Since the 16th century, Collège de France has had a two-fold mission: to be a forum for cutting-edge research and teaching.

Collège de France is committed to fundamental research, in partnership with the CNRS, INSERM and several other major institutions, but what differentiates it is that it teaches "knowledge in the making in every field of literature, science and the arts".

Collège de France was founded by Francis I, who appointed the first "Lecteurs royaux" in 1530. Their role was to teach disciplines which were not yet recognized at university level. Today, these former lecteurs royaux have become 47 professors working alongside several hundred researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff. Collège de France is structured around chairs. They cover a huge range of disciplines ranging from mathematics to the study of major civilizations, and include physics, chemistry, biology and medicine, philosophy and literature, the social sciences and economics, prehistory, archaeology and history, and many more. Four of the forty-seven chairs are annual chairs and have new incumbents every year and third are International. They promote responsiveness and scientific teaching in fields which are emerging or require a multidisciplinary approach.

Lectures are open to all, free of charge and without prior registration, subject to availability of seats. They begin annually in October with an interdisciplinary symposium. The calendar of lectures is available at the reception desk or on the website.

https://www.college-de-france.fr/site...