A commemoration ceremony of the Italian neurologue, Prof. Rita Levi Montalcini, took place today at UNESCO’s head offices in Paris. She would have been 104.
The celebration was opened by H.E. Mr Maurizio Enrico Serra, Ambassador of Italy to UNESCO, whose speech was followed by those of Ms Gretchen Kalonji, ADG for Natural Sciences, Ms Lalla Ben Barka, ADG for Africa (on behalf of the Director-General, Ms Irina Bokova, who’s traveling abroad) and Ms Alissandra Cummins, Chair of the Executive Board.
Besides her remarkable research work, which prompted her to receive the Nobel Prize on 1986, Prof. Levi Montacini must be remembered for her engagement towards youth’s education, and in particular of African young women.
Prof. Marina Bentivoglio, who represented the Rita Levi Montalcini Onlus, et Ms Piera Levi Montalcini, niece of the Nobel-Prize winner and Chair of the Rita levi Montalcini Association, also delivered a few words to remember Prof. Montalcini’s timeless legacy, which has so much in common with UNESCO’s goals and values.
