As if to reflect the saying by Rabelais "Science without a conscience will lead to the destruction of the soul," the management of Polytechnique's Department of Research and Innovation makes every effort to choose conference topics for its Journée de la recherche that highlight the societal impacts of scientific progress or the scientific issues of a situation faced by the society as a whole. The connections between the various disciplines found in a single research area are also a recurring theme at the annual event.

For the 2005 edition, Polytechnique upheld this tradition by offering an inspiring conference program where high-calibre researchers shared their thoughts with the public on topics as diverse as energy issues, the role of teaching and research in the university milieu and telecommunications-related disciplines.

From left to right: Philippe Tanguy, Gilles Y. Delisle, Yves Gingras, Michel Rose, Ke Wu and Christophe Guy

An eclectic morning program addressing our society's current challenges
The morning program adopted a very general approach, offering participants four seminars. At least three of these were related to various current issues: sustainable construction, the planet's shrinking energy reserves and the role of the teaching-research combination in universities.

Michel Rose, Eng., Executive Director of Polytechnique's Major Construction Projects, began by presenting Québec's first experience with construction of a university building based on a sustainable development approach. Mr. Rose provided an overview of the various phases of the construction of the Lassonde buildings, to be inaugurated this coming fall. In so doing, Mr. Rose addressed the different aspects taken into account in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) approach adopted in order to receive U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) certification: site development, energy efficiency, water conservation, choice of materials and quality of the indoor environment.

During the second seminar, titled "Energy issues in 2025," Philippe Tanguy, Eng. PhD, a professor in Polytechnique's Department of Chemical Engineering and holder of the TOTAL Industrial Chair, addressed the global energy situation over the coming 20 years. In an objective manner and without being alarmist, Mr. Tanguy provided an analysis of the consequences related to the increased use of energy throughout the world and the rapid decrease of fossil energy resources. He also discussed the issue of the retention of greenhouse gases. Mr. Tanguy then spoke of the various alternatives available for ensuring adequate energy resources in the near future, their limitations and the changes required to move toward a new energy model based on renewable energy.

Engineer-in-Training Stéphane Larouche, PhD student in engineering physics, then presented his work on optical filters, in particular graded-index filters. The young researcher also shared his experience as a graduate and post-graduate student.

The morning program was completed by the speech given by Yves Gingras, Executive Director of the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie (CIRST, an interuniversity research team) and a full professor in Université du Québec à Montréal's Department of History. A recognized specialist in the history and sociology of science, Mr. Gingras presented an analysis of the progressive integration of scientific disciplines in universities over the past three centuries and outlined the university model that seems to have become the norm today. Mr. Gingras used humour to highlight the stereotypes and conflicts of opinion that exist in the university environment. Finally, he presented the challenges facing university research with respect to the emergence of the knowledge society.

Afternoon program: a focus on communications engineering
After presenting the International Institute of Telecommunications (IIT), the Vice-President of the organization, Gilles Y. Delisle, Eng., PhD, led a series of workshops dedicated to Polytechnique's various research units operating in the area of telecommunications. 

Researchers from Poly-Grames (radio frequencies), GRIM (mobile computing), PolyPhotonique, the Groupe de Recherche en Microélectronique (GRM, microelectronics research group) and Broadlab (Broadband Networks Lab) presented their research and discussed changes in their disciplines and future areas of telecommunications research.

The fourth Journée de la recherche spurred discussion with a large and enthusiastic audience. Some 350 people attended the presentations, which were considered by all to be both significant and excellent. 

Many thanks to the speakers and all the participants. See you next year!