Synthetic biography of Jacques Hebenstreit

Document de travail

Fortunately warned of  the infamous round-up the of Jews in Paris on July 16, 1942, they lived in clandestinity for 2 years with his mother and younger sister, fleeing their apartment without taking anything with them. They survived thanks to a few friends. After scientific preparatory classes, he entered SUPELEC (now part of the Ecole Centrale group) in 1947, graduating as an engineer in 1949. He then joined the school as an assistant.

In 1961, SUPELEC bought a CAB 500 computer from SEA and he was appointed head of the computing center. He obtained his doctorate in mathematical sciences in 1969 under the supervision of Jacques Arsac (Microprogram Generator).

He then continued his career in computer science. In particular, he is famous for having supervised the creation of the LSE language (Symbolic Teaching Language with French syntax running in time-sharing mode on mini-computers). 

He played a major role in the development of the first experiment aiming at introducing informatics into high schools (from 1970 onwards), leading in particular action-research sessions on simulation and modeling in science teaching.

In the following decade, and until his retirement in 1991, he continued to publish profound ideas that influenced innovators. 

It is not possible to conclude this brief tribute without saluting the memory of Rachel, his wife, an innovator in educational computing in the field of middle school mathematics teaching, who was very active in this field with the IREM of Paris. 

 Many other people should also be mentioned, but this is planned for the 2025 symposium.