Le rapport des académies sur la métallurgie

This article presents a brief overview of a report by the French Academies of Sciences and Technologies on metallurgy, published in 2010. The objective was to raise public authorities' awareness of the risks associated with the irreversible loss of expertise in this field due to the retirement of academic specialists and the globalization of the economy, which distances decision-making centers from metal-producing industries. Despite ongoing research centers within France, there is a genuine risk of their closure. Concurrently, industries such as aerospace and automotive express concerns over the shortage of qualified metallurgists. The decline of academic interest in metallurgy stems from its outdated image among students and the public, exacerbated by media coverage of factory closures. The report highlights recent scientific advancements and diverse applications of metallurgy, contradicting the notion that it is an unexciting field. It emphasizes significant industrial challenges and the necessity for a structured approach to metallurgy in France, including training, research organization, and industry relations, while advocating for a renewed visibility and importance of the discipline in the context of sustainable development.