Albert Jacquard
Encyclopedia
Albert Jacquard is a French geneticist and essayist. He is well known for defending ideas related to the concept of degrowth.
(east of France
). At the age of nine, he was disfigured after a car accident in which his brother died. In 1943, he earned two baccalaureates in mathematics and philosophy. In 1948, he earned a master degree in public factory engineering from the French Polytechnical School
and joined the French Institute of statistics
.
(which merged with its Spanish counterpart Tabacalera
to form Altadis
in 1999) as an organisation and method engineer. Then, he worked as a rapporteur in the French Court of Financial Auditor
(equivalent to the US Government Accountability Office
) and as a senior executive in the French Health ministry.
In 1966, he went to Stanford University
to study population genetics
as a Research worker. Back in France
in 1968, he joined French Institute for Demographic Studies
as supervisor of the genetics
department.
In 1973, he was appointed expert in genetics in the World Health Organisation
. He retired in 1985.
, he taught as visiting professor several university such as the University of Geneva
in Switzerland
(1973–1976), Pierre and Marie Curie University
in Paris
(1978–1990) or the Catholic University of Leuvain
in Belgium
(1979–1981).
As a recognition for his work, he was awarded the French Légion d'honneur
, the French Ordre national du Mérite
and the Fondation de France
scientific medal.
(Comité consultatif national d'éthique) in the early 1990s, he took a strong stand against commercial use of the human genome
.
He is now very close to the anti-globalization
movement and regularly comes to defense of illegal immigrants and homeless people in France
.
He wrote several books to expose his views and share his experience with new generations.
He has made a variety of public statements in favor of choosing Esperanto as a universal second language in contradiction to tendencies in Europe to use English as a second language.
Beginnings
He was born in a catholic and conservative family from the region of Franche-ComtéFranche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
(east of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). At the age of nine, he was disfigured after a car accident in which his brother died. In 1943, he earned two baccalaureates in mathematics and philosophy. In 1948, he earned a master degree in public factory engineering from the French Polytechnical School
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
and joined the French Institute of statistics
INSEE
INSEE is the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. It collects and publishes information on the French economy and society, carrying out the periodic national census. Located in Paris, it is the French branch of Eurostat, European Statistical System...
.
As a high-level civil servant
In 1951, he entered the French tobacco monopoly SEITASEITA
SEITA , was the former French state-owned tobacco monopoly. It merged in 1999 with its Spanish equivalent, Tabacalera, to form Altadis.- See also :...
(which merged with its Spanish counterpart Tabacalera
Tabacalera
Tabacalera is a Spanish tobacco monopoly which was established in 1636, making it the oldest tobacco company in the world . In 1999 the company merged with SEITA of France to form Altadis. Its brands included Ducados and Fortuna....
to form Altadis
Altadis
Altadis is a multinational purveyor and manufacturer of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars. Altadis was formed via a 1999 merger between Tabacalera, the former Spanish tobacco monopoly and SEITA, the former French tobacco monopoly...
in 1999) as an organisation and method engineer. Then, he worked as a rapporteur in the French Court of Financial Auditor
Cour des Comptes
The Court of Audit is a quasi-judicial body of the French government charged with conducting financial and legislative audits of most public institutions and some private institutions, including the central Government, national public corporations, social security agencies , and public services...
(equivalent to the US Government Accountability Office
Government Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
) and as a senior executive in the French Health ministry.
In 1966, he went to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
to study population genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
as a Research worker. Back in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1968, he joined French Institute for Demographic Studies
Institut national d'études démographiques
The Institut national d'études démographiques is a French research institute specialized in demography and population studies in general.-A research institute founded in 1945:...
as supervisor of the genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
department.
In 1973, he was appointed expert in genetics in the World Health Organisation
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
. He retired in 1985.
As a university professor
While he was still working in the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, he taught as visiting professor several university such as the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(1973–1976), Pierre and Marie Curie University
Pierre and Marie Curie University
The Paris VI University , or the Pierre and Marie Curie University , is a university located on the Jussieu Campus in the Latin Quarter of the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1978–1990) or the Catholic University of Leuvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1979–1981).
As a recognition for his work, he was awarded the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, the French Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
and the Fondation de France
Fondation de France
The Foundation de France is an independent administrative agency which was established by the French government in an effort to stimulate and foster the growth of private philanthropy and private foundations in France.-History:...
scientific medal.
Ethical and political involvement
While he was part of the French Consultative Committee of EthicsComité Consultatif National d'Ethique
The Comité Consultatif National d'Ethique is a French governmental advisory council on bioethics issues. It was created by a presidential decree of François Mitterrand in 1983....
(Comité consultatif national d'éthique) in the early 1990s, he took a strong stand against commercial use of the human genome
Human genome
The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...
.
He is now very close to the anti-globalization
Anti-globalization
Criticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of the globalization of capitalism. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement however other groups also are critical of the policies of globalization....
movement and regularly comes to defense of illegal immigrants and homeless people in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He wrote several books to expose his views and share his experience with new generations.
He has made a variety of public statements in favor of choosing Esperanto as a universal second language in contradiction to tendencies in Europe to use English as a second language.
Scientific work
- Structure génétique des populations, Masson, 1970
- Les probabilités, Collection Que sais-je ?, Presses universitaires de France, 1974
- Génétique des populations humaines, Presses universitaires de France, 1974
- The Genetic Structure of Populations, Springer, 1974
- L’Étude des isolats. Espoirs et limites, Presse universitaires de France-INEDInstitut national d'études démographiquesThe Institut national d'études démographiques is a French research institute specialized in demography and population studies in general.-A research institute founded in 1945:...
, 1976 - Concepts en génétique des populations, Masson, 1977
Popular science (in French)
- Éloge de la différence, Éditions du SeuilÉditions du SeuilÉditions du Seuil is a French publishing house created in 1935, currently owned by La Martinière Groupe. It owes its name to this goal "The seuil is the whole excitement of parting and arriving...
, 1978 - Moi et les autres, Éditions du Seuil, 1983
- Au péril de la science ?, Éditions du Seuil, 1984
- Inventor l’homme, Éditions Complexe, 1984
- L’Héritage de la liberté, Éditions du Seuil, 1986
- Cinq milliards d’hommes dans un vaisseau, Éditions du Seuil, 1987
- Moi, je viens d’où ?, Éditions du Seuil, 1988
- Abécédaire de l’ambiguïté, Éditions du Seuil, 1989
- C’est quoi l’intelligence ?, Éditions du Seuil, 1989
- Idées vécues, Flammarion, 1990
- Voici le temps du monde fini, Éditions du Seuil, 1991
- Tous différents, tous pareils, Éditions Nathan, 1991
- Comme un cri du cœur, Éditions l’Essentiel, 1992 (collective work)
- La Légende de la vie, Flammarion, 1992
- E=CM2, Éditions du Seuil, 1993
- Deux sacrés grumeaux d’étoile, Éditions de la Nacelle, octobre 1993
- Science et croyances, Éditions Écriture, mars 1994
- Absolu, dialogue avec l’abbé Pierre, Éditions du Seuil, 1994
- L’Explosion démographique, Flammarion, collection « Dominos », 1994
- La Matière et la vie, Éditions Milan, coll. « Les essentiels », 1995
- La Légende de demain, Flammarion, 1997
- L’Équation du nénuphar, Calmann-Lévy, 1998
- L'avenir n'est pas écrit, (with Axel Kahn), Bayard, 2001
- Paroles citoyennes, (with Alix Domergue), Albin Michel, 2001
- La Science à l’usage des non-scientifiques, 2001
- De l'angoisse à l'espoir, (with Cristiana Spinedi), Calmann Lévy, 2002
Political and philosophical work (in french)
- Un monde sans prisons ?, Éditions du Seuil, 1993
- J’accuse l’économie triomphante, Calmann-Lévy, 1996
- Le Souci des pauvres. L’Héritage de François d’Assise, Calmann-Lévy, 1996
- Petite philosophie à l’usage des non philosophes, Québec-Livres, 1997
- Le Souci des pauvres, 1998
- A toi qui n’est pas encore né, 1998
- Dieu ?, 2003
- Tentative de lucidité, 2003 (archives des chroniques)
- Halte aux Jeux !, Stock, 2004
- Nouvelle petite philosophie, Stock, 2005
- Mon utopie, Stock, 2006
- Jamais soumis, jamais soumise (dialogue with Fadela AmaraFadela AmaraFadéla Amara, also known as Fatiha Amara is a French feminist and politician, who began her political life as an advocate for women in the impoverished banlieues. She was the Secretary of State for Urban Policies in the conservative Union for a Popular Movement government of French Prime Minister...
), Stock, 2007
External links
- Conférence en ligne : "Qu’est-ce que l’humain ? Les réponses de la science."
- Émission radiophonique d'Albert Jacquard sur France Culture
- Un entretien de Jacques Languirand avec Albert Jacquard
- Portrait dessiné d'Albert JACQUARD et interview par Ariane LAROUX publié dans le livre "Portraits parlés", préface de Jean Lacouture,Michel Thévoz et Nicolas Mann du Warburg Institute. Editions de l'Age d'Homme, 2007.