Two biophysicists were awarded the 21st Franco-Taiwan Scientific Grand Prize worth 38,200 euros (US$42,350) Nov. 27 in Paris for their cutting-edge research on biomedical applications of fluorescent nanodiamonds.
Chang Huan-cheng, distinguished visiting chair in the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences at Taipei City-based Academia Sinica, and François Treussart, professor of physics at ENS Paris-Saclay in France, have been working since 2008 on a technique that can track cell movement within the human body.
The award was presented by Vice Minister of Science and Technology Tsou Yu-han and France’s Academie des Sciences President Pierre Corvol at a ceremony attended by Wu Chih-chung, head of Taipei Representative Office in France, and Olivier Pironneau, vice president of Academie des Sciences.
At the presentation ceremony, Tsou thanked Chang and Treussart for their dedication to developing science and technology cooperation between Taiwan and France. Their work has added to the growing prestige of the prize, she added.
Echoing Tsou’s remarks, Wu said France is Taiwan’s closest European partner, with the like-minded countries not only sharing scientific expertise but also universal values like freedom and human rights.
Launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Academie des Sciences in 1999, the Franco-Taiwan Scientific Grand Prize recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the reputations of both nations in the realm of science. (RAY-E)
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