On Sunday evening, June 21, the Romanian Athenaeum hosted the 13th edition of the Grand National Lodge of Romania Awards Gala, an event organized in collaboration with the Romanian Academy, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture, the National Council of Rectors, and the 12 largest universities in Romania: Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, the University of Bucharest, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, the West University of Timișoara, the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, the Constantin Brâncuși National University of Arts, Transylvania University in Brașov, Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu, and the University of Craiova.
The following awards were presented at the Gala:
- The Gheorghe Lazăr Prize for Exact Sciences – Dr. Valentin–Paul NICU, senior researcher at the “Costin D. Nitescu” Institute of Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry of the Romanian Academy, for developing an AI-assisted analytical method called the “Digital Chiroscope,” capable of identifying the chiral form of a molecule with high precision. This research was featured on the cover of *Chemical Science*, a leading journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom, and on the cover of *Angewandte Chemie International Edition*, a leading journal of the German Chemical Society, 2025;
- The Henri Coandă Award for Applied Sciences—Dr. Florin Călin PĂUN, Eng., of the ARESIA industrial group (France), for his contributions in the field of advanced liquid hydrogen systems for mobility and automated piloting systems;
- The Carol Davila Prize for Medicine—Prof. Ștefan CONSTANTINESCU, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Ludwig Cancer Research Laboratories in Brussels—for the scientific paper “Delineating Mpl-dependent and -independent phenotypes of Jak2 V617F-positive MPNs in vivo,” published in 2025, in “Blood,” the flagship journal of the American Society of Hematology and one of the world’s most prestigious medical publications;
- The Eugeniu Carada Prize in Economics—Prof. Emil DINGA, Ph.D.—Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Economic Planning and Cybernetics, for *Economic Resilience During Overlapping Crises*, Palgrave Macmillan, 2025;
- The Spiru Haret Award for Education and the Environment—Prof. Georgeta ION, Ph.D., of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and associate professor at the West University of Timişoara—for the article “Beyond formal research knowledge and skills: how do teachers grow and evolve as teacher-researchers,” published in the journal *Professional Development in Education*, 2025. The study focuses on the continuing professional development of teacher-researchers and the development of academic research skills;
- The Constantin Brâncuși Award for Art and Culture—Silviu Purcărete—for the world premiere of the play “Iona” by Marin Sorescu, a co-production of the Radu Stanca National Theater in Sibiu and the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater. The play “Iona” was also performed at the Osaka 2025 World Expo, where it was declared by the organizers and the public to be the most popular cultural event of the entire expo, which was attended by 158 countries;
- The Grigore Moisil Award for IT, Digitalization, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence – Prof. Radu-Daniel VATAVU, Ph.D., Eng. – Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, for research on human-artificial intelligence interaction and collaboration with applications in improving the accessibility of information systems, particularly through the use of the human body as a tactile interface for controlling digital devices.
Each winner received a check for 10,000 euros and a trophy signed by the artist Prof. Dr. Alexandru Ghilduș.
“Every award we present is a testament to the fundamental values that underpin a prosperous society: truth, integrity, and benevolence. It is also a reaffirmation of our commitment to supporting and encouraging excellence in all areas of social, cultural, and scientific life.”
As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the elite of Romanian society, let us remember that each award represents not only individual recognition but also a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to the progress and well-being of society. “May these awards inspire everyone here to continue striving for excellence and to remain dedicated to the mission of making the world a better place,” said Cătălin Tohăneanu, Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania.
„Every year, we strive to recognize excellence in seven areas vital to our collective future. We seek to acknowledge and reward original research, creativity, and dedication to our country, thereby honoring those Romanians who create value, who inspire and motivate younger generations, and who shape destinies and lives. At this Gala, we acknowledge and value the hard work that the nominees and award recipients have put forth throughout their professional careers. They are true role models for all of us in our shared effort to redefine the boundaries of knowledge. Each of the award recipients represents a unique success story, filled with sacrifice, dedication, and perseverance. These individuals did not settle for mediocrity but demonstrated that research, study, and, by extension, knowledge, know no bounds. They had the courage to follow their dreams, fully aware that through what they do, they are creating a better world for all of us. ”, said Remus Borza, Esq., Ph.D., Grand Master of Honor for Life of the National Grand Lodge of Romania, the producer and artistic director of the Gala.
The festive award ceremonies were interspersed with a virtuoso performance by the Bucharest National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Maestro Daniel Jinga. The artistic program included famous arias from the universal classical repertoire, such as: George Enescu—Romanian Rhapsody; Carl Orff—O fortuna—Carmina Burana; Giacomo Puccini—Turandot—Nessun dorma; Enrico Cannio—O soldato innamorato; Delibes—Lakmé—Flower Duet; Georges Bizet – Habanera – Carmen; Giuseppe Verdi – Gypsy Chorus – Il Trovatore; Giuseppe Verdi – La Traviata – Brindisi; Johann Strauss – Radetzky March. Contributing to the success of the artistic program were soprano Anna Stănescu, mezzo-soprano Martiniana Antonie, tenors Alin Stoica and Teodor Ilincăi, as well as the Children’s Choir of the Bucharest National Opera, conducted by Ms. Elena Radu.
The event was hosted by Radu Coșarcă, a renowned journalist.
During the Gala, speeches were given by Cătălin Tohăneanu – Grand Master of the NGLR, Acad. Marius Andruh – President of the Romanian Academy, Prof. Mihai Dinian, Ph.D. – Minister of Education and Research, Acad. Dorel Banabic – President of the Technical Sciences Section of the Romanian Academy, Acad. Ioanel Sinescu – Director of the Center for Urological Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, “Fundeni” Clinical Institute, Prof. Univ. Dr. Viorel Jinga – Rector of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Acad. Daniel Dăianu – President of the Fiscal Council of Romania, Acad. Mircea Dumitru – Vice President of the Romanian Academy, Constantin Chiriac – Director of the Sibiu International Theater Festival, Cristian Măcelaru – Director of the George Enescu International Festival, Acad. Gabriela Marinoschi – Vice President of the Romanian Academy.
The event was graced by the presence of over 800 prominent figures from the academic, university, medical, business, banking, cultural, diplomatic, and political communities.
