Formation:
Graduated at the ‘École polytechnique’ de l’University of Brussels as Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
Post-Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Physics at the same University
Carrière:
1957-1959 : Reserve Officer’s School. Assigned by Ministry of Defence to the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
1959-1963 : Civilian status at same Centre, Head of Section for Advanced Projects
1964-1969 : Senior Engineer in Future Programmes Directorate, European Launcher Development Organisation (CECLES-ELDO), Paris
1967-1969 : Concurrently, Consultant to the European Nuclear Energy Agency (ENEA) of the OECD, Paris
1969-1974 : Joined the Commission of the European Communities (CEC). Director of Programmes of the Joint Research Centre, Brussels
1981-1986 : Director for Science & Technology Policy, Scientific Co-ordination & Co-operation with Third Countries, in the Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development of the CEC
1986-1997 : Director-General of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
1997-1999 : Special Adviser to Hans van den Broek, Member of the European Commission responsible for External Affairs
2000-2006 : Invited Chair Professor, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon
Concurrently:
1990-1996 : President of the European Centre for Research and Training in Advanced Scientific Computation (CERFACS), Toulouse
1991-1996 : Alternate Professor at the Free University of Brussels - Institut d’études européennes, and then Faculté des Sciences appliquées/École de Commerce Solvay
1992-1997 : Member of the Management Board of the European Environmental Agency, Copenhagen
1996-1998 : Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Science and Technology Centre, Moscow
1998-2006 : Chairman of the Board, Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University, Tokyo
Currently: Special Advisor to the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal
Chairman of the Board of Directors, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Brussels
President of the Scientific Foundation ‘Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Center’, Saint Petersburg
Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, International Science and Technology Centre, Moscow
Member of the Executive Committee of the UNDL Foundation, Geneva
Member of the Advisory Committee, International Risk Governance Council, Geneva