The honorable Professor Eliot SOREL was awarded the prestigious title of Doctor Honoris Causa of University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Romania

Thursday, June 05, 2014, the Senate Hall of University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest hosted the ceremony dedicated to granting the title of “Doctor Honoris Causa” of University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest (UPB) to the honorable Professor Eliot SOREL from George Washington University, USA. The Members of the Presidium (from left to right) were the distinguished Professors: Anton HADAR, Claudia POPESCU, Remus PRICOPIE, Minister of National Education, Eliot SOREL, Ecaterina ANDRONESCU, Mihnea COSTOIU, Leo M. CHALUPA, and George DARIE, Interim Rector of UPB.

Professor Ecaterina ANDRONESCU, President of the UPB Senate, opened the ceremony with her well-known professionalism and elegancy (within the specific academic atmosphere framed by the beautiful music and lyrics of “Gaudeamus Igitur”), highlighting, in a warmly manner, that Professor Eliot SOREL is a true ambassador of the Romanian country brand, being truly linked to his native “holy” land (Falticeni, Bucovina). 

Mihnea COSTOIU, Minister Delegate for Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Development, read the Laudatio, underlining that UPB Senate values the prestigious scientific achievements of Professor Eliot SOREL, as well as his continuous interest manifested in promoting UPB research teams in international leading research domains and in raising the prestige of Romania. Minister Delegate also gave personal recognition and appreciation for this specific contribution of Professor SOREL, being truly linked to his native “holy” land (Falticeni, Bucovina).

The acceptance speech “Lectio Prima” given by Professor Eliot SOREL stimulated the audience reflection, thanks to Professor’s powerful arguments concerning the central place occupied by the School within the society, and his pledge with intellectual vigor for: Educate to Innovate, Innovate to Educate – 21st Century Trans-Disciplinary Challenges and Opportunities; Systemic Trans-Disciplinary Innovation Opportunities; New Education Models – New Economic Models; Excellence in STEM; Learning by Doing; Academic and business collaboration; opening up new major opportunities for collaboration among students, scholars, policymakers and professionals across disciplines and continents; to connect action to thought and implementation to formulation, while right thinking and learning about the actual serious World matters.

The Ceremony was attended by representatives of UPB academic community (such as Nicolae TAPUS, Vice President of UPB Senate), of others Universities (including from Alba Iulia and Suceava), and Institutions, and by other special Guests such as: Leo M. CHALUPA, Vice President for Research at the George Washington University (charged with overseeing the strategic and operational development of GW’s rapidly growing research enterprise), Florian POPA, Vice-President of the Commission of Public Healthof theRomanian Senate, and President of SANABUNA International Congress; Aurel VAINER (a true symbol both of the Romanian commercial scientific research and of the Romanian Commercial and Industrial Chambers System), Member of Romanian Parliament, Chamber of Deputies, and President of the Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania;  Ioanel Sinescu, the Rector of UMF Carol Davila; Victor Lorin PURCAREA, President of the National Organizing Committee of SANABUNA International Congress; Adrian  VIERITA, Former Ambassador to U.S., with his wife Codrina; Theodor PURCAREA, Member of the Scientific Committee of SANABUNA International Congress, and Professor at the Romanian-American University.