With the Académie des Sciences in 2015

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PERFORMING THE ROLE OF AN EXPERT AND ADVISOR
Defending the Men of Science
In 2015, the Comité de défense des hommes de sciences (Standing Com-
mittee for the Defence of Scientists’ Rights, CODHOS) took action for about ten
members scientific or medical staff who were victims of rights violations, and
was most pleased to hear that six persons were released: Xue Feng, Chinese a
geologist, Ebrahim al-Demistani, a Bahraini nurse, Mahmoud Badavam, a Baha'i
Iranian engineer and professor of physics, Ramin Zibaie, Baha'i Iranian a psychol-
ogist and dean of university, Kamran Rahimian, a Baha'i-Iranian psychologist and
advisor, and Carlos Nuno Castel-Ranco, a Mozambican economist. The Commit-
tee also expressed its concern regarding the adoption of a very restrictive bill on
statistics in Tanzania 61.
History of Science and Epistemology
The Standing Committee for Science History and Epistemology of the Académie (Comité histoire des sciences et épistémologie) is
chaired by Claude Debru. In 2015, it completed the publication of the colloquium Les scientifiques et l’épistémologie: la rationalité
scientifique aujourd’hui (2014) [Scientists and Epistemology: Scientific Rationality Today ] (2014) and prepared the programme for
a new colloquium devoted to causality in the biological and medical sciences. The committee also co-organized with the Académie
des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Comité National d’Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences (French National Committee for
Science History and Philosophy] a session on gnomons and sundials, "Gnomons et cadrans solaires à travers les âges" (which was
held on 16 June 2015). Finally, the committee continued to set up – under the editorial responsibility of Evariste Sanchez-Palencia
– an Education Resources section on the Académie’s website, “Ressources Pédagogiques”. This section gathers contributions from
members of the Académie on the history of science and the scientific method, and recommends books and websites. The commit-
tee increased its interaction with foreign academies, notably the Leopoldina through a joint project on the 1914-1918 war. Finally,
throughout the year, the committee contributed to the preparation of the 350th anniversary of the Académie des Sciences in 2016,
particularly with the organization of the “5 à 7" [After-Hour Sessions of the Académie], which were open to the public and specially
dedicated to the history of science.
Advice Notes and Reports
Advice Note on the energy transition
Energy transition was the focus of a bill discussed in the Sénat
[French Senate] from 10 to 13 February 2015.The Académie des
Science supports the objectives of reducing the consumption
of fossil carbon energy consumption and using energy more
efficiently. It notes however that the measures proposed for
such transition and their timetable deserve a critical eye. The
advice note adopted on 6 January 201562 was based on a study
undertaken by the Comité de prospective en énergie (Standing
Committee for Prospects in Energy Procurement) in June 2013
and on hearings and reflections conducted in various settings.
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