Introduction to the relationship between Science and Society

Description

The course takes place at the Institut Pasteur from mid-April to mid-May, one day a week for five weeks. The mornings are devoted to teaching, the afternoons to a collective reflection on a current theme. The course is free of charge and only a short letter of presentation/motivation is required.

The course aims to cover four main aspects:

Philosophy of science and ethics: the aim is to present some tools for reflection on the way scientists understand the world and on the values that drive them. It will also introduce the basics of the philosophy of science in order to understand its historical character and the notions of ethics that put into perspective the way science transforms the world. The plurality of these philosophical and ethical conceptions will shed light on the problem of the place of science in society.

Evolution of the sociology of science: The relationship between science and society has evolved considerably in recent decades. The aim is to discuss both the evolution of these relations and the sociological conceptions that underlie them and that have influenced the organization of research and its management.

Debates and controversies: Science is perceived by the public as a source of progress but also of risks, the definition of progress being itself the subject of intense debate. More and more decisions are taken in the name of science and scientific expertise is mobilized on societal issues. The debates involving scientists on these issues are the subject of particular attention and raise the question of the relationship between expertise, science and democracy.

Science and innovation: The confusion between science and technology has increased as research has been reorganized in the name of the innovation imperative. According to the canonical definition, innovation is a process of 'creative destruction' of value, but it covers a variety of meanings in official discourse. Therefore, it is appropriate to question the deep meaning of this notion as well as the coherence of the mechanisms of governance of science which are set up in the name of this imperative.

Furthermore, one of the course's ambitions is to make participants aware of the need to approach science issues with a reflective approach and to be prepared to discuss them in society. It will therefore be proposed to them to prepare together, during the afternoons, a debate on a question mobilising scientific, technical and ethical aspects.  This work will be accompanied by Fanny Momboisse, member of the Pasteur ethics unit and François Bontems.
It will take place at the Institut Pasteur on Thursday, April 30, and May 7, 13, 21, and 28, 2026. Mornings will be devoted to teaching. Mornings will be devoted to teaching. The afternoons will be reserved for preparing a debate on a current issue (“Doing science in the age of AI”) aimed at raising participants' awareness of the use of scientific arguments in social debates. A final half-day will allow participants to present the debate to speakers, researchers, and qualified individuals.

Jeudi 30 avril :

9h00 - 10h30

Jean-Claude K. Dupont

Ethique et science

10h20 - 12h

Erwan Lamy

Introduction à la sociologie des sciences

14h00 - 17h00

Arguments scientifiques et débat public

Faire de la science au temps des IAs

Jeudi 7 mai :

9.00 - 10.30

Vincent Bontems

Ethique de l'innovation

10.30 - 12.00

Victoria Brun

Les frontières de la valorisation de la recherche académique

14h00 - 17h00

Arguments scientifiques et débat public

Faire de la science au temps des IAs

Mercredi 13 mai :

9.00 - 10.30

Annouck Barberousse

Engagement et prise de parole publique des chercheurs

10.30 - 12.00

Bérangère Virlon

Impact de la recherche, entre évaluation, métrique et communication

14.00 - 17.00

Arguments scientifiques et débat public

Faire de la science au temps des IAs

jeudi 21 mai :

9 .00 – 10.30

David Pontille

Dans les coulisses des articles scientifiques

10.30 - 12.00

François Bontems

La recherche vue de la commission européenne

14h00 - 17h00

Arguments scientifiques et débat public

Faire de la science au temps des IAs

Jeudi 28 mai :

10h - 12h

Vincent Bontems

Science, futur et multiversalité

14h00 - 17h00

Arguments scientifiques et débat public

Faire de la science au temps des IAs

Intervenants

Anouk Barberousse : Professeure de philosophie des sciences à Sorbonne Université

Vincent Bontems : Directeur de recherche en philosophie des sciences et techniques au CEA

François Bontems : Directeur de recherche du CNRS en virologie structurale à l'Institut Pasteur

Victoria Brun : Post-doctorante INRAE en sociologie des sciences et techniques

Jean-Claude K. Dupont : Philosophe, responsable de la cellule éthique de l'Institut Pasteur

Erwan Lamy :  Docteur en épistémologie et histoire des sciences et techniques, professeur associé à l'ESCP

Fanny Momboisse : Docteure en biologie cellulaire, cheffe de projet à la cellule éthique de l'Institut Pasteur

David Pontille : Directeur de recherche du CNRS à l'Ecole des mines en sociologie et anthropologie

Bérangère Virlon : Docteure en biologie moléculaire. Manager de départements. Ancienne responsable des études d’impact à l’ANR.