From Stars to States

Thierry Courvoisier is Emeritus Professor at the University of Geneva. Until his retirement in 2016 he was Director of the Integral Science Data Center in Geneva. Thierry Courvoisier became president of the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (SCNAT) in January 2012 and president of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences in January 2013. He exercised both mandates until the end of 2015. He is now president of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) for the period 2017-2019. From 2006-2014 he was the Editor in Chief of the journal The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. Throughout his scientific career his research centered around high-energy astrophysics and active galactic nuclei.

Foreword by Anne Gover.- Chapter 1 Astrophysics since the middle of the 20^th century.- Chapter 2 Astronomy and the measurement of time.- Chapter 3 Astronomy and Modern Society.- Chapter 4 Science: Pleasure and Culture.- Chapter 5 Knowledge: Mastering our environment, also a responsibility.- Chapter 6 Knowledge and Politics.- Chapter 7  Beyond Nations.- Conclusion.

"In this book he offers us his experience, and makes us scientists aware of our responsibility to develop the appropriate attitudes and communication skills. Thierry Courvoisier plays here the role of a mediator between science and society. His book provides wonderful support to deepen this relationship, and is an indispensable vade mecum that should be put in the hands of all scientists and policy makers!" (Antoine Pochelon, SPG Mitteilungen, Issue 54, March, 2018)

“In this book he offers us his experience, and makes us scientists aware of our responsibility to develop the appropriate attitudes and communication skills. Thierry Courvoisier plays here the role of a mediator between science and society. His book provides wonderful support to deepen this relationship, and is an indispensable vade mecum that should be put in the hands of all scientists and policy makers!” (Antoine Pochelon, SPG Mitteilungen, Issue 54, March, 2018)