The first lecture given by a newly appointed professor at the Collège de France is their opening lecture. Delivered solemnly in the presence of colleagues and a large audience, it provides an opportunity to situate their work and teaching in relation to the most recent developments in research. Authors take us to the heart of their science, their knowledge, their concerns, and their enthusiasm, offering us an hour of stimulating and instructive reading. Published since 1949, many of these opening lectures have thus constituted, in their respective fields and at their time, significant—even groundbreaking—events. They are aimed at a broad audience eager to better understand developments in contemporary science and intellectual life.
Since 2010, new lectures have also been systematically published in digital format and made available as open access upon publication on the OpenEdition Books portal. Some are also published in English or other languages. Certain older lectures have been digitized and are gradually being made available online on this same portal.
