# Jacques Arsac

> astronomer and computer scientist (1929-2014)

**Wikidata**: [Q3158150](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3158150)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jacques-arsac

## Summary  
Jacques Arsac (1 February 1929 – 14 January 2014) was a French astronomer, physicist and computer scientist. He is best known for his pioneering work in radio astronomy and informatics, for developing the EXEL programming language, and for serving as a senior educator and inspector‑general of French education.

## Biography  
- **Born:** 1 February 1929, Le Puy‑en‑Velay, France  
- **Nationality:** French  
- **Education:**  
  - École Normale Supérieure (agrégation in physics, 1952)  
  - University of Paris (Doctor of Science, 1955)  
- **Known for:** Founding contributions to radio astronomy, informatics, and the EXEL programming language.  
- **Employer(s):**  
  - Meudon Observatory (1955 – 1964)  
  - Science Faculty of Paris (1965 – 1971)  
  - Inspector General of the Éducation nationale (from 1987)  
- **Field(s):** Radio astronomy, physics, computer science, informatics  

## Contributions  
Jacques Arsac began his scientific career at the Meudon Observatory, where he applied emerging electronic techniques to radio‑astronomical observations, helping to modernize French radio‑astronomy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. After moving to the Science Faculty of Paris, he turned his attention to informatics, contributing to early French computer‑science curricula and research. In the 1970s he designed the EXEL programming language, a tool aimed at simplifying algorithmic expression for scientific computing; EXEL was adopted by several French research laboratories for data‑processing tasks. As a university teacher, Arsac supervised doctoral students, notably Jacques Pitrat, who later became a leading figure in artificial intelligence. His administrative work as Inspector General of the Éducation nationale (from 1987) shaped national science‑education policy, promoting the integration of computer science into secondary curricula. Throughout his career he published numerous papers in radio‑astronomy and informatics, many indexed in DBLP (author ID 57/2020) and cited in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 157121).

## FAQs  
### Q: When and where was Jacques Arsac born?  
A: He was born on 1 February 1929 in Le Puy‑en‑Velay, France.  

### Q: What scientific fields did Jacques Arsac work in?  
A: Arsac worked in radio astronomy, physics, computer science, and informatics.  

### Q: Which major awards did Jacques Arsac receive?  
A: He was made a Commander of the National Order of Merit (2002), a Knight of the French Order of Academic Palms, and won the prix Roberval Grand public in 1994.  

## Why They Matter  
Jacques Arsac bridged the gap between observational astronomy and the nascent field of informatics, introducing digital techniques that accelerated data analysis in French radio‑astronomy. His development of the EXEL programming language provided a practical tool for scientists before high‑level languages became widespread, influencing early computational practices in research labs. As an educator and inspector‑general, he championed the inclusion of computer science in national curricula, laying groundwork for today’s pervasive STEM education in France. His mentorship produced a generation of computer‑science pioneers, most notably Jacques Pitrat, whose AI work traces intellectual lineage back to Arsac’s interdisciplinary approach. Without his contributions, French radio‑astronomy would have modernized later, and the early diffusion of computer‑science education in France would have been delayed.  

## Notable For  
- Development of the EXEL programming language for scientific computing.  
- Pioneering radio‑astronomy research at Meudon Observatory (1955‑1964).  
- Service as Inspector General of the Éducation nationale, shaping French science education (from 1987).  
- Membership as a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences (since 1980) and of Academia Europaea (since 1989).  
- Receiving the Commander of the National Order of Merit (2002) and the prix Roberval Grand public (1994).  

## Body  

### Early Life and Education  
- Born in Le Puy‑en‑Velay, Jacques Jean Arsac completed the agrégation in physics in 1952.  
- He earned a Doctor of Science from the University of Paris in 1955, under the supervision of astronomer Jean‑Claude Pecker.  

### Academic and Research Career  
- **Meudon Observatory (1955‑1964):** Conducted radio‑astronomical observations, integrating electronic data‑processing methods.  
- **Science Faculty of Paris (1965‑1971):** Transitioned to informatics, teaching early computer‑science courses and supervising doctoral research.  
- **Doctoral Mentorship:** Supervised Jacques Pitrat (later a noted AI scientist) and Paul Albert Feautrier.  

### Contributions to Informatics  
- Designed the EXEL programming language, facilitating algorithmic work for scientific users.  
- Published extensively; his works are catalogued in DBLP (author ID 57/2020) and the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 157121).  

### Administrative Leadership  
- Appointed Inspector General of the Éducation nationale in 1987, where he promoted the integration of computer science into national curricula and oversaw educational standards.  

### Honors and Memberships  
- Corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences (since 28 April 1980).  
- Member of Academia Europaea, section Informatics (since 1989).  
- Commander of the National Order of Merit (30 April 2002) and Knight of the Order of Academic Palms.  

### Legacy  
Arsac’s interdisciplinary work laid foundations for modern French radio‑astronomy and early computer‑science education. His students and policy work propagated his vision, influencing both academic research and national education systems.  

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## References

1. Fichier des personnes décédées mirror
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. BnF authorities
4. Who's Who in France
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. [Source](http://www.france-phaleristique.com/onm_promo_30-04-02.htm)
7. [Source](http://www.prixroberval.utc.fr/iso_album/Les%20oeuvres%20prim%C3%A9es%20de%201987%20%C3%A0%20nos%20jours.pdf)
8. CiNii Research
9. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
10. [Source](https://www.academie-sciences.fr/archivage_site/academie/membre/Arsac_Jacques.htm)
11. [Source](https://www.academie-sciences.fr/en/In-memoriam/jacques-arsac.html)
12. [Source](https://www.ae-info.org/ae/User/Arsac_Jacques)
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb11889229s)
15. La France savante
16. Source
17. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File