With the Académie des Sciences in 2013-2014

encOURAGinG the ScientiFic cOmmUnitY

international colloquia

Genetics, Epigenetics and Psychiatric Diseases

Although the human and financial costs induced by mental disorders are considerable, research in this field remains hindered: society

is still reluctant to recognize that the brain may be “ill” and that metabolic anomalies may be responsible for psychiatric diseases.

The colloquium held at the Académie des Sciences reviewed the place of heredity in the occurrence of mental disorders, whether

involving genetic mutations, which in most cases affect, not one gene, but a multiplicity of genes, or epigenetic modifications, which

may durably affect the expression of genes and be transmitted from one generation to the other (3 December 2013

Hypotheses on the Origins of Life

Despite the great deal of knowledge that has been acquired, vast grey areas

remain regarding the origins of living beings. The colloquium held at the

Académie des Sciences was the opportunity to ask a few crucial questions

and to provide elements of answers: how did the building blocks of life formed

from the elements of the universe? How were proteins and nucleic acids

recruited inside the lipid vesicle, favouring molecule interactions? How did

the forming cell manage to master the production of energy? (16 and 17

September 2013)

awards and medals

Thanks to the generosity of private donors, state

organisms and enterprises, the Académie des Sciences

awards about 80 prizes every year, in basic or applied

research fields. Laureates are selected within a

regulatory framework that ensures there is no conflict

of interest. The juries of prizes that amount to less

than €7,500, so-called Thematic Prizes, are composed

by the members of the relevant sections. The Grand

Prizes, exceeding €15,000, fall under ad hoc juries that

include members from different sections and, should the

need occur, personalities from outside the Académie.

In 2013-2014, 65 Grand Prizes, corresponding to a

total sum of €2,044,951.50, and 78 Thematic Prizes,

amounting to €322,485 in all, have been awarded by the Académie des Sciences. All these prizes are awarded to the laureates

during solemn ceremonies under the Cupola of the Institut de France