2023-10-14 05:16:04
Aged 91, Hubert Reeves died in Paris this Friday. His passion had allowed the general public to become passionate regarding the cosmos.
The famous Franco-Canadian astrophysicist Hubert Reeves, known for his work to popularize the cosmos and his commitment to the future of the Earth, died Friday at the age of 91.
“My whole family joins me in the pain of having to announce to you that our dear father has left to join the stars,” wrote his son, Benoit Reeves, on Facebook.
Died in Paris, Hubert Reeves was a masterful storyteller of the history of the Universe, the passion of his life, but also one of the most ardent defenders of the blue planet. “Hubert Reeves’ passion for science, knowledge and the world was obvious and contagious,” commented Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, thanking “one of our greatest astrophysicists” for “his remarkable contribution.”
“Quebec today loses an outstanding popularizer, a renowned astrophysicist. Hubert Reeves knew how to find the words to make us understand humanity and infinity,” underlined François Legault, Prime Minister of Quebec.
Born in Montreal on July 13, 1932, the scientist who looked like a Gallic druid had the art of making the most complex physical phenomena intelligible, “to all those who were amazed by the world,” like him. Having worked for NASA in the 1960s, he pursued a teaching career in Belgium before going to France where he became a research director at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and an advisor to the Energy Commission. atomic (CEA).
Inspirer of vocations
A great storyteller, he decided to write a book – “Patience in the Azure” (1981) – to tell the story of the universe, the success of which was beyond all expectations. Hubert Reeves then began a second career, as a science popularizer. “Certain books have a destiny power: reading “Patience in the Azure” at the age of 17 changed the course of my existence,” reacted Etienne Klein, astrophysicist and philosopher of science.
“Let us never forget his contributions to science, education and environmental awareness,” commented UNESCO on X (formerly Twitter). Among his numerous books, he published “Poussières d’étoiles” in 1984 then “L’heure de s’ivrer” in 1986, “The sea explained to our grandchildren” (2015), or even “The fury of living » (2020).
“With him, the most rational and realistic science might make us dream and make us go beyond limits,” noted astrophysicist David Elbaz, research director at the Atomic Energy Commission, to AFP.
For his part, the French philosopher Edgar Morin speaks of a “great scientist-poet who revealed to us and awakened the knowledge and mystery of our cosmos”. “Hubert knew how to make things simple, he knew how to make people dream, he had this artistic fiber, this poetic side with this little Quebecois accent. He succeeded in sowing seeds that make people dream,” confided Eric Lagadec, astrophysicist at the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur-UCA. “He inspired an entire generation of human beings and professional astronomers,” added Mr. Lagadec, who discovered his vocation by reading one of Hubert Reeves’ works.
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