Awarding the title of Honorary Doctor to Prof. Bernard Legube, Former Chairman of the Alliance for the Development of University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH Consortium)
Prof. Bernard Legube is now a distinguished professor at the University of Poitiers, one of France's leading scientists studying the chemistry of water. He served as Director of the Laboratory of Chemistry and Microbiology of Water (Laboratoire Chimie et Microbiologie de l'Eau (LCME) (UMR 6008) from 1997 to 2010. Over the past 24 years, he has made many important contributions to the development of research and training cooperation between Vietnam and France in general, between VAST and French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of VAST, thanked Prof. Bernard Legube for his affection and help. As early as 1999, in the conditions of scientific research at VAST were still difficult, Prof. Bernard Legube was with Prof. Georges Vachaud (CNRS, University of Grenoble) organizes Do Son Summer School "Water Resources, Quality and Treatment", the first scientific summer school in a series of 14 Do Son Summer Schools jointly organized by VAST and CNRS. Since this summer, many collaborative research projects have been developed and implemented, making an important contribution to helping scientists of VAST develop research activities for environmental analysis, monitoring and treatment. Also within the framework of these research collaborations, many young scientists of VAST had the opportunity to go to France for postgraduate training. Prof. Bernard Legube received and trained in his laboratory many chemists, many of whom now hold key positions at VAST. In 2016, Prof. Bernard Legube is one of 3 international reviewers for the report of Vietnamese scientists on the Formosa marine environmental pollution incident. The professor's critical remarks as well as valuable suggestions helped Vietnamese scientists complete the report, thereby also fulfilling a very important and heavy task assigned by the Government.
In 2009, the Governments of Vietnam and France signed an Agreement on the construction and development of USTH. In 2010, when the USTH Consortium was established, Prof. Bernard Legube enthusiastically joined, serving as Alliance Vice President in charge of training and from 2014 through the end of 2022 as Alliance President. With his prestige, Prof. Bernard Legube has mobilized the support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, universities, research institutes, and French scientists in developing, recognizing and implementing master's programs, Vietnamese-French dual-degree university training programs, training of source lecturers under the 911 scholarship program of the Government of Vietnam, formation of laboratories, international cooperation research collectives, etc. To have USTH on the strong development path it is on today, the contributions of USTH Consortium and individual Prof. Bernard Legube are very important.
On behalf of VAST's leadership, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee and President of VAST, awards the title of Honorary Doctor to Prof. Bernard Legube
Speaking after receiving an honorary doctorate, Prof. Bernard Legube thanked the leadership of VAST and Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh personally gave him this noble title. He was touched to share the chance that led him to join the organizing committee of Do Son Summer School in 1999 together with Prof. Georges Vachaud. From summer school, he built up research collaborations and especially close colleague relationships and friends with many scientists of VAST. He noticed the talent and passion of the young researchers at VAST, which motivated him to help and mobilize other colleagues to help train them. He recalled the memories of working with colleagues at USTH Consortium, the initial difficulties to overcome, and the happiness and pride when seeing USTH on the path of rapid and sustainable development.
He thanked USTH's leaders, lecturers-researchers, and students for their efforts to contribute to the construction and development of the university, helping him and the USTH Consortium fulfill the responsibilities entrusted by the French Government. He said that the honor of receiving an Honorary Doctorate from VAST is not only for him personally, but also for the contributions of all his colleagues at VAST, USTH Consortium, and at USTH over the past 24 years. He also expressed his hope that students at USTH will continue to study hard so that in the future they can make important contributions to the development of science and technology of Vietnam.
Representing USTH, Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest, Principal, and Assoc. Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh, Rector, expressed her gratitude for Prof. Bernard Legube's important contributions in the construction and development of the school. The two Principals wish to continue receiving advice and help from Prof. Bernard Legube in the near future. In particular, wishing that, with his prestige and influence, the professor would continues to advocate for USTH Consortium to continue to develop to actively and effectively support the development of USTH in the new development phase.
The ceremony took place in a solemn but also very close and cordial atmosphere of friends and scientists who have trusted and cooperated with one another for a long time.
Souvenir photographs
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version
