Gilles Dowek: at the crossroads of computer science, logic and philosophy

Gilles Dowek became interested in science at an early age. As a member of the Society of Friends of the Palais de la découverte (Discovery Centre) and the National Association of Technical Sciences for Young People (now Planète Sciences), he immersed himself in scientific discovery at secondary school, nurturing his keen interest in computer science.

During this time, he created a Mastermind game programme, an early demonstration of his programming talents. This work earned him the Philips Science Prize for Young People in 1982, which led him to represent France at the European Philips Contest for Young Scientists and Inventors in 1983, the year of his baccalaureate. This recognition opened the door to the laboratory of Gérard Huet, a logician and researcher in theoretical computer science at Inria, where he expanded his knowledge and refined his programme.

Academic education and initial research

Gilles Dowek entered the École polytechnique after a two-year preparatory course for a competitive exam. Keen to pursue a career in computer science, he went on to do a Master's degree in this discipline at the Université Paris VII (now Université Paris Cité). He wrote his PhD thesis at Inria between 1989 and 1991. "My ambition was to become a researcher in a computer science laboratory, and this determination guided all my studies." His work focused on the design of algorithms for checking the correctness of mathematical demonstrations, as well as their automatic construction in certain cases. After his thesis defence, the researcher undertook a post-doctorate in the United States, first at Carnegie Mellon University, then at Computational Logic Inc, a company specialising in formal mathematical demonstration.

Return to France and development of logical frameworks

In 1993, Gilles Dowek returned to Inria as a researcher, working on the Formel project. Noting the many different proof systems and the lack of equivalence between them, he set out to develop universal logical frameworks. "I felt that this was not the best way of organising research, with small teams scattered around the world and competing with each other." As a result, a few years later he founded and led the Deducteam project team, dedicated to designing languages and tools for formal demonstration, with the aim of unifying approaches and facilitating exchanges between different systems.

Teaching and transmitting knowledge

From 2002 to 2010, Gilles Dowek was professor of computer science at the École polytechnique. In 2015, he joined the École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay as an associate professor. He is particularly involved in teaching at Master's level, encouraging students to engage in research and develop critical thinking regarding their careers. "I have noticed that those who are project-driven understand better what is required of them during their studies, which helps them to succeed." He is interested in pedagogical issues, exploring new teaching methods, notably the flipped classroom, which he experimented with during the Covid-19 pandemic. Using this approach, the teacher sent videos of lectures to students, so that online class time could be devoted to discussion. This initiative continued even after the return to in-person teaching.

A philosophical exploration of computer science

Alongside his research and teaching, Gilles Dowek is involved in philosophical reflection on the nature and foundations of computer science. In 1993, after completing his post-doctorate, he published his first book, La Logique (Logic), an introduction to logic as a field of thought. "This discipline was first a branch of philosophy, then mathematics, and today it is becoming part of computer science while still being practised by mathematicians and philosophers."

In 2007, Gilles Dowek published Les Métamorphoses du Calcul (The Metamorphoses of Calculus), in which he analysed the transformation of mathematics in the 20th century, marked by the integration of the notion of calculus. "Until the 20th century, the notion of demonstration dominated, at the expense of calculus." He asked why calculus has such a bad reputation - illustrated, for example, by describing a person using the pejorative term "calculating". The researcher went on to explain how calculus has regained a central role, notably through demonstration verification systems. This work earned him the Grand Prix for Philosophy of the French Academy. In 2019, he published Ce dont on ne peut parler, il faut l'écrire (What you cannot talk about, you must write down), devoted not to calculus, but to the notion of language.

Quantum computing and epistemology

His interest in philosophical questions also extended to quantum computing, an emerging field in the early 2000s. He worked with a colleague on programming languages for quantum computers. "I wondered how quantum mechanics could change the notion of calculus." These scientific and philosophical questions led him to explore the epistemological implications of quantum computing.

Redefining computer science and its teaching

Gilles Dowek also considers social and educational issues related to IT education. He has published a series of articles on the subject since 2005. "Learning computer science is a bit like learning to read; you can't start with the basics in the morning and tackle complex texts in the afternoon, that's too fast." He added to this analysis the criticism that pedagogical approaches should not focus on a single concept: "It is important to have a balanced approach between the different concepts of computer science, such as algorithm, language, computer and even information." His commitment led him to take part in think tanks on computer science teaching in secondary schools and higher education.

The ethical challenges of digital technology

Lastly, Gilles Dowek is committed to the ethical issues surrounding computer science. He was involved in the creation of the Commission for Research Ethics in Digital Science and Technology at Allistene (Cerna) by Inria, CNRS and other institutions. He is particularly interested in the management of personal data and the question of proper nouns in the digital age.

"Today, our personal data is often our email addresses or telephone numbers," and to prioritise respect for the individual and personal choice, he proposes alternatives for managing name changes in databases.

Gilles Dowek was awarded the 2023 Inria Grand Prix and the 2024 History of Science and Epistemology Medal by the French Academy of Sciences for his work in the philosophy of science. "I am honoured by these awards. They reward my research, which encompasses three dimensions: social, epistemological and ethical."