Jacob Palis, who has served as chairperson of the ICTP Scientific Council since 2003, and C.N.R. Rao, long-time visitor to ICTP and President of TWAS, have been admitted to France’s Legion d’Honneur, the national order of merit instituted by Napoleon in 1802. The honour is given to individuals of the highest accomplishment in a broad range of human endeavours that include sciences.