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A hidden medal
We all like a story about rediscovering treasures, right? Well, that’s just what happened recently at EMBL Grenoble!
After a big office clean-up, a medal of honour issued by the French Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue was unearthed after years remaining hidden in a closet. This medal was intended to reward an EMBL Grenoble alumnus, retired engineer André Gabriel, for his 35 years of service.
André started working at EMBL Grenoble in 1973, where he joined the Instrumentation Team and made seminal contributions to the development of X-ray detectors. The medal recognising his service came many years after André’s departure from EMBL Grenoble. For reasons unknown, it ended up in a drawer, only to see the light of day again recently.
Administrative staff at EMBL Grenoble were able to contact André, who was very happy to learn about the discovery. André, who will soon turn 85, even agreed to visit the site again – where he finally received his medal from Head of EMBL Grenoble Stephen Cusack.
