The Board of Directors of Observatoire de Paris - PSL expresses its deepest concern at the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Palais de la découverte and its continued location in the Grand Palais building.
Since 1937, the Observatoire has maintained a close relationship with this emblematic venue, where science is shared, shown and understood. This historic partnership embodies one of the fundamental missions of our establishment : to strengthen the links between Science and Society through the sharing of knowledge.
“The pleasure of understanding is the true pleasure of the mind” wrote Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle (1657 - 1757), one of the precursors of scientific literature with the publication of Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes (1686) as early as the XVIIe century.
The Palais de la découverte embodies this founding vision, offering the public direct access to living knowledge. Today, it is imperative to defend this vision at a time when the legitimacy of science is increasingly challenged in our society.
Observatoire de Paris - PSL joins the Académie des Sciences, France-Universités and other learned societies in calling for an ambitious project, in keeping with the Palais’ scientific identity and its public-interest mission.
Sources :
- https://www.academie-sciences.fr/pdf/communique/CP%20Palais%20de%20la%20decouverte.pdf
- https://franceuniversites.fr/actualite/la-science-nest-pas-un-art-mineur-le-palais-de-la-decouverte-doit-etre-preserve-au-centre-de-paris/
- https://societes-savantes.fr/appel-a-philippe-baptiste-en-defense-du-palais-de-la-decouverte/
