[Science and development: the action of François Gros at COPED].

Abstract

This article is a tribute to the action of François Gros within the COPED (Committee of Developing Countries) which he created in 1997 and led until 2017. The COPED aims to reflect on the major scientific problems posed to developing countries and to try to provide them with solutions in partnership with them. Its actions have resulted in the organization of mini-forums, workshops, international symposia and reports for governments and authorities. Without being exhaustive, a number of actions carried out by François Gros or on his initiative are described in fields as diverse as health, chemistry, agronomy, energy, applied mathematics, renewable resources management and biodiversity, or education, training and the role of women in the sustainable development of African societies. The diversity of these concerns is a good illustration of the range of areas in which François Gros saw a possible impact of science in the service of development.