[{Image src='Makarow_Marja_small.jpg' caption='' height='300' alt='Marja Makarow' class='image_left'}]
!!Marja Makarow awarded Chevalier dans l’ordre de la Légion d’honneur

[Professor Marja Makarow|Member/Makarow_Marja], a member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology section of Academia Europaea, received from president Macron the highest French distinction, Chevalier dans l’ordre de la Légion d’honneur, ''for her accomplishments in science and science policy at the European level''.

!Academia Europaea congratulates Prof. Makarow to this oustanding distinction!  

!!Speech by the his Excellency Ambassador Serge Tomasi delivered in the ceremony:

''Madame le Professeur Marja Makarow,\\
Mesdames et Messieurs,''\\
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
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It is a great honor, but also a real pleasure, to welcome you, Professor Makarow, your family and your friends, at the residence of France. As you know, we are gathered to honor a leading Finnish personality and a great friend of France.
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Let me first remind you, in a few words, what the Legion of Honor is. This honorary distinction was created in 1802 by Napoleon and is part of the French heritage. It is the __highest French distinction__, and it is also a contemporary and living institution that embodies our values. It has a universal vocation: to reward the highest military and civilian merits. From the beginning, the ''Légion d'Honneur'' was opened to some famous foreign personalities, one of the most legendary being Carl Gustav Mannerheim, future Marshal and President of Finland. I could also quote former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, who is also President of the Finnish Legion of Honor Association.
This decoration intends to mark the recognition of France for the commitment of foreign personalities in the development of bilateral relations with France, and the promotion of our shared values.
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In this year 2018, which marks the Centenary of diplomatic relations between France and Finland, __we wanted you to be part of these famous foreign personalities__, and I am very pleased about that.
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Dear Marja Makarow, Professor, it would be difficult to talk in a
comprehensive manner, about your many qualities and about the
excellence of your career.
\\ \\
Therefore, I will only sketch out the main facts.
\\ \\
Mrs. Marja Makarow, you are a professor of Applied Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, currently Director of the Biocenter of Finland, a
joint creation of the 6 Finnish universities active in the field of health.
__You have become a key figure in Finnish science and research
policy.__
\\ \\
You started out as a researcher and research director in your field,
especially at the University of Helsinki but also at Kuopio University.
You are particularly interested in cell biology and intracellular transport
mechanisms of proteins. You have published extensively in Finland and
abroad, registered several patents, supervised 19 doctoral dissertations
and defended more than 60 as director of the doctoral school at the
University of Helsinki.
\\ \\
From 2008 to 2011, you were Executive Director of the European
Science Foundation based in Strasbourg, where you worked to improve
links between national research agencies in Europe. As an expert and
member of numerous scientific councils, you have been a member and
the vice-president of the European Research Area Board. You were also
President of the European Conference on Molecular Biology from 2004
to 2007.
\\ \\
Mrs. Makarow, __you’ve always been committed to both basic
research and technology transfer and to the public-private link.__ In
2007, you established the Institute for Molecular Medicine in Finland.
From 2013, you became Vice President of the Academy of Finland. As
such, you chair the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee for the
period 2014-2020. As president of the Technological Academy of
Finland, you were also on the jury of the Millennium Technology Prize,
the most important in the world of technology, awarded every two years
and endowed with a million euros.
\\ \\
Being at the same time __Francophone__, German-speaking and English3
speaking, you are __convinced of the importance for research of
fostering contacts between European researchers.__ This is
particularly true from 2003, when you took managerial positions.
\\ \\
Today, at the __head of the Biocenter__, you continue in the same
direction. In particular, __you have maintained excellent contacts with
the French Universities Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris-Sud and
Strasbourg__, when you represented the University of Helsinki in the
League of European Research Universities, from 2003 to 2007, and
during your stay in Strasbourg.
\\ \\
Appointed to the ''Palmes Académiques'' in 2002 for __your involvement
in the Franco-Finnish association for scientific research__, Professor
Makarow, you have long been __a regular and appreciated partner of
the French Institute of Finland and of this Embassy.__ For your __vital
role in promoting scientific research and Franco-Finnish relations__
in this field, you deserve an appointment in the National Order of the
Legion of Honor.
\\ \\
That is why, in testimony of __your commitment to promote excellence
in Sciences as well as the Finish-French relations__, the President of
the French Republic decided, by decree of April 6, 2018, to make you
a Knight in the order of the Legion of Honor.
\\ \\
''Madame Marja Makarow,
\\ \\
Au nom du Président de la République, et en vertu des pouvoirs qui
nous sont conférés, nous vous faisons Chevalier de la Légion
d’honneur.''
\\ \\
Helsinki, 16 October 2018