Michel Spiro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 24, 1946 |
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École polytechnique |
| Awards | Prix Thibaud (1985) Prix Félix-Robin (1999) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | CEA IN2P3 CERN |
Michel Spiro (born 24 February 1946 in Roanne, Loire, France) is a French physicist.
Michel Spiro attended the high school Jean-Puy de Roanne. Spiro obtained the baccalauréat in 1963, with a specialisation in elementary mathematics. After this, he attended the school Lycée Louis-le-Grand to prepare his entry exam at the École polytechnique. He completed his graduate studies in theoretical physics in 1969.
He joined the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in 1970, as an engineer. He was promoted to the position of director of the Particle Physics Section of the Department of Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Associated Instrumentation (DAPNIA ) in 1991 and led the section until 1999. He became chargé de mission of the CEA and assistant scientific director in Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), responsible for astroparticle physics and neutrinos. He took over the leadership of DAPNIA in 2002. From 2003 to 2010 he was appointed director of Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules (IN2P3) in CNRS.[1]
Spiro obtained his PhD [2] from University of Paris-Sud, Orsay in 1976. His early research in particle physics led him, as a member of the UA1 experiment, to participate in the discovery of the intermediate bosons W and Z.[3] He then turned to study particles from the cosmos by participating in the GALLEX solar neutrino detection experiment.[4] He became then the spokesperson of the microlensing search experiment EROS(Experience de Recherche d'Objets Sombres).[5][6][7]
From 1983 to 1999, Professor Spiro lectured quantum mechanics, then stellar equilibrium and evolution and finally energy and environment at the École Polytechnique.[5]
From 2010 to 2013 he was President of CERN Council. His presidency overlapped with the start of LHC physics.[8] Since then Spiro helds the position as research director emeritus at the CEA.
Michel Spiro was president of the French Physical Society from 2016 to 2017[9] and president-elect for International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) as of 2018.[10] In October 2019 Spiro was asked to replace IUPAP president Kennedy J. Reed who wanted to step down for personal reasons.[11][12][13]
In June 2020, Michel Spiro was appointed chair of the CERN and Society Foundation Board,[14] a foundation to support and promote the mission of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, and disseminate its benefits to the wider public.
Spiro chairs the steering committee of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD2022). The International Year was proclaimed by the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly 2 December 2021.[15] IYBSSD was officially inaugurated in July 2022[16] and extend until December 2023. He also contributed towards the proclamation on August 25 2023, by the United Nations General Assembly, of an International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024 -2033.[17]
Officer of the Legion of Honour (2021),[18][19] Knight (2004)[20]
Officer of the National Order of Merit (France) (2008)[21]
The database INSPIRE-HEP has recorded more than 200 scientific articles signed by Spiro.
