the father of the Cité des enfants
Biologist · author · speaker
Jack
Guichard
Sharing a love of science… and of the Vendée’s heritage.
Former director of the Palais de la découverte, Paris’s legendary science museum, and university professor, he has devoted his life to making science a joy: more than a hundred books, talks all over France, television — and today, the protection of the coast and heritage of Talmont.
- 2003–2009Director-General of the Palais de la découverte
- 15 yearsScientific lead of the Cité des enfants at the Cité des sciences, Paris
- 100+books, and 70 editions in other languages
- RobervalPrize winner, youth category, 2021; finalist 2025
A life in science
From the laboratory
to the estuary shore
Graduate of the École normale supérieure, neurophysiologist at Paris VI University and INSERM, then museologist, educator and author — with one common thread: giving everyone the pleasure of understanding.
The Cité des sciences
Part of the team that created the Cité, then fifteen years designing exhibitions for young people, including the Cité des enfants.
Doctorate, Geneva
Thesis on the design of museum exhibits; associate researcher at the LDES, University of Geneva.
University professor
Researcher at the ENS Cachan, deputy director of the IUFM de Paris (teacher training), director of CERTEM, a centre for teaching and research in multimedia educational technology, and expert for the French school curriculum.
The Palais de la découverte
Six years at the head of the legendary place where so many scientific careers began, including the design of a renovation project.
“La science est dans…”
With Cécile Jugla, a Nathan series for children translated into 8 languages and awarded the Roberval Prize.
Les Balades de Jack
Every Friday on TV3Provinces: the heritage of southern Vendée and the people who keep it alive.
Books
More than a hundred books
to learn while having fun
50 expériences faciles et surprenantes
Nathan · 2024 and 2025
C'est pas sorcier : l'histoire du numérique
Deux Coqs d'or · 2024
Énigmes pour grands génies
Larousse · 2023
Défiez votre cerveau
Larousse
La science est dans…
Nathan · with Cécile Jugla100+titles70foreign editions8languagesNathan · Larousse · Hachette · Le Pommier
Talks
On the programme
An hour that sends you home more curious than you came.
New in 2026
AI: history, principles, applications and stakes
Chamber of Agriculture, Rotary, former mayors of the Vendée, 300 people at the Manoir in Talmont…
For everyoneThe history of digital technology
Compiègne, Poitiers, Les Sables-d'Olonne
InteractiveChallenge your brain
All audiences
Stage showScience… and magic
Families, schools
Laughter guaranteedAstonishing inventions
All audiences
HeritageTalmont: a long history
Associations, tourist offices
TF1BFM TVFrance 3France BleuTV VendéeTV3ProvincesOuest-FranceSciences et Avenir
Vendée & heritage
The Talmont coast, told by the man who watches over it
Vice-president of the Groupe associatif Estuaire, the Musée du Sable and the Amis du patrimoine talmondais, and founder of the estuary “sentinels”, Jack reveals the dinosaur footprints of Le Veillon and the treasures of the Talmont coast — on video, on guided walks and in books.
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