[en] Full text: The relationships between science and society have evolved considerably over the past years, just like the perception of the nuclear industry in the French public opinion. Recent psychosociological surveys show that only half of the French population is familiar with the CEA and that the public would like to obtain new elements of judgment in order to be able to develop a direct appreciation of the activities of a research organization such as the Atomic Energy Commission. It is essential to meet the public's expectations, to keep it properly informed of the CEA's research activities, and to help it understand the relevance of the results obtained and the solutions offered to decision-makers, i.e. industrialists and public authorities. One way to answer the public opinion's questions and to meet its expectations is to allow a rowing number of visitors to see who we are, what we study in our laboratories, and how we work to contribute to scientific progress and to the diffusion of technology, in a manner that is useful to society as a whole. This describes the spirit and the objective that governed the very idea and elaboration of the program entitled 'Opening of the CEA to the general public'. This operation consists not only in having communication specialists guide visitors throughout the facilities and equipment of the CEA, but also in encouraging researchers and groups of visitors to meet in the laboratories. A 'CEA - communication' network is under construction. It already has nearly 600 members. Communication is considered to be a real calling that falls within the scope of the CEA's strategy, and the work accomplished in this respect is recognized to the same extent as research. To this end, a charter for the CEA - communication network will be signed by every contributor and manager. A training scheme focused on public speaking and scientific vulgarization was initiated. 50 members of the network have already been trained, and 250 will be in 1999. The organization of this high-scale communication operation and the first results achieved will be presented, along with the objectives the CEA determines for the coming years. (author)