Jean-Pierre Brans: portrait of a fiery soul

Abstract

On the eve of World War II and during the war itself a new science was born: operational research (OR) today recognised as the science of decision-making. New ideas were fostered and afterwards implemented in everyday life by a new generation of scientists. Thus, thanks to their pioneering efforts, OR gradually became a field with widespread applications, an academic discipline, and a field with its own institutions. The pioneers who paved the road deserve to be both identified and honoured. We present here a profile of Jean-Pierre Brans (born 1937), highly esteemed for his scientific achievements, and paired with his indefatigable efforts in getting many of its institutions off the ground, notably EURO: the Association of European Operational Research Societies. Amongst the greatest pioneers of OR in Europe, J. Pierre stands out as the one with the fiery soul, charismatic, enthusiastic, with innovative ideas and a steady concern for the world around us, and not in the least the next generation.