This Thursday, November 7, Prince Albert II awarded the Albert I Grand Prix at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco to three new winners. Former UN secretary Ban Ki-moon was honored for his work on the oceans alongside two scientists, Lisa Ann Levin and Violaine Pellichero.
Yesterday morning, at the Oceanographic Museum, three actors in the defense and the protection of the environment were rewarded for their actions. Among them, a name well known to the general public: Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, received the Great Medal Albert I alongside scientists Lisa Ann Levin and Violaine Pellichero. A prestigious distinction, awarded by Prince Albert II, and already awarded to personalities such as Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Erik Orsenna or American actor and activist Leonardo Dicaprio. Ban Ki-moon, who notably worked for the protection of the oceans during his mandates at the United Nations, thus received the Great Medal Albert I in the mediation section. Always active and concerned by these issues, he has created a foundation supporting citizen projects around the world.
Prizes awarded since 1948
Lisa Ann Levin, a biologist oceanographer and co-founder of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, received the science award. Professor emeritus, she emphasizes in her work the importance for politicians, the economic and technological sectors, to work jointly with scientists. Violaine Pellichero, who has defended a thesis entitled “Study of the dynamics of the surface layer and the surface/ocean interactions in the Southern Ocean under the sea ice,” was rewarded with the thesis prize and received Oceanographic Institute an endowment of 3000 euros for its work. Awarded since 1948, these prizes encourage research and scientific and citizen initiatives for the environment and the oceans. This year again, the Great Medals Albert I will have been the means to make the voices of scientists heard in the world.
*Article originally published in the French edition of the Monaco Tribune.