As part of the European Doctorate Day, La Rotonde and the SIS Doctoral School organized a round table on the theme of scientific truth in which PDIS students participated.
Co-hosted by Christine Berton (mediation officer at La Rotonde) and Jérôme Molimard (lecturer-researcher at CIS), the conference featured:
- Paul Calmels, Professor and Doctor at Saint-Étienne University Hospital, PRM doctor;
- Sylvie Descartes, Research Engineer at INSA Lyon, tribologist;
- Cyprien Lannois, Associate Professor at Mines Saint-Étienne, philosopher;
- Steve Peuble, Assistant Lecturer at Mines Saint-Étienne, geologist;
- Antoine Zimmermann, Professor at Mines Saint-Étienne, computer scientist.
In an era where commentary serves as analysis, how can we distinguish scientific truth? This was the opening question posed to the researchers present. Each speaker offered their definition of truth and emphasized that THE truth does not exist. A truth depends on the given moment, on the elements and means available to define it at a particular time. For the speakers, a single, absolute truth is a belief.
What place for doubt? What about the representativeness of the result when a natural phenomenon is reproduced in the laboratory?
Many questions animated the 1st year PDIS students (preparatory and diploma cycle in engineering and health). They learned that research also means multiplying failures to find an answer. Research is all the more interesting when you make mistakes.
