Prof. Jean Pierre Bourguignon
Institute des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHÉS)

Le Bois Marie - 35, Route de Chartres
91440 - Bures sur Yvette
+33-1-6092666
+33-1-60926699
direction@ihes.fr
http://www.ihes.fr

The Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques of Bures-sur-Yvette (France), is an institute of advanced research in mathematics and theoretical physics with an opening on epistemology and the history of science. It provides exceptionally gifted scientists with a place where they can devote themselves entirely to their research, free of teaching and administrative obligations, and invite visitors with whom they wish to work.

The IHÉS was created in 1958 on the initiative of Léon Motchane, mathematician and physicist, and with the support of Robert Oppenheimer and Jean Dieudonné. The aim was to establish in Europe a counterpart to the prestigious Institute for Advanced Study of Princeton (USA), where Albert Einstein and John von Neumann were among the first permanent professors.

The Institute was deliberately kept small in size, with regard to the number of disciplines represented, the number of permanent professors (ideally 6), the number of visitors . Its maximum capacity is about 40 places. This dimension ensures the monastic atmosphere conducive to fundamental research - part of the time isolation, part of the time a rich exchange with scientists from all over the world.

The 5 Fields medals won by IHÉS mathematicians (R. Thom 1958, A. Grothendieck 1966, P. Deligne 1978, A. Connes 1982, J. Bourgain 1994) bear witness to the recognition of the international mathematical community.

Awarded 38 times since its creation in 1936, this medal is the supreme distinction in mathematics.

Prof. José A. de Freitas Pacheco
Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA)

OCA (Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur) represents the merging of the Nice Observatory (founded in 1881) and the Center for Study and Reserch in Geodynamics and Astrometry (CERGA, created in 1974). The Nice Observatory was the first scientific research institut installed in this region, thanks to Raphael Bischoffsheim and some friends like Gustaf Eiffel and Charles Garnier, who were responsible for the original plans of the buildings.

OCA is the second largest observatory in France, after the Paris-Meudon Observatory. Today about 200 people work at the OCA, settled in three different sites: Nice, Grasse and Calern. In the later are localized the main observational instruments: a Schmidt telescope, a lunar-laser, a satellite-laser, and the largest optical interferometer in the world (GI2T).

OCA interacts with many technological and industrial groups, and in particular with Aerospatiale, installed in the Cote d'Azur region, owing to its advanced skill in specific domains related to astronomical research like optics, time & frequency metrology, ultra-fast lasers, imagery and advanced numerical simulations.

OCA develops a research program in gravitation, with emphasis to the detection of gravitational waves, hosting a team of about ten researchers, with the leadership of A. Brillet, and with a direct participation in the VIRGO project.

Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Grand Château
28 Avenue Valrose 21
B.P. 2135
06103 NICE CEDEX 2
http://www.unice.fr/

History

The University of Nice was officially founded by decree on the 23^rd of October 1965.

Its historical roots date from the XVII century, with the famous Collegium jurisconsultorum niciensium established in 1639 by the Princes of Savoy; it included an important body of jurists and its fame lasted till the rejoining of Nice to France, in 1860. In the VXX century, a School of Medicine spread its highly appreciated teachings all over Europe.

The calling of Nice to university activities affirmed itself in the beginning of the XX century due to the combined efforts of some big university Professors as the Dean Louis Trotabas or Maurice Mignon. With the support of local communities and especially of the City of Nice, the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen was founded in 1933. The Centre first Director was Paul Valéry. Afterwards other Institutes were opened as the Institut d'Etudes Juridiques in 1938, the Institut d'Etudes Littéraires in 1941 and the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques in 1945. By decree of the 2^nd of August 1962 the Faculty of Law and Economics Science was founded and it was attached to the University of Aix-Marseille.

The decree promulgated in 1965 gave birth to a multidisciplinary university, divided into the Faculty of Humanities, of Science, of Law and Economics Science, set out in three different campuses in 1968. In 1989 the University of Nice was called Sophia-Antipolis, bearing in mind the impulse given to the Park by the activities devoted to new technologies.

The Seat of the University of Nice was established in 1965 within an extraordinary environment: the Castle and the Park of Valrose covering ten hectares including the buildings of the Faculty of Science.

UNSA Laboratories

Sophia Antipolis has become the first technical centre in Europe.

This technological centre unique in the world combines in only one place, 1200 enterprises of research bodies, both publics and privates, preparing about 4000 students between the third cycles of University, Haute écoles and introductory courses.

(© Université de Nice)