Pompeu Fabra University granted Emmanuelle Charpentier an honorary doctorate. Charpentier (Juvisy-sur-Orge, France, 1968) is a biochemist and a PhD in Microbiology and in 2020 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for her contribution to the discovery of CRISPR technology: a kind of molecular scissors born from basic science, which allow the genome to be modified with great precision. The rector of UPF, Laia de Nadal, stressed the importance of fundamental research as a tool to transform society “if we want to be able to transfer knowledge” and she recalled that “basic science must continue to be funded to ensure scientific progress”. De Nadal, who is also a full professor specializing in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, stressed that “good research is always the result of a collective effort”. The ceremony took place in the auditorium of the UPF Ciutadella campus and was attended, among others, by the Catalan minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat.

In her acceptance speech, Emmanuelle Charpentier gave thanks for the award saying it was “an honour for anyone” and that she felt “privileged” to receive the highest distinction from UPF, “a leading university in research”. Charpentier assured that scientific research and discoveries cannot be understood separately: “My research is a collective task; all recognitions would not have been possible without the tremendous work of a whole team of young researchers, as well as the support of institutions, universities...”. And she wished to launch a message to the new generations of researchers: “Be ambitious because we have many global challenges to solve; these are very interesting times, make the most of it”.

> Parlament de cloenda de Laia de Nadal (document en pdf)

Laia de Nadal did not want to miss the opportunity to once again underscore female leadership in science with Charpentier, “a truly inspiring example” present. The rector once again denounced the glass ceiling to which women in science are still subjected today. In this regard, she lamented the missed opportunity this year with the recently announced Nobel Prizes, where no woman has been awarded the Prize in physics, chemistry, or physiology or medicine: “Historically, only 6.7% of all Nobel Prizes have been awarded to women”. “How long will we have to wait for this situation to truly change?”, the rector asked: “At UPF, we remain firmly committed to attracting and retaining talent, including women”.

Charpentier, 202 Nobel Prize in chemistry

Emmanuelle Charpentier (Juvisy-sur-Orge, France, 1968), a biochemist and a PhD in microbiology by the Pasteur Institute (France). Together with Jennifer A. Doudna, in 2020, Charpentier received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for her contribution to the discovery of CRISPR technology: molecular scissors arising from basic science, which enable modifying the genome with great precision.

She is the 22nd person to be invested honoris causa by UPF, the highest academic distinction granted by the University, since the first was awarded to Desmond Tutu in the 1999-2000 academic year, and the eighth woman after Vandana Shiva, who was invested in the 2023-2024 academic year.

“A turning point in biology”. Laudatio by Marc Güell

>Laudatio de Marc Güell 

Marc Güell, an ICREA researcher at the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, gave the laudatio and said that Charpentier’s research on the foundations of CRISPR-Cas9 “marked one of the few turning points in biology”. In this regard, Güell highlighted the potential of CRISPR to treat a wide range of disorders such as cystic fibrosis, oncology and metabolic disease: “By editing the defective genes responsible for these conditions, CRISPR could offer cures where none previously existed”. But its applications go beyond medicine. For example, it is also used in agriculture to develop crops that are more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress: “This could lead to higher crop yields and greater food security, especially in regions that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change”. “The key to future progress lies in uniting basic scientific understanding and practical applications”, Güell concluded.

> Àlbum de fotos publicat a Flickr