ENS Paris-Saclay honors Gilles Dowek

A former student at the École polytechnique (class of 1985), researcher at Inria, member of the Laboratoire de Méthodes Formelles (LMF - CNRS, Inria, ENS Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay) and professor at ENS Paris-Saclay, Gilles Dowek has played a key role in the development of theoretical computer science at our institution.

A recognized specialist in the formalization of mathematics, logic and proof systems, throughout his career he has sought to build bridges between computer science and other fields of knowledge, placing his work in a perspective that is at once scientific, ethical and civic-minded.

His teaching, with its remarkably high intellectual standards, testified to his commitment to training students who were free, curious and responsible. He embodied with conviction the role of the professor attached to the École: a high-level researcher, fully committed to training through research, and attentive to changing the way scientific disciplines are represented.

Gilles Dowek is particularly renowned for his efforts to promote the teaching of computer science in secondary schools, by helping to design the “Computer Science and Digital Science” program, introduced in the final year of secondary school (Terminale S) at the start of the 2012 academic year, and by participating in the writing of textbooks for science preparatory classes.

He was awarded the Grand Prix Inria 2023 and the Histoire des sciences et épistémologie 2024 medal by the Académie des sciences.

His research in computer science was at the crossroads of logic, philosophy, pedagogy, epistemology and digital ethics.

ENS Paris-Saclay salutes the memory of a rigorous teacher, a committed researcher and a colleague deeply attached to the values of public service in higher education and research. His work and commitment will remain a source of inspiration for our community.