Paul Corkum,
Morris Goodman, and Pauline Marois will be awarded honorary
doctorates by the research institution.
MONTREAL, May 9, 2024
/CNW/ - At its annual convocation, the Institut national de la
recherche scientifique (INRS) will be awarding three honorary
doctorates to Quebec and Canadian
figures recognized for their contributions to science and
society.
Professor and researcher Paul Corkum, business leader and
philanthropist Morris Goodman, along with politician and
activist Pauline Marois will be presented with this high
distinction by Université du Québec President
Alexandre Cloutier and INRS Chief Executive Officer
Luc-Alain Giraldeau in Montreal on May 11.
"INRS is committed to the cultural, economic, and social
development of Quebec. In direct
line with our mission, we wanted to shine a light on the
contributions of three eminent figures to values that are dear to
our institution: scientific rigour, curiosity, social involvement,
and the advancement of public health and well-being," explains
Luc-Alain Giraldeau.
Paul Corkum: discovering and
inspiring
An international specialist in ultrafast science,
Professor Paul Corkum has introduced a large number of
concepts that proved crucial to the advancement of the field of
physics. He was the first to demonstrate that attosecond laser
pulses could be generated and used to track real-time ultrafast
dynamics in matter. In doing so, he created and measured the
world's shortest pulses—truly revolutionizing the world of
physics.
Professor Corkum was an unwavering supporter of the
creation of the Advanced Laser Light Source Laboratory (ALLS)
at INRS's Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications
Research Centre, and has greatly contributed to the growth and
visibility of this one-of-a-kind laboratory in Canada.
Professor Corkum is a true educationalist who has had a
major influence on the lives of many doctoral students and
postdoctoral fellows. His contagious enthusiasm for physics, his
profound respect for scientific excellence, and his rigorous ethics
have shaped the careers of the up-and-coming scientists who have
trained under him.
As Professor Corkum likes to remind these young minds,
"science will bring you an international life, with friends all
around the world. You will see, almost from the inside, some of the
world's greatest events through the eyes of these scientific
friends. You also have a chance to develop new ideas that could
make a difference in the lives of many."
Paul Corkum has without a doubt
made a name for himself in the international scientific community,
thanks to his invaluable contribution to research. This honorary
doctorate recognizes his career as a whole.
Morris Goodman: caring and
supporting
As a leading entrepreneur and pioneer of the Canadian generic
pharmaceutical industry, Morris
Goodman has dedicated his career to making a difference in
healthcare worldwide.
Determined to transform the Canadian pharmaceutical industry
through innovation, research, and development, Goodman co-founded
Pharmascience in 1983. The company's mission: create and market
affordable generic medicines for the entire population.
In addition to his entrepreneurial commitment to accessible
pharmaceuticals, this scientist and pharmacy graduate is a
passionate philanthropist. In 2003, he and his wife set up the
Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation.
Through this organization, the philanthropic couple's mission is to
support scientific research, improve public health, strengthen
education, and enhance quality of life in the community.
Backed by these ideals, Goodman reminds us that "success is
measured by happiness. Be happy with what you have, what you
achieve, and what you aspire to. And make a point of cultivating
change."
This honorary doctorate from INRS recognizes
Morris Goodman's remarkable career in the pharmaceutical
sector and his generosity to health research.
Pauline
Marois: building Quebec
Pauline Marois's exceptional
political career makes her a pioneer and a great builder of
Quebec as we know it. As the first
female premier of Quebec, she
developed innovative social policies that have marked generations
of Quebecers to this day.
"Of all the determining factors in a nation's wealth, history
has shown us that knowledge is the most fundamental. In this
respect, INRS has played a remarkable role since its creation
in 1969, in the wake of the Parent Report. Research and
knowledge transmission are its heart and soul. Everyone who has
given their all at this institution can take pride in the fact that
they have helped shape it," says Marois.
Throughout her political career, Pauline Marois has
supported the cause of women, equality, and community. Profoundly
motivated by the desire to make Quebec's uniqueness shine, she has been
committed to promoting the French language and serving the
population to improve living conditions for one and all.
Her remarkable social and political commitment resonates with
INRS's societal mission. This honorary doctorate recognizes
her three decades of extensive contributions to Quebec as a nation.
About INRS
INRS is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to
graduate research and training in strategic sectors in Quebec. Since its creation in 1969, it has
actively contributed to Quebec's
economic, social, and cultural development. INRS is first in
Canada in research intensity. It
is made up of four interdisciplinary research and training centres
located in Quebec City,
Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, which focus their efforts on
strategic sectors: water, earth, and environment (Eau Terre
Environnement Research Centre); energy, materials, and
telecommunications (Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research
Centre); urbanization, culture, and society (Urbanisation Culture
Société Research Centre); and health and biotechnology
(Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre). The INRS
community includes over 1,500 students, postdoctoral fellows, and
faculty and staff members.
SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)