Hubert Curien

Hubert Curien (1924-February 6 2005) was a French scientist and a key figure in European science politics, as both the President of CERN (1994–1996) and the first chairman of the European Space Agency (ESA) (1981–1984).

Born in Cornimont in eastern France, Curien enlisted in the French resistance during World War II. After the war he studied Physics at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris.

He became the director general of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in 1969, and was one of the founders of the European Science Foundation and chairman from 1979 to 1984. He was also head of the French space agency from 1976 to 1984, and first chairman of the board of ESA from 1981 to 1984.