Professors Charbel Farhat and Dimitris Lagoudas are appointed as Arts et Métiers Doctors Honoris Causa
"Arts et Métiers wants to recognise international figures who have a strong link with the School and are known for the excellence of their research work," explains Audrey Stewart, Director of International and European Development. "The title of Doctor Honoris Causa symbolises the international partnerships of excellence that Arts et Métiers maintains throughout the world, and it will enhance the School's international reputation and attractiveness."
The institution has chosen two individuals to receive this title:
- Professor Charbel Farhat, Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University (sponsored by Francisco Chinesta).
Charbel Farhat is recognised as a world leader in digital simulations, developing advanced mathematical models, algorithms and software to design and analyse complex mechanical systems in the aeronautical and shipbuilding industries. He was involved in designing the parachute of the NASA spacecraft that landed on Mars. His team has developed new, high-fidelity modelling tools to simulate the dynamics of supersonic parachute openings.
Charbel Farhat has forged strong ties with researchers at Arts et Métiers, notably Professor Francisco Chinesta of the PIMM laboratory, by hosting researchers at Stanford and co-supervising theses at the Arts et Métiers Doctoral School.
- Professor Dimitris Lagoudas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Engineering Research, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Deputy Director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) at Texas A&M University, College Station, USA (sponsored by Fodil Meraghni).
His research team is one of the most renowned in the world in modelling and characterising shape memory alloys. His research group's theoretical models have been implemented and integrated into finite element analysis software used by academic institutions, industry and governments around the world.
Dimitris Lagoudas has strong relationships with researchers at Arts et Métiers, including with Professor Fodil Meraghni's team at the LEM3 laboratory on the Metz campus.
This enduring, nearly 30-year-old partnership has strengthened over the years, with multiple research projects, visits by researchers, doctoral students and post-docs, co-supervision of student theses and projects and the joint organisation of conferences and publications. Finally, Dimitris Lagoudas strongly supported the creation of "AM²", a strategic partnership in smart manufacturing between A&M and Texas A&M, led by the Aix-en-Provence campus.
The award ceremony for Charbel Farhat took place on Tuesday 25 October 2022, while the ceremony for Dimitris Lagoudas took place on 16 January 2023. Both were held on the Paris campus.
Arts et Métiers' first two Doctors Honoris Causa
In 2011, Arts et Métiers bestowed its first Doctor Honoris Causa awards on two figures:
- Éric Benhamou (Aix72), entrepreneur (CEO of 3Com, PalmOS) and President of the "American Friends of Arts et Métiers" Foundation (AFAM), PhD in financial mathematics.
- Horst Hippler, Professor, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology from 2009 to 2012, President of the German Rectors' Conference since 2012, President of Eucor in 2003 and 2011.
REPLAY - DOCTOR HONORIS CAUSA: CHARBEL FARHAT
REPLAY - DOCTOR HONORIS CAUSA: DIMITRIS LAGOUDAS
