Knight of the National Order of Merit

On 14 July 2024, I had the honor of being decorated as a « Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite » (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the Prefect of Occitanie, Pierre-André Durand. During this ceremony, a speech was delivered by the representatives of the President of the Republic. Here is the transcript:

« Ms. Natacha Nikolic, in the name of the President of the Republic and by virtue of the powers conferred upon us, we make you a Knight of the National Order of Merit. A Doctor of Science specializing in ecology, biodiversity, and evolution, Natacha Nikolic has been involved in the management and conservation of aquatic populations for many years. A researcher at INRAE and President of the Agence de Recherche pour la Biodiversité à la Réunion (ARBRE), she is a key figure in the study of the adaptation of aquatic species to climate change.

Her work, published in numerous international journals, makes a significant contribution to France’s reputation and our country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity. Today, we have the honor of awarding her the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. »