CBC Scientific Director Rick Morimoto Awarded Order of Academic Palms
On June 6, 2013, Richard I. Morimoto, the Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University, has received the Commandeur de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, which is the Commander grade of the French Republic’s Order of Academic Palms.
Morimoto is being recognized for the energy and expertise he has devoted to expanding Franco-American cooperation in the sciences. The honor currently is awarded by the Prime Minister of France.
Morimoto, who also is director of the Rice Institute for Biomedical Research in Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, in 2007 developed a joint doctoral program in the biological and physical sciences with the École Normale Supérieure in Paris that involves student exchanges, a series of meetings, workshops and lectures, and faculty sabbaticals taken at the two institutions.
Each year he also offers a series of lectures in molecular and cell biology to masters and doctoral students at the École Normale Supérieure.
Morimoto also has worked with the French consulate in Chicago to establish the annual French-American Science Festival, which has been held the last two years on Northwestern’s Chicago campus. The event features hands-on science activities for students attending French academies in Chicago or who are in French immersion programs. The festival brings together scientists from Northwestern, Argonne National Laboratory and throughout France.
Founded by Napoleon in 1808 to honor educators and scholars, this distinction recognizes eminent personalities who have made significant contributions to the development of French culture, science and education.
Rick is one of the founders of the CBC and a CBC Scientific Director.
Adapted from: "Richard Morimoto Honored by Order of Academic Palms" by Megan Fellman, NU News, June 6, 2013