Enormous congratulations to Darwin Emeritus Fellow Professor Ron Laskey, who on Monday received the honour of the French National Order of Merit (Ordre national du Mérite). Established in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle, the award is the highest honour France can bestow on non-citizens, and is intended to recognise those who demonstrate “acts of devotion, bravery, generosity, real merit or a measurable commitment to serving others or France”.
The award reflects Ron’s long engagement with French science throughout his distinguished career as a cell biologist, which has contributed significantly to the understanding of DNA replication. It was presented by Professor Hugues de Thé, Professor of Molecular Oncology at the College de France, while the French Embassy in the UK was represented by Dr Minh-Hà Pham, Counsellor for Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
