In January, Gérard Arnold was promoted to Knight of the National Order of Merit by the Ministry of Research, for his dedicated career in promoting recognition of the impact of pesticides on bees at the European and national levels, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to science, society, and the beekeeping industry.
He received his decoration on June 14, 2025, at the City Hall of the 14th arrondissement of Paris. His insignia was presented to him by Frank Alétru, President of the National Beekeeping Union.
Gérard Arnold, PhD, CNRS, has worked extensively on bee ethology. He has specifically studied the neurobiology of the bees' olfactory system and various factors that affect their health (parasites such as varroa mites, predators such as hornets, and pesticides). His career gradually shifted towards reviewing dossiers on the impact of pesticides on bee mortality. Having become a scientific expert for the French and European (EFSA) health agencies, he participated in scientific committees and institutional expert appraisals, particularly on the effects of neonicotinoids. He fought tirelessly to inform the general public and decision-makers of the scientific data on the dangers of these molecules for bees.
He also co-directed the CNRS Institute of Communication Sciences.
