Yves Coppens

Introduction

French anthropologist (1934–2022)

Scientific work

He was Professor at the College de France, which is considered to be France's most prestigious research establishment.He was Professor at the College de France, which is considered to be France's most prestigious research establishment.

Richard Dawkins makes the following observation in The Ancestor's Tale: "Incidentally, I don't know what to make of the fact that in his native France, Yves Coppens is widely cited as the discoverer of Lucy, even as the 'father' of Lucy.Richard Dawkins makes the following observation in The Ancestor's Tale: "Incidentally, I don't know what to make of the fact that in his native France, Yves Coppens is widely cited as the discoverer of Lucy, even as the 'father' of Lucy.

In the English speaking world, this important discovery is universally attributed to Donald Johanson".In the English speaking world, this important discovery is universally attributed to Donald Johanson".

This confusion is because Coppens was the former director of the Hadar expedition.This confusion is because Coppens was the former director of the Hadar expedition.

Donald Johanson, who led the 1974 expedition, was the one who found Lucy.Donald Johanson, who led the 1974 expedition, was the one who found Lucy.

The "Rift Valley theory", proposed and supported by the Dutch primatologist Adriaan Kortlandt, became better known when it was later espoused and renamed by Coppens as the "East Side Story".The "Rift Valley theory", proposed and supported by the Dutch primatologist Adriaan Kortlandt, became better known when it was later espoused and renamed by Coppens as the "East Side Story".

However, this paradigm has been challenged by the discovery of Australopithecus bahrelghazali (Abel) and by the discovery of Sahelanthropus tchadensis by Michel Brunet's team in Toumaï in Chad (2,500 km to west Rift Valley).However, this paradigm has been challenged by the discovery of Australopithecus bahrelghazali (Abel) and by the discovery of Sahelanthropus tchadensis by Michel Brunet's team in Toumaï in Chad (2,500 km to west Rift Valley).

The main belt asteroid 172850 Coppens was named in his honour.The main belt asteroid 172850 Coppens was named in his honour.

Academies

Yves Coppens was a member of the French Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Medicine, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of Vatican, the French Outremer Academy of Sciences, the Academia Europaea, the Royal Academy of Sciences Hassan II of Morocco, the African Academy of Sciences, Arts, Cultures and Diasporas of Côte d'Ivoire, Honorary Member of the São Paulo Academy of Medicine, Associate Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium, correspondent of the Royal Belgian Academy of Medicine, honorary member of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, foreign associate of the Royal Society of South Africa.Yves Coppens was a member of the French Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Medicine, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of Vatican, the French Outremer Academy of Sciences, the Academia Europaea, the Royal Academy of Sciences Hassan II of Morocco, the African Academy of Sciences, Arts, Cultures and Diasporas of Côte d'Ivoire, Honorary Member of the São Paulo Academy of Medicine, Associate Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium, correspondent of the Royal Belgian Academy of Medicine, honorary member of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, foreign associate of the Royal Society of South Africa.

Death

Coppens died in Paris on 22 June 2022 at the age of 87.Coppens died in Paris on 22 June 2022 at the age of 87.

Charter of environment

Yves Coppens chaired the commission which wrote the French Charter for the Environment of 2004, now part of the French Constitution.Yves Coppens chaired the commission which wrote the French Charter for the Environment of 2004, now part of the French Constitution.