France’s Consulate General in Atlanta announced Oct. 21 that G. P. “Bud” Peterson, the Georgia Institute of Technology’s president, is to be honored with the Legion of Honor, in the rank of Knight, on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Frédéric Doré, ministry counselor and deputy chief of the mission at the French embassy in Washington, is to bestow the honor during a launch ceremony for the 4th France Atlanta: Together Towards Innovation program.
Dr. Peterson is to be honored for strengthening French-American relations through the Georgia Tech Lorraine campus in France as well as the France Atlanta events
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed held in the morning a news conference at City Hall in support of the program that includes more than 20 events developing French-American partnerships in science, economics, culture and humanitarian work.
The consulate general and the Georgia Institute of Technology have partnered together since 2010 to present the multidisciplinary series of events center on innovation. The program is to take place from Oct. 23-Nov. 9.
Consul General Denis Barbet and Yves Berthelot, vice provost and president of Georgia Tech Lorraine, also participated in the press conference.
In 2010, Dr. Peterson attended the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Lorraine campus, which next year will celebrate the opening of its Lafayette Institute.
The institute is to be housed in a 20,000-square-foot building equipped with state-of-the art capabilities for the development o new materials, optics, photonics, electronics and nanotechnology.
The $30 million facility is to actively commercialize the new materials and products developed by researchers on the Lorraine campus.
Georgia Tech offers a double-degree that is recognized in both countries and about 200 French and American students study in France on the Lorraine campus each year.
Dr. Peterson has served as Georgia Tech’s president since April 2009.
He has been a member of several national research committees and advisory boards including the NASA Reduced Gravity Flight Experimental Review Committee, the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board and the National Renewable Energy Advisory Board.
For the full schedule of events for France Atlanta 2013, click here.
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