CEA Paris-Saclay explained

Full Name:	CEA Paris-Saclay
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Location Country:	France
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Board Of Directors:	Christian Bailly, director
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Parent Organization:	French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
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Formerly:	CEA Saclay center (+ separate sites)
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The CEA Paris-Saclay center is one of nine centers belonging to the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). Following a reorganization in 2017, the center consists of multiple sites, including the CEA Saclay site (formerly a "center"), the Fontenay-aux-Roses site and the sites of Paris, Évry, Orsay and Caen.^[1]

Historically, as the main Saclay site was the heart of French nuclear research it was called Saclay Nuclear Research Center prior to the shift towards other fields of research and innovation beyond nuclear.^{[2] [3]}

The center has close ties with Paris-Saclay University, being located on the Saclay plateau and active in the Paris-Saclay project for innovation.

Organization

Since February 2017, various sites were grouped together to CEA Paris-Saclay, including

• Saclay site
• Fontenay-aux-Roses site
• Paris site
• Évry site (Genoscope)
• Orsay site (Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, SHFJ)
• Caen site (GANIL and)^[4]

History

On 10 October 1945, Charles de Gaulle launched the CEA. In 1946, the Fontenay-aux-Roses site was realized, followed by the Saclay site 6 years later in 1952. The Saclay site, located 20 km south of Paris on the Saclay plateau, is much bigger and was chosen in part to be close to Université Paris-Sud (which today is part of Paris-Saclay University).^[5]

The Saclay site was designed by the architect Auguste Perret.^[6]

Research

The complex employs more than 7,500 scientists. Although CEA Saclay was initially focused on nuclear research, multiple domains of research are carried out there since a few decades back. These include:^[7]

• Low-carbon energies
• Climate and environment
• Matter and universe
• Health and life sciences
• Technology for industry

Reactors

The Saclay site has been home to multiple nuclear research reactors, including the, and reactors.

The Osiris and Isis reactors (operated between 1965–2019^[8]) inspired the design of Iraq's facility.^{[9] [10]} Multiple bacterial species were discovered to thrive in those reactor cores during operation, and may have fed off hydrogen from radiolysis.^[11]

Notable subsidiaries

• National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN), which is dedicated to the academic and professional training in the field of atomic energy.
• (IRAMIS), which houses the (LIDyL) joint research unit where both Anne L'Huillier and Pierre Agostini attained breakthroughs in attosecond lasers, leading to their Nobel prize share in 2023.
• NeuroSpin is a neuroimaging research center with some of the most powerful MRI machines in the world

Director of the site

• Christian Bailly (2021–present)^[12]
• Michel Bédoucha (2016–2021)^{[13] [14]}
• Jacques Vayron (2012–2016)^[15]
• Yves Caristan (2005–2012)
• Jean-Pierre Pervès (2000–2005)
• Eliane Loquet (1993–2000)
• Jean Bazin (1990–1993)
• Paul Delpeyroux (–1990)
• ...
• (1954–1970)
• Jules Guéron (1951)

People

• Jules Guéron, first director of the CEA's nuclear research center
• Jean-Baptiste Waldner, alumnus
• Étienne Klein, physicist, philosopher of science, author, and radio host
• Anne L'Huillier, ultra-fast laser physics, 2023 Nobel laureate in physics
• Pierre Agostini, pioneer of strong-field laser physics, 2023 Nobel laureate in physics

External links

• Official website of Saclay in English

Notes and References

1. Web site: Institutionnel Plans d'accès . CEA.fr . 2020-08-21 . fr . 2023-12-09.
2. Web site: Du génie nucléaire au génie biologique . 3 October 2023. French.
3. Book: Rayner-Canham, Marelene F.. A Devotion to Their Science: Pioneer Women of Radioactivity. 1997. Chemical Heritage Foundation. 978-0-7735-6658-3. Philadelphia, Pa.. 97–123. 191818978.
4. Web site: CIMAP - Presentation (English) . cimap.ensicaen.fr . 28 December 2023.
5. Web site: Histoire du site CEA de Saclay : Le plus grand centre de recherche en Europe . 2022-11-25 . 2023-10-08 .
6. Web site: CEA de Saclay: le palais de la science d'Auguste Perret . 28 October 2022 . French.
7. Web site: CEA Paris-Saclay : Domaines de recherche . cea.fr . 29 December 2023.
8. Web site: Osiris-Isis. fr. Authority on Nuclear Safety [Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire]. 28 March 2024. 25 May 2023.
9. Ramberg, Bennett. Nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the Enemy: An Unrecognized Military Peril. University of California Press, 1985. p. xvii.
10. Cordesman, Anthony H. Iraq and the War of Sanctions: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Praeger, 1999. p. 605.
11. Microorganisms. Dec 2020. 8. 12. 1857–. 10.3390/microorganisms8121857. 7760952. Direct Meta-Analyses Reveal Unexpected Microbial Life in the Highly Radioactive Water of an Operating Nuclear Reactor Core. Pauline C. M.. Petit. Olivier. Pible. Valérie. Van Eesbeeck. Claude. Alban. Gérard. Steinmetz. Mohamed. Mysara. Pieter. Monsieurs. Jean. Armengaud. Corinne. Rivasseau. free. 33255667 .
12. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-bailly https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-bailly
13. Web site: 2016-07-04 . Michel Bédoucha, nouveau directeur du centre CEA de Saclay . 2024-02-14 . CEA/Presse & Médias . fr.
14. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-bedoucha-b0645511a https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-bedoucha-b0645511a
15. Web site: Michel Bédoucha: a new Director for the CEA Saclay Center . cea.fr . 28 December 2023 . 1 July 2016.