Welcome
at the World Cultural Council’s 25th Award Ceremony

by Shirley M. Tilghman
President Princeton University

(Princeton University, November 11, 2008)
Good afternoon. President Fischer and President Emeritus Estrada, distinguished visitors and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen:

On behalf of Princeton University, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Princeton University and the World Cultural Council´s 25th annual Award Ceremony. Since 1984, the Councila has celebrated the scientific, educational, and artistic achievements of mankind through three awards, named in honor of Albert Einstein, José Vasconcelos, and Leonardo da Vinci. It has also fostered the international exchange of knowledge and promoted global understanding, not only by honoring scientists, educators and artists form around the world but by holding its award ceremonies in five continents: from Wellington, New Zeland to Helsinki, Finland.

Although the Council is based in Mexico, it draws its members from 61 countries in the belief that knowledge and the progress that it generates cannot and should not be constrained by geographical, political, or cultural boundaries. As the Rector of the University of Liège observed when he welcomed the Council to Belgium in 2004, “There is no harmonious societal life possible without this sharing of Knowledge that is the very foundation of a common culture”.

The world´s great colleges and universities embody this dynamic, building bridges that have endured despite the conflicts and prejudices that have estranged communities and nations. On our campuses, faculty and students with dramatically different perspectives and antecedents mingle, debate, and above all, learn from one another. It is therefore fitting that the Council should look to institutions such as ours to host its award ceremony, and I am pleased that Princeton, which aspires to be an American university with global vision, was invited to fill this role this year.

I am also delighted that two such accomplished individuals will be honored on our campus today: biologist Ada Yonath from the Wizemann Institute of Science in Israel and our very own William G. Bowen, President Emeritus of Princeton University and President Emeritus of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This is the first time that a world award winner has been honored under the auspices of an institution that he or she calls home, and I cannot think of a happier coincidence than this for Bill´s many, many friends at Princeton. Both honorees have made a far-research contribution to the welfare of their fellow men and women, one through her pioneering research in the field of structural biology and one through his leadership in the realm of higher education. They richly deserve the awards to be conferred on them this afternoon.

I will now yield the podium to our master of ceremonies, Dean of the Faculty and Phillip Y. Goldman ´86 Professor of Computer Science David Dobkin. Thank you for joining us today, and, again, the warmest of welcomes to you all.