8. Conclusion

Originally developed to meet the needs of the physical sciences in general, and mechanics in particular, which were the first sciences to become highly digitized, digital simulation is changing technical practices and developing scientific knowledge in many other fields, as illustrated by the various examples presented in this dossier. Because it allows experiments that cannot be carried out in the real world (slowing down or speeding up time, reproducing situations that are dangerous for humans and measuring instruments, studying phenomena that are difficult to access or observe), simulation is becoming widespread across all technical and scientific disciplines, in industry and academia alike. It is helping to renew the practice of many of these disciplines, particularly those that use complex models – such as those of the Universe, the climate, the human body and energy –, which involve...