Science History Institute Mourns Loss of Heritage Council Member Bernard Bigot

The respected French scientist passed away suddenly on May 14, 2022.

May 24, 2022

The Science History Institute is saddened by the loss of Bernard Bigot, a longtime member of our Heritage Council (now Affiliates Council), a select group that provides support and collaboration between the Institute and numerous affiliated organizations around the world. The well-respected French scientist, physical chemist, and civil servant died suddenly on May 14, 2022, at the age of 72.

Bigot served for more than 15 years as president of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie, the cosponsor of the Institute’s Franklin-Lavoisier Prize, an international award he is credited with creating. The prestigious prize recognizes meritorious efforts in the preservation or promotion of the entwined scientific heritage of France and the United States.

Under his leadership, the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie became a vibrant home for chemists—both nationally and internationally—welcoming a wide spectrum of associations and learned societies, and hosting numerous events and activities.

At the time of his death, Bigot was also serving as director general of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), an ambitious project with the goal of creating the first fusion device to produce net energy. A true visionary, Bigot played a vital role in developing the level of international diplomacy needed to realize a project like ITER, a massive joint venture that includes the contributions of thousands of engineers and scientists.

Photo of Bernard Bigot courtesy of ITER.

More News

Lunchtime logo hero
news

Explore the History of Science on the School Food Tray with Institute’s New ‘Lunchtime’ Exhibition Opening September 27

Visitors will uncover the surprising story behind the school lunch.

people attending a conference
news

Science History Institute Hosts 2024 Gordon Cain Conference

“Storytelling as Pedagogy” program explored using scientific biographies in the classroom and beyond.

Fellows at work in the Othmer Library at the Institute.
news

Science History Institute Welcomes 2024–2025 Beckman Center Fellows

Our scholars study a wide range of topics in the history and social studies of chemistry, chemical engineering, and the life sciences.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.