Research

Research Priorities: History of science and medicine, philosophy of life sciences, history of molecular biology, sleep research

Claude Debru is a French philosopher. His work focuses on the history of science and medicine, and he has written on topics including the history of protein chemistry and molecular biology, the history of sleep, and neurophysiological research into dreaming.

Claude Debru investigates the history of various medical disciplines. In his work on the history of biochemistry he has compared papers on the mechanisms of photosynthesis as well as photochemical and enzyme research. He has collaborated with professors from the field of leukaemia research on books about the history of haematology. He examines protein structure-function relationships and demonstrates how deriving structures from functions remains problematic.

Following a stay at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine in Lyon he focused on the physiology and psychophysiology of sleep and dreams, and examined neurophysiological, neurochemical, and clinical sleep research. Theoretical hypotheses about the functions of paradoxical sleep were a key focus.

He has written about the epistemology of the possible and about the history and philosophical issues associated with biotechnology. This includes investigating the link between scientific and technological innovations and uses philosophical reflection to illuminate scientific progress.

Claude Debru has worked on national and international committees to raise awareness of the importance of the history of science. Part of this work involved helping to develop the Centre documentaire de CAPHÉS, a documentation centre and archive focused on the history of science and philosophy. Claude Debru donated his own professional archive as well an extensive collection of monographs on the history of science and technology, the history of neuroscience and medicine, and journals to the centre.

Career

• 2002-2012 Professor of Philosophy of Science, École normale supérieure (ENS), Paris, France
• 1999-2002 Professor of Philosophy of Science, Denis Diderot University, Paris, France
• 1991-1999 Mis à disposition, Faculty of Medicine, Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg France
• 1991-1999 Director, European Centre for the History of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France
• 1981-1989 Mis à disposition, Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
• 1986 Research Director, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France
• 1982 Doctor of Literature, Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, Lyon, France
• 1979-1980 Visiting Scholar, Department of the History of Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
• 1977 PhD in Biophysical Chemistry, Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC), Paris, France
• 1974 Doctorate in Philosophy
• 1965-1970 Degree, ENS, Paris, France

Honours and Memberships

• 2012 Gustav Neuenschwander Prize, European Society for the History of Science (ESHS)
• 2011 Member, Académie des Sciences, France
• 2009 Blaise Pascal Medal, European Academy of Sciences
• 2003 Binoux Prize, Académie des Sciences, Franc
• Chevalier de l’Ordre national du mérite, France
• since 1998 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 1992 Grammaticakis-Neuman Prize, Académie des Sciences, France
• Member, Academia Europaea
• Corresponding Member, International Academy of the History of Sciences
• Chevalier des palmes académiques, France
• Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, France
• Member, European Society for the History of Science (ESHS)
• Member, Société d’histoire et d’épistémologie des sciences de la vie, Bordeaux, France
• Member, French Society for the History of Science and Technology (SFHST), France
• Founding Member, European Association for the History of Medicine and Health