Search Site
An International Colloquium
« In the spirit of Sakharov »
Science, ethics and politics : yesterday and tomorrow
Was held on November 21, 2008, Collège Doctoral Européen, Strasbourg, under the aegis of Euroscience and with the patronage of the European Parliament, the French national commission for Unesco, the European academy of sciences, letters and arts, and the La Ferthé foundation.
For the 40th anniversary of Andrei Sakharov’s Manifesto : « Reflections on Progress, Peaceful Coexistence and Intellectual Freedom » and the 20th anniversary of the creation by the European Parliament of the « Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought », tribute has been payed to courageous and upright scientists who devoted themselves to peace, respect and justice, and were ready to pay dearly for their dissidence, asserting themselves as « scientists of conscience ».
Catherine Trautmann (European Parliament) : The European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize – history and future of this distinction
Charles Rhéaume (Historian, Ottawa) : Andrei Sakharov, his life and the meaning of his efforts
John Finney (University College, London) : Joseph Rotblat and the
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, Nobel Peace laureate
in 1995
Yali Amit (University of Chicago) : Daniel Amit, my father – the passionate activist
Tzvetan Todorov (CNRS Paris) :
i) Germaine Tillion, knowledge and action
ii) A tribute to Bronislaw Geremek
Georges Waysand (CNRS Paris) : After Sakkharov : Euroscience, a tool in front of present scientific responsibilities ?
A Round Table on Prospects and projects brought together : Sacha Goldman (Collegium International, Paris), Georges Le Guelte (Institut des relations internationales et stratégiques IRIS, Paris), Charles Rhéaume (Historian, Ottawa), Georges Ripka (physicist, CEA Paris), Gérard Toulouse (Ecole normale supérieure, Paris). The interchange, promptly joined by an active audience, surveyed important topics within Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean area, and stresssed the need for better convergence of efforts (notably around Euroscience, Pugwash, the International Collegium and other constructive organizations) in order to bring progress toward that ancient goal : the replacement of war by law.
Posthumously granted to Professor Daniel Amit, the Rammal Award 2007 was then delivered to his son by Jean-Patrick Connerade (Imperial College, London), former president of Euroscience and new Chair of the Rammal Award jury. The Rammal Award was created in memory of the great Lebanese physicist, Rammal RAMMAL (1951-1991). The medal is awarded each year to an outstanding personality of strong scientific stature from one of the Mediterranean countries, who, through his life and activity (whether in fundamental or applied research, teaching, or the integration of knowledge), has elevated scientific exchanges in this part of the world, rich with ancient traditions.
http://www.euroscience.org/rammal-award.htmlLydie Koch Miramond & Gérard Toulouse
