Kaname Ikeda receives Honorary Doctorate from the Université de Provence

Friday evening, 21 November, in the historical amphitheatre of the "Sciences Naturelles" at Saint-Charles campus, Marseille: the president of the Université de Provence, Jean-Paul Caverni, attaches the "ermine sash" to Director-General Kaname Ikeda's purple toga symbolizing the accolade of one of the most prestigious French academic distinctions—the title of Docteur Honoris Causa.

The title and tradition date back to medieval times, when the first French universities were established. "Honoris Causa" doctorates are now bestowed upon foreign personalities chosen for their high level of scientific expertise and their contribution to the advancement of international academic relations.

Université de Provence, with a student body of 25,000 and a faculty of 800, is one of three public universities in the Aix-Marseille area. A "science university" with an emphasis on mathematics, biotechnologies, energy and environment, and astrophysics, it has been involved with fusion science for the past 20 years.

In his acceptance speech, which he pronounced in French, Kaname Ikeda acknowledged this contribution and expressed his appreciation for the University's "constant interest in the ITER Project." ITER and the academic world, said the recipient, "have important tasks to undertake—tasks which have a deep meaning for the future of mankind."