Astrology

When Élizabeth Teissier's dissertation Situation épistémologique de l'astrologie à travers l'ambivalence fascination/rejet dans les sociétés postmodernes ("Epistemological Situation of Astrology across the Ambivalence of Fascination/Rejection in Postmodern Societies") was accepted at the Paris Descartes University in April 2001, it caused an uproar within the scientific community. The AFIS took the initiative to critically analyse Teissier's thesis.^[9] It turned out to be a plea for astrology, presented as a sociological study, and did not comply with any academic standards for a dissertation. The analysis was conducted by a group of astrophysicists and astronomers (Jean-Claude Pecker, Jean Audouze and Denis Savoie), sociologists (Bernard Lahire and Philippe Cibois), a philosopher (Jacques Bouveresse) and specialists of pseudosciences (Henri Broch and Jean-Paul Krivine).^[10] Teissier rejected the criticism of the contents of her sociological dissertation, and branded the AFIS as the "Taliban of culture."^[11]

GMOs

In 2007, AFIS started a petition against the moratorium of genetically modified maize in France.^[12][13][14] It published numerous articles on GMOs.^[15] It also lobbied in the Senate during the discussion of the law on GMOs in 2008.^[16][17] In March 2008, this position of the association led a member of AFIS' Scientific Council, Marcel-Francis Kahn, emeritus professor in medicine at Paris Diderot University, to resign on the grounds that "the AFIS – without having consulted our opinion – made a 180° turn to a genuine pro-GMO lobby".^[18] He also alleged a connection between two members, Marcel Kuntz and Louis-Marie Houdebine, and "Monsanto or its affiliates". However, Kahn was unable to produce "real evidence" to back up these accusations.^[19] Meanwhile, the AFIS maintains its "total independence from any industrial group".^[20]

Global warming

After the publication of the report on global warming, including giving a voice to climate change deniers such as Vincent Courtillot and Benoît Rittaud,^[21][22] the association received criticism from climatologists and the Union rationaliste.^[23] Sylvestre Huet, science journalist at Libération, expressed his disappointment with the "mediocre" coverage of the topic in a critique of the association.^[24]

Presidents

Jean Bricmont, president 2001–2006

• Michel Rouzé (1969–1999)
• Jean-Claude Pecker (1999–2001)
• Jean Bricmont (2001–2006)
• Michel Naud (2006–2011)
• Louis-Marie Houdebine (2011–2014)
• Anne Perrin (2014–2018)
• Roger Lepeix (2018–2019),
• Jean-Paul Krivine (2019–2020),
• François-Marie Bréon since 2020^[25]

Scientific Council and sponsoring commission

• Jean-Pierre Adam (archaeologist, CNRS, Paris).
• Jacques Bouveresse (philosopher, professor at the Collège de France, chair of Philosophy of Language and Cognition).
• Jean Bricmont (professor of theoretical physics, University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium).
• Henri Broch (professor of physics and zetetics, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis).
• Gérald Bronner (professor of sociology, University of Strasbourg).
• Henri Brugère (veterinary doctor, professor de therapeutic physiology at the National Veterinary School of Alfort).
• Yvette Dattée (honorary research director of the INRA, member of the Académie d’Agriculture de France).
• Jean-Paul Delahaye (professor at Lille University of Science and Technology, researcher at Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale de Lille).
• Marc Fellous (professor of medicine, Institut Cochin de Génétique Moléculaire).
• Léon Guéguen (dietician, honorary research director of the INRA, member of the Académie d'agriculture de France).
• Louis-Marie Houdebine (biologist and research director at the centre of the INRA at Jouy-en-Josas).
• Bertrand Jordan (molecular biologist, emeritus research director at CNRS, Marseille).
• Jean-Pierre Kahane (professor of mathematics, member of the French Academy of Sciences).
• Jean de Kervasdoué (professor at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM), member of the French Academy of Technologies).
• Marcel Kuntz (biologist, research director at the CNRS).
• Gilbert Lagrue (honorary professor at the hôpital Albert Chenevier at Créteil).
• Hélène Langevin-Joliot (nuclear physicist, emeritus research director at the CNRS).
• Guillaume Lecointre (professor at the National Museum of Natural History, Paris)
• Jean-Marie Lehn (professor at the Collège de France, member of the French Academy of Sciences, Nobel Prize for Chemistry).
• Gérard Pascal (dietician and toxicologist, honorary research director of the INRA, member of the Académie d’Agriculture and the French Academy of Technologies).
• Jean-Claude Pecker (honorary professor of theoretical astrophysics at the Collège de France, member of the French Academy of Sciences).
• Arkan Simaan (professor agrégé of physics, historian of the sciences).
• Alan Sokal (professor of physics at New York University and professor of mathematics at the University College London).
• Jacques Van Rillaer (professeur de psychologie, Belgique).

Editorial staff Science et pseudo-sciences and website

• Jean-Paul Krivine (editor-in-chief).
• Bruno Przetakiewicz (webmaster)

Transparency

In 2008, after the work of the Prometheus Foundation on the transparency barometer of NGOs, the AFIS wanted to participate in a process of transparency by publicising the composition of the board council, the finances and activities reports.^[26]