Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Palais de la Découverte was born in 1937 as a temporary museum during the Universal Exhibition, led by Jean Perrin ( Nobel Prize in Physics) and André Léveillé. Located in the western wing of the Grand Palais (8th arrondissement), its aim is to make science accessible by "going out of laboratories". Success (2 million visitors) prompted the government to sustain it in 1938, and then to attach it to the University of Paris in 1940. Raymond Grégoire designs the space dedicated to radioactivity.

In the 1970s, the museum evolved to interactive experiences, becoming an autonomous public institution in 1972, and then a "major institution" in 1990. His model is based on live demonstrations (such as electrostatic or liquid air), inspired by Jean Perrin's desire to inspire scientific vocations. A 2007 study revealed that 56% of Parisian scientists over the age of 30 cited the Palais as a major influence on their journey.

Since 2010, the Palace has been grouped with the City of Science under the EPIC University. Closed for renovation since 2020 (to be reopened in 2027), it raises controversy: researchers fear a loss of identity, including the reduction of digital demonstrations. During the works, its activities continue in the Etincelles (15th arrondissement), a temporary structure with planetarium and mediations for the schools. The initial project, considered too expensive, was reviewed in 2020 for a more modest renovation.

The architecture of the Palace, integrated into the Grand Palais, partially masked its original elements (mosaic, glass ceilings, sculptures). The renovation plans to restore them, while creating a " rue des Palais" to unify access. Despite the assurances of Bruno Maquart (President ofUniversity) on the preservation of human mediation, figures such as physicist Sébastien Balibar denounce a risk of dilution of the spirit of the place, based on direct interaction with scientists.

The Palace is historically distinguished from the technical museums (such as the Deutsches Museum in Munich) by focusing on basic research, leaving practical applications to the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Its iconic sections include Foucault's pendulum, X-rays, or planetarium. The journal Découverte, founded in 1972, and successive directors (such as Étienne Guyon or Jack Guichard) marked its evolution towards an ever more inclusive popularization.

External links