When ignorance stimulates science

ignorance science ens psl

"We judge the value of science by the ignorance it defines", Stuart Firestein

Researchers observe, explain, predict, prove. But, just as much, they hesitate, doubt, and grope their way.

Research is fed by ignorance, since it is the result of all the unresolved questions that researchers all over the world are asking themselves. But it also produces ignorance, since each discovery, each new result raises new questions and sometimes opens up unknown paths.
We want to underline the scientific value of ignorance by dedicating a seminar to it, available to all PSL students interested in research careers. Highly qualified researchers from all disciplines will present their vision and practice of ignorance. This seminar will thus propose an open reflection on scientific activity based on a question common to all disciplines. No scientific prerequisites are required to attend the seminar.

Seminar program :

  • Feb 8, 2019, Salle Langevin, Magali Reghezza // Geography, environment, expertise
  • Feb 15, 2019, Salle Jean Jaurès, Serge Abiteboul // Computer science
  • Feb 22, 2019, Salle Langevin, Franck Ramus //Cognitive sciences
  • March 8, 2019, Room 236, Lydéric Bocquet // Physics
  • March 15,2019, Room 236, Stéphane Mazevet // Astrophysics
  • March 22, 2019, Room 235C, Daniel Cohen // Economics
  • March 29, 2019, Room 236, Terence Strick // Biology
  • April 5, 2019, Room 236, Hélène Dessales // Archaeology
  • April 12, 2019, Jean Jaurès Hall, Angela Taddei // Genome
  • April 19, 2019, Room 236, Henri Berestycki // Mathematics

from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. at the ENS.

Organizers: Alain Fuchs, President of PSL - Emmanuel Basset, Director of Research of PSL - Mathias Girel, Department of Philosophy, UMS CAPHES, ENS

8 February 2019 - 19 April 2019
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Recherche - Séminaire
École normale supérieure - PSL, Université PSL,

Open to everyone, registration required.

Fridays 10 a.m. - noon, Feb 8, 2019 to April 19, 2019

Ecole normale supérieure, 29 rue d'Ulm 75005 Paris
2019-02-08 11:00 2019-04-19 12:00 Europe/Paris When ignorance stimulates science Ecole normale supérieure, 29 rue d'Ulm 75005 Paris