. Quand il en faisait l'effort, c'était justement par devoir envers ces jeunes, et parce qu'il se sentait responsable de leur transmettre une situation plus favorable. Il a toujours combattu dans ce sens avec une probité et une énergie exemplaires. Surtout, il a su nous montrer une façon positive d'aborder les problèmes, en refusant de laisser ses collègues s'enfermer dans des voies sans lendemain, en cherchant par tous les moyens l'ouverture sur un avenir élargi. Son travail sur les nouvelles professions scientifiques est très important: il nous a aidés de cette manière à préparer la Charte Européenne du Chercheur.
Euroscience fera bien de ne pas le perdre de vue cet héritage moral.
Voilà sûrement ce qu'il attendrait de nous.
Jean-Patrick Connerade
Voilà une très triste nouvelle !
Je n'ai rien à rajouter à ce que Françoise et Jean-Patrick ont dit: son honnêteté était sans faille, c'était bien agréable !
Frédéric Sgard
La
nouvelle est bien triste surtout en tenant compte de tout ce que Claude
avait fait pour la vie intellectuelle en Europe. Ne sont pas si
nombreux ceux pour lesquels la science n'était pas un métier parmi
d'autres mais bien une mission, une responsabilité, un sacerdoce. J'ai
eu de la chance de le connaître et de travailler à Euroscience dans son
sillon. De mon séjour en France, c'est une de partie les plus
enrichissante sur le plan intellectuel que j'ai eu.
Qu'il reste pour toujours dans nos mémoires et la mémoire de tous ceux qui arrivent après lui dans les sciences de la vie.
Je vous serre à vous tous les mains en témoignage fidèle de solidarité en ce moment triste de deuil.
Siméon Anguelov
It is indeed a sad day. Claude was to me a truly inspiring man to lead Euroscience through its first fragile years. With his curiosity, intellect and friendly manner he supported and guided the important initiatives taken then. He was also a highly respected member of the neuroscience researcher community.
It is with great sadness I hear these news. My thoughts goes to his family.
Carl Johan Sundberg
C'est bien une triste et tragique nouvelle d'apprendre le décès de Claude Kordon. Je me rappelle vivement de son enthousiasme et de sa passion. C'est une grande perte.
C'est avec une profonde tristesse que j'ai appris, en Espagne ou je me trouve, la disparition de Claude. J'ai peu de choses a ajouter a vos commentaires. Je l'ai toujours trouve disponible pour un conseil, un soutien ou une action pour la communauté scientifique: c'était un sage. Il a fait beaucoup pour les jeunes chercheurs et, plus que beaucoup, il était un Européen convaincu. Euroscience devra trouver le moyen de lui rendre l'hommage qu'il mérite.
Pierre Papon
Je n'ai pas eu la chance de côtoyer Claude Kordon aussi longtemps que certains d'entre vous. Cependant au fur et à mesure de nos rencontres, de ses coups de fils discrets, de son infatigable capacité à imaginer comment éviter que Euroscience ne s'enlise (tout récemment encore à propos d'ESOF) et de son évidente sincérité que souligne Françoise j'ai appris à apprécier quelqu'un dont je savais si peu. Claude faisait sans doute partie des raisons pour lesquelles, malgré toutes ses imperfections Euroscience peut-être un peu plus qu'une ambition rationnelle. Evidemment comme le suggère Raymond, l'Euroscientist se doit de rappeler qui il fut, il serait aussi bon qu'à Barcelone, à l'occasion de la journée Euroscience, une place soit faite à sa mémoire.
Georges Waysand
