Nicolas BRAULT

Nicolas Brault is an Associate Professor in the history and philosophy of science, affiliated with the Department of Agricultural and Animal Sciences. He leads the 'Plant/Society Interaction' program within the Plant Breeding Chair, focusing on restoring the nobility of plant breeding through historical and epistemological analysis. His research integrates ethical considerations with scientific practices, particularly in agriculture and biomedical contexts. He holds a PhD in Epistemology from the University Paris Diderot-Paris VII and a Master's in Philosophy from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Academic Roles: Head of the 2nd year AGRO pre-engineering program and responsible for the 'Responsible Engineering' course. He is a member of the Interact research unit and the board of the SPHERE Laboratory. His work bridges historical analysis of scientific methods with contemporary ethical challenges in AI, healthcare, and agricultural practices.

Research Interests: Explore the intersections of science and society through historical case studies (e.g., plant breeding, epidemiology), epistemological critiques of scientific concepts (e.g., bias, causality), and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies like AI in healthcare. His interdisciplinary approach addresses both historical and modern societal implications of scientific advancements.

Key Partnerships: Collaborates with institutions like Sciences Po Paris and Cerfrance, contributing to policy-relevant research on agricultural ethics and technological innovation. His pedagogical focus emphasizes critical thinking in engineering education through epistemological training.