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THE INSTITUT DE LA VIE - 1990
- Humankind pursues its course in an unstable world, where the exponential increase in knowledge may have either beneficial or dangerous applications. As a result the scientific community – no< more than ever conscious of the ambivalence of science – has become permanently alert to its possible consequences.
The Institut de la Vie is a center for reflection and action. Its mission is to proclaim the value of life, to discover how the results of science may be put to the best possible uses in the service and development of humanity and safeguarding of humankind’s natural environment. The Institut de la Vie has therefore chosen three main themes : science as the evidence of the greatness of mind ; science as an influence for good ; science, power and wisdom.
- Founded in 1960 in Paris on the initiative of Professor Maurice Marois with the participation of men of thought and action from a variety of backgrounds, with the support of scholarly circles and the help of philanthropic foundations, the Institut de la Vie has convened numerous international conferences on varied subjects : theoretical physics, biology, computer science, economics energy, pollution, global medelling, human settlements, protection against environmental mutagens and carcinogens, prevention of congenital physical and mental defects, aging, parasitic diseases, tropical biology, preservation of biological diversity. More than three thousand scientists from sixty countries – among them fifty Nobel Prize winners – have participated in these meetings, testifying to the high standard of participants the institution has attracted to the service of its ideal. The choice of themes and of ways of dealing with them was inspired by the same guiding thought ; to reduce, through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary methods, the fragmentation of knowledge, to abolish cultural, geographical and political barriers, to harmonize into a single vision science and civilization, and respect, defense and fulfillment of life.
- From its beginnings, the Institut de la Vie has led to the creation outside of France of national committees, notably in Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Lebanon, Finland, the United States of America, Spain, and Poland. Since 1975, having acquired a large audience thanks to its conferences and to the inclusion of well-known personalities on its Prize juries, the Institut de la Vie has created its own international institutions. In 1976, the World Council of Directors was established, composed of scientists of high repute from the main countries interested in its work. In 1977, the World Foundation and the World Agency were created in Geneva. The World Foundation collects and manages the Institut’s funds ; the World Agency concludes agreements with governments or institutions for their support of and participation in the activities of the Institut in an international framework.
- The Institut de la Vie devotes itself to gathering together all those available to serving life:
- men and women of science,
- Public and private institutes and enterprises,
- Groups and organizations devoted to general social and humanitarian ends,
- Governments and intergovernmental organizations.
- The Institut de la Vie intends to go on studying the subjects it has dealt with up to now: they are of permanent interest. It will implement in the near future a program of objective overviews, for the largest possible audience, on scientific knowledge and the consequences of its application. It is ready to face any new challenge that might confront mankind.
- The aims of the Institut de la Vie are :
- To engage in a continuing inquiry, both theoretical and applied, into humankind’s life and estate, both with regard to our species in its biosphere or to humankind in all its dimensions ;
- To bring together the highest scientific and technical skills in order to constantly seek out in the pluralism of disciplines and philosophies the solutions best suited to the needs and aspirations of humankind and thereby to facilitate the decisions of those who have ultimate responsibilities ;
- To confront those who inspire, judge, use or are subjected to progress ;
- To establish a flow of exchanges between men on all levels so as to make them aware of the value of life in order to respect it.
- The Institut de la Vie is not a classic research institution but maintains laboratories or distributes funds. It is not a sociopolitical organization in the usual sense, even if its aim is sociopolitical in the highest meaning of the term. It is neither an interest nor a pressure group. It is not an ecological movement. It refuses all polemic attitudes. It does not interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. The Institut de la Vie is an apolitical union of men of good will. It offers the means for dialog and cooperation. It is not an ivory tower. It intends to make its theoretical debates lead to action. It situates itself between the development of concepts and reality. Complementary to the great teaching and research institutions and specialized agencies, it sets itself a threefold mission of analysis, of watchfulness, and of initiative :
- To take stock of the development of science in major fields ;
- To awaken attention and incite reflection of the problems of the future that science can help to resolve ;
- To initiate actions in the service of humankind, in respect of its dignity, and diversity of its cultures.
Maurice Marois, In “Les Dilemmes du réchauffement de la Terre”, Deauville 1990.
Men or Institut de la Vie (1995)
LISTE DES MEMBRES DU CONSEIL MONDIAL DE DIRECTION DE L’INSTITUT DE LA VIE
1995
PRESIDENT K.G. DAVEY Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada York University Toronto (Canada) DELEGUE GENERAL SECRETAIRE GENERALE
MEMBRES C. BASSET H.B.G. CASIMIR L.COOPER S. EBASHI I.T. FROLOV B. HESS
Professor of Physics, Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, |
N.N. MOISEEV N. OKER-BLOM F. SEITZ M.S.SWAMINATHAN C.H. TOWNES WANG YU M. YOSHIKAWA
MEMBRES HONORAIRES E. WOLFF G.H. von WRIGHT |
LISTE DES MEMBRES DU CONSEIL DES GOUVERNEURS DE LA FONDATION MONDIALE DE L’INSTITUT DE LA VIE
C.BASSET Crédit suisse- Genève (Suisse) L.COOPER |
H.F. LAVANCHY M. MAROIS |
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