Pascal Picq

About Pascal Picq

Pascal Picq is a paleoanthropologist at the Collège de France. His research focuses on the morphological and social evolution of the human lineage within the framework of modern evolutionary theories. After introducing ethology into the field of evolutionary anthropology (Once Upon a Time in Paleoanthropology Odile Jacob 2010), he became involved in societal issues by denouncing archaic views against diversity and women (New History of Man Perrin 2005), advocating for secularism (Lucy and Obscurantism Odile Jacob 2007), and writing a (im)pertinent essay on the natural origins of politics during presidential elections (Is Man a Great Political Ape? Odile Jacob 2011). His reflections and work are increasingly of interest to the economic and social world regarding innovation processes and group management around the concept of Anthroprise (A Paleoanthropologist in Business Eyrolles 2011). He is associated with APM, the Academy of Entrepreneurs, and the Factory of Industry. His recent work describes how, from Prehistory to tomorrow, the same adaptive mechanisms ensure that Man survives only through his enterprises. His latest essays From Darwin to Lévi-Strauss: Man and Diversity in Danger and The Return of Madame Neandertal: How to Be Sapiens (Odile Jacob 2013 and 2015) and The March (Autrement 2015) are pleas for the future of humanity. He is a columnist for Les Echos and Sud Ouest. He is a member of the Observatory of the Uberization of Society; of MENE (Movement of Enterprises of the New Economy) and of the Institute of Digital Sovereignty. Innovation Award from the Impertinent Company of the Circle of Future Entrepreneurs 2009. Social Innovation Award from the Malakoff-Médéric Foundation. Contemporary changes related to globalization lead Pascal Picq to engage and collaborate with the economic and social world on topics such as innovation, adaptation, evolution, and group strategies based on the state of knowledge in paleoanthropology (biological evolution of Man), prehistory (cultural evolution of Man), and ethology (evolution of social systems) framed within modern evolutionary theories and related to sustainable development issues. Currently, his research focuses on a co-evolutionary process unique to the human lineage: how, from prehistory to transhumanism, human societies invent techniques that force them to adapt and how they change their worldviews. Pascal Picq is an expert at APM (Association for Management Progress), an associated member of the Médicis Committee, the Academy of Entrepreneurs (E&Y), and the Factory of Industry. He recently participated in a Decade of Cerisy around the theme “Industry, Our Future”.