About our association

AVICENN is an association whose purpose is to monitor and provide civic information on the issues related to nanoscience and nanotechnology.
We exercise a citizen’s watch, propose transversal and independent information on nanomaterials and act for more transparency and vigilance in the nano field.

We research, compile and analyze information on nanotechnology and disseminate it widely in order to promote understanding of the issues and controversies to as wide an audience as possible.
If you also think the subject is important, please support our action.

Our objectives

Responding to a need for citizen information
Obtaining greater transparency and democratization of the field of nanotechnology
Enable civil society to take part in the choices concerning nanos
Encourage the development of a collective vigilance by all the parties concerned

Information watch
Questioning public and private researchers and decision-makers
Analysis, production and dissemination of information (book, comics, website, interviews, social networks, conferences, training, …)
Alerting and connecting the concerned stakeholders
Product tests

The administration board

Philippe Bourlitio (president) : former biology professor, still deeply interested in science-society controversies, public debate and e-democracy; he is the founder and manager of the agency Particip&Co.
André Cotton (secretary): physicist, researcher in computer science and networks, retired.
Simone Cassette (treasurer): retired from Thales, engineering technologist in micro-nanoelectronics, she studied the potential risks of nanomaterials and participated in various committees: NanoCERT with INERIS, Nanometrology Club, Nano Dialogue Committee of ANSES. She is also a member of the Collectif Citoyen Nanotechnologies du Plateau de Saclay.
Nadine Renaudie : A doctor specializing in occupational health at the Regional Directorate for the Economy, Employment, Labor and Solidarity (DREETS) in New Aquitaine, she is in charge of occupational risks in companies and is involved in the identification and prevention of exposure to nanomaterials in the workplace in conjunction with the Ministry of Labor and Santé Publique France.
Natacha Cingotti: in charge of developing campaign strategies within the international unit of the foodwatch organization, she had previously headed the health and chemicals program within the European Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), after having developed and lead several campaigns within the European and then international offices of Friends of the Earth.
David Azoulay: international lawyer and manager of the Geneva office of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), he represents civil society at the OECD, the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Jérôme Santolini: chemist, researcher in biochemistry and head of the Oxidative Stress and Detoxification Laboratory, he is also co-founder of the association Cantine Sans Plastique, mobilized on the issue of nitrate additives in charcuterie, member of the Working Group of the National Commission of Ethics on the influence of public/private interest links on the integrity of public research and expertise, administrator and member of the board of the association Sciences citoyennes.

The team

Mathilde Detcheverry, general delegate, in charge of information: she graduated from Sciences Politiques (Paris) and holds a master’s degree in Management of organizations and public policies. She plunged into the nano world in the United States in 2006 before joining AVICENN in 2010. Since then, she has been monitoring the risks and governance of nanotechnologies, animating social networks and writing articles for VeilleNanos.
She was assisted, from 2010 to 2020, by Danielle Lanquetuit (in charge of administrative and financial management, and of partnership relations) and, from 2021 to 2023, by Sarah Nouvellon (finalization and translation of the new website, product testing, documentation, communication, etc.).

The founding members

In addition to Philippe Bourlitio, André Cotton and Mathilde Detcheverry (see previous pages), the following were also among our founding members:

Claude Henry: former president of the Vecam association, sociologist of techniques on collaborative tools (CNRS). While retired, he facilitated several collaborative tools on “how to decide together”, with the aim of welcoming all levels of IT culture. He ensured the link with Outils Réseaux, designer of our previous website.
Danielle Lanquetuit: agronomist and environmental mediator, farmer, she has worked for the protection of drinking water and has led missions of rural development and debates to build public decisions. A member of the AVICENN team until 2020, she is now enjoying her retirement at Le Saule rieur.
Pierre-Yves Montéléon: epidemiologist in an inter-company occupational health service and CFTC confederal official for occupational health, member of the Conseil d’orientation des conditions de travail (COCT), former president of the INRS and vice-president of the ANSES.

The life of the association

AVICENN’s agenda
AVICENN’s work in the spotlight
some of our major actions (including our tests)

our demands
our statutes and our rules of procedure
our activity reports

Our institutional members (associate members)

Anyone can join as an individual. Organizations may also join as “legal entities”. Our associate members are composed of organizations invested in the fields of health and occupational health, environment, consumption, responsible research and innovation. You too can join us.

Our financial support

AVICENN is very grateful to the partners who support its activities financially.
The points of view expressed on this site VeilleNanos and the positions taken by AVICENN do not engage the responsibility of our supporters.