Newsmakers

Catalan government honors Professor Bisson

Thomas N. Bisson, Henry Charles Lea Professor of Medieval History, received the Creu de Sant Jordi Award from the government of Catalonia, Spain, at a ceremony this past December in Barcelona. The award, created in 1982, recognizes people and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to the Catalan community through their work. An active promoter of Catalan studies, Bisson is widely known for his research of medieval civilizations in Catalonia and Southern France.

Flier appointed chief academic officer of BIDMC

Jeffrey S. Flier, M.D., an endocrinologist and an authority on the molecular causes of obesity and diabetes, was named to the newly created position of chief academic officer and Harvard faculty dean at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on Jan. 15. Flier, George C. Reisman Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is vice chair for research of the Department of Medicine and faculty dean for academic affairs at Beth Israel.

Flier will be the senior institutional official responsible for research and academic programs, working with Beth Israel academic department chairs, and serving as the formal liaison to Harvard Medical School.

Glendon, Sandel named to President’s Council on Bioethics

Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and Michael J. Sandel, professor of government, have been named to the President’s Council on Bioethics. Glendon and Sandel are among a group of 17 leading philosophers, scientists, doctors, lawyers, and theologians appointed to examine the ethical issues raised by new advances in medical science and biotechnology. The council will consider a range of bioethical matters, including embryo and stem cell research, assisted reproduction, cloning, and end-of-life issues, among other topics.

Glendon and Sandel attended the council’s inaugural meeting on Jan. 17-18, in Washington, D.C., which took up issues of cloning and embryo research, and included a meeting with President Bush.

One in a million

Nancy Amanda Redd ’03 is one of 14 students from some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities who will vie for a chance to win $1 million on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: The College Edition,” a special two-episode telecast of the TV quiz show airing Monday, Feb. 4 (8-9 p.m.) and Thursday, Feb. 7 (9-10 p.m.), on Channel 5, WCVB (ABC).

– Compiled by Andrew Brooks