Our Editorial Board

Graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, Benoît Lombardet has been Electricity R&D Director at TotalEnergies since 2021. He previously contributed in developing the Company's strategy in renewables with the acquisition of SunPower and then in the Gas, Renewables and Power division. Before joining TotalEnergies in 2008, he worked for 3 years in the solar power industry within a start-up.

Alain Beltran holds a teaching qualification in history and a Ph.D. in arts. He is currently a research director at France’s National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), working at Sorbonne IRICE, a mixed research unit specializing in identity, international relations and European civilizations. Since 2006, he has also chaired the Committee for the History of Electricity and Energy. Authored works include “Histoire(s) de l’EDF, comment se sont prises les décisions de 1946 à nos jours”, with J-F Picard and M. Bungener, (Dunod) and “La fée Électricité”, (“Découvertes Gallimard / Sciences et techniques” collection).

Philippe Blanc presently holds the SciDoSol sponsorship chair (www.scidosol.fr) dedicated to the use of data science for solar energy.

After spending eight years in the R&D department of Thales Alenia Space, working on the processing of very high-resolution optical satellite images, he has been contributing since 2007 to research activities on renewable resource estimation at the research center Observation, Impacts, Energy (O.I.E) of MINES Paris - PSL, located in Sophia Antipolis. He works on the modeling, estimation, and forecasting of solar energy resources, using various Earth observation sources (satellites, numerical models, in-situ measurements). He also teaches advanced signal and image processing techniques and machine learning in the civil engineering program at MINES Paris - PSL. He was associate editor for the international journal Solar Energy (Elsevier) from 2015 to 2021, he is currently participating in Task 16 'Solar resource for high penetration and large-scale applications' of the PVPS program of the International Energy Agency, as the leader of one of the 4 subtasks. In addition to his teaching and research activities, Philippe Blanc is part of the board of PEP2A (Pôle Energ'Ethique des Préalpes d'Azur), a cooperative company with collective interest whose goal is to support citizens in the energy transition of the territory of the Préalpes d'Azur Regional Nature Park. In particular, he is involved in the development of photovoltaic roofs and canopies.

List of publications (70+ articles, 90+ communications, 10+ patents): https://cv.archives-ouvertes.fr/philippe-blanc

Jean-Christophe JC Flèche is a civil engineer from Mines (Nancy) and a graduate of IFP School. He joined IFP Energies nouvelles in 1986, where he was a course lecturer at the IFP School and conducted research activities in geophysics and applied mathematics, before becoming head of the geophysics master's degree. In 1994, he joined the management of IFP School as head of international action and devoted himself to promoting the training offer to universities and companies abroad. In 2001, he was appointed Director of Development for the School, then in 2003, Deputy Director of the Training Results Center, in charge of external communication and promotion of IFP School, coordination of international industrial and academic partnerships, and management of spin-offs and fundraising. In 2018, he took over the Institutional Relations and Communication Department of IFP Energies nouvelles.

Marc Florette was Member of the Executive Committee of ENGIE, Chief Digital Officer directly reporting to the CEO in charge of the digital transformation of the ENGIE group. He has been previously involved as Chief Technology Officer in charge of Research and Innovation in energy issues all along the energy value chain. He is Member of the French Academy of Technology and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the French gas TSO GRTGaz. At the International Level, Marc Florette is a former Member of the board of MARCOGAZ (European technological organization) and (Past President of GERG ; European Gas Research Group), and is member of the board of the Gas Technology Institute (Chicago). He organized two International Gas Union Research Conference, held in 2010 in Paris, and in 2011 in Seoul. Prior to his appointment as Member of the Executive Committee of ENGIE, Marc Florette has also been involved in operational activities, first as a manager in the distribution of electricity and gas in several regions of France, then as the CEO of a business unit developing, investing, and operating cogenerations and gas combined cycle. Marc Florette graduated from Ecole Polytechnique ,Paris( equivalent of MIT) in 1978, he got a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Paris VI and a master of Science in physics engineering of UCSD in USA.

2019-2023: High Commissioner for Atomic Energy, CEA
2016: Technical Director ANDRA (National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management)
2013-2016: Scientific and Production Director of the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
2006-2013: Scientific and R&D Director of ANDRA
2005-2006: Inter-regional Director of CNRS Grand Est
1997- 2001: Director of the Joint Research Unit "Geology and Management of Mineral and Energy Resources" (G2R) - Nancy - (70 researchers and technicians) Deputy Director: Lorraine Institute of Geosciences - Nancy Scientific Director: CREGU Civil Society Deputy Director: Doctoral School RP2E Doctor of Science Research Director 1st class CNRS

Florent Le Bourhis is an industrial engineering teacher and holds a doctorate from the École Centrale de Nantes, specializing in the development of software tools for modeling and optimizing production processes with a focus on their environmental impact. He also holds a Master 2 in Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, specializing in Mechatronics and Advanced Design, from ENS Cachan and the University of Florida.

Since 2021, he has been a teacher of industrial engineering and computer science in « Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles » (CPGE) at the Lycée polyvalent de Cachan. He previously taught in CPGE at Lycée Janson de Sailly and Lycée Charlemagne in Paris. He has also taught at ENS Rennes and EPF Campus de Cachan engineering school.

Since 2024, he has been President of UPSTI and since 2018 a member of the EU STEM Coalition. Since 2020, he has also been a member of juries for the Centrale and Mines-Ponts competitive entrance exams. Between 2019 and 2023 he was a member of the expert committee for the development of A-level subjects in the Engineering Sciences specialty.

As an author, he has contributed to a number of school books and teaching resources in Engineering Sciences, notably for the publisher Vuibert and the Eduscol website. He has also published articles and taken part in conferences on assessing the environmental performance of manufacturing processes.

Manoelle Lepoutre was Senior Vice President, Civil Society Engagement from 2016 to 2021. She began her career for Elf in Exploration and Production Research & Development, where she was in charge of Basin Modelling (petroleum evaluation of sedimentary basins and of exploration prospects).

Jean-François Minster obtained a diploma of the Ecole Polytechnique and a Doctorate of the Institut de Physique du Globe of Paris (French institute of geophysics). In 1981, he created the laboratory for Physics and Chemistry of the Hydrosphere of the Institut de Physique du Globe of Paris, then the laboratory of Oceanography and Geophysics of Toulouse which he managed from 1985 to1996. He worked on the study of meteorites, volcanism, ocean currents the oceanic cycle of the carbon in relation with climate, and satellite oceanography. From 1990 to 1996, he also occupied the function of Director of the Institute of the Earth sciences of Toulouse. In 1996, he took the direction of the Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). From 2000 to 2005, Jean-François Minster was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER). In 2005 and 2006, he was Scientific Director General of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). He is corresponding member of the Academy of Science and member of the Academy of the Technologies. On October 1st, 2006, Jean-François Minster is nominated Senior Vice President, Scientific Development of Total SA.

Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier is Senior Vice President, Public Interest and Managing Director of the Fondation TotalEnergies since January 01, 2022. A graduate of the Institut d’Études Politiques de Grenoble, Jacques Saulnier was Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Grenoble in 1992, Chief of Staff to the French Minister of Communications, also the Mayor of Grenoble, responsible for coordinating staff in 1993, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Minister of the Economy and Finance in 1996. In 1998, Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier joined Alcatel as Vice President of Institutional Relations. From September 2001 to June 2011, he was Senior Vice President of Communications and spokesperson for Areva, which he joined in 1999 as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Cogema. From October 2011 and February 2022, Jacques-Emmanuel was Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and spokesperson for Total, now TotalEnergies. From March 2015 to July 2021, Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier was Chairman of Entreprises & Médias, the French association for Communication Directors. He is a knight of the French National Order of Merit.

Marie-Noelle Semeria is the Chief Technology Officer of Total since November 2017. She was previously CEO of CEA-Leti and President of the Network of Carnot Institutes. During her previous 18 years at CEA, she held different seniormanagement and strategy-development positions and helped secure numerous patents in CEA- Leti and as Chief Scientist for CEA Tech. Her professional experience ranges from public research to start-up and high tech industry. She began her career at Sagem (Safran) in magnetic storage, then she served in the start- up Pixtech as field emission display architect before joining CEA-Leti where she launched an internal contest to promote start-up creation and signed leading partnerships with semiconductor industrial majors. In 2011, she was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Order of Merit in 2015. Semeria held numerous positions as board member of french and european agencies and associations : ANR, CNRS, Allisten, MINALOGIC, AENEAS... She received a doctorate of science in solid state physics from Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble and a degree from IHEST to bridge science and society.

Bernard Tardieu is vice president of the Energy Committee at the National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF). He is an internationally renowned expert in hydroelectricity, dams, canals, and nuclear power plant civil engineering. Until February 2008, he was Chief Executive Officer of Coyne et Bellier-Tractebel Engineering (a business unit of GDF SUEZ Energy Services), of which he is currently Honorary Chairman. As an employee and then CEO, Bernard Tardieu has dedicated his career to developing major water and hydroelectric power projects in some 50 countries. Hepromoted the use of theoretical (static and dynamic modeling, poroplasticity, modeling of geomaterials) and practical research methods during expert assessments, construction work and inspections at dams. Bernard Tardieu has been Vice President of the International Commission on Large Dams, President of the French Committee on Dams and Reservoirs (CFBR), Vice President of the French government's Advisory Board for Civil Engineering Research (CORGEC – 1985-1995) and a member of one of the Specialised Commissions of the French National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA). He is currently a member of the Permanent Technical Committee on Dams and Hydraulic Structures, a member of the Scientific Board of Eléctricité de France (EDF) and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC) and President of the Scientific and Technical Committee on "structures" of the French waterways’ (VNF's) Seine-Nord Europe Canal project. He has published numerous scientific articles and has been a member of many thesis examination committees.

Christine Trabado holds a teaching qualification in physics with a major in chemistry. Between 1982 and 2023, she worked as a high school physics teacher, educational advisor to teacher trainees and member of assessment juries. As an educational expert in science and digital technology, she has also been a project manager at the French Ministry of Education's “Direction du Numérique pour l'Education” (DNE). She is the author of bachelor’s degree yearbooks (Nathan) and a series of videograms on “the history of measurements of the speed of light”. Since 2023, she has been involved in volunteer work with GREF (Groupement Éducation sans Frontières), REPTA (Réseau Éducation pour tous en Afrique) and DAE (Droit à l'Ecole / supporting unaccompanied children). She was awarded the “Ordre National du Mérite” in 2013.