Prof. Louis Clerc Receives Decoration from Ordre des Palmes Académiques of France
The French government has given Louis Clerc, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Turku, the Chevalier decoration of the Ordre des Palmes académiques, the national order of France for distinguished academics, on 13 October 2017. Professor Clerc received the recognition for his contributions to the cultural relations between Finland and France.
During his career, Louis Clerc
has studied the history of international relations, public and cultural diplomacy, and Finnish foreign policy, among other things. Professor Clerc has conducted research in Finnish, French and English. The Professor was surprised about the decoration.has studied the history of international relations, public and cultural diplomacy, and Finnish foreign policy, among other things. Professor Clerc has conducted research in Finnish, French and English. The Professor was surprised about the decoration.
– Conducting research is often lonely. It is at the same time strange and great that my work in the history of France and Finland is noticed in this way, says Clerc.
The decoration ceremony was held at the Embassy of France in Finland.
According to Professor Clerc, the occasion was small and warm and it offered him a chance to stop and think about the past and the future.
– I am grateful and want to continue my collaboration with the Embassy and Cultural Institute of France. France is still quite poorly known for its science in Finland and vice versa. So work remains to be done, says Professor Clerc.
Ordre des Palmes académiques is a French order founded by Napoleon. The French government gives the decorations as a recognition to distinguished academics. Previously, Professor of French Eija Suomela-Salmi, the former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, has also received the Chevalier decoration.
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Photo: Hanna Oksanen