Delacôte founded the Exploradôme in Paris[2] and has held prominent posts at science centres in San Francisco, California and Bristol, England.
[1] There, he gained his PhD in solid-state physics,[5] after finding it difficult to choose between condensed matter and particle/nuclear (the two dominant areas at the time).
He chose organic crystals as his research area because of a desire to help less developed nations: by his reasoning, condensed matter physics was the less expensive of the two.
[3] He was approached to join Maurice Lévy's team in 1979[1] to help establish what was to become the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.
[10][11] In an interview in 2006, he said that he wanted to concentrate on "the quality of the exhibits and activities, and developing a network of science centres across the UK".
[3] His time in Bristol has been credited by the French Ambassador to the UK with giving the centre a "completely new lease of life", by assembling teams including scientists and the best exhibit designers.
[12] Upon leaving At-Bristol in 2012, he expected to return to France to develop a network of science centres similar to the Exploradôme.