French Professor Invented a Fake Prize and Gave It to Himself
French authorities are examining the case of a university professor who is accused of creating a fictitious prize in philology and awarding it to himself in a high-profile ceremony. Florent Montaclair, who taught for two decades at a university in Besançon, received the so-called Gold Medal of Philology in 2016. The event took place at the National Assembly in Paris. Ministers and Nobel laureates attended the ceremony.
However, the prize and the organization behind it “the International Society of Philology” did not exist. Investigators say Montaclair created both. Philology involves the study of language through historical texts. Prosecutors in Besançon have opened an inquiry to determine whether any laws were broken. The university has suspended him indefinitely.
How Florent Montaclair’s Scheme Unfolded
According to officials, the story began around 2015. Local media in Besançon reported that Montaclair had reached the final shortlist for a Nobel Prize. Later accounts claimed he had won an award. n 2016, he received the Gold Medal at the Paris event. The following year, he presented a similar medal to the American linguist Noam Chomsky during a ceremony in Brussels. Video footage of that event remains available online, along with a website for the society that lists past laureates dating back decades.
Montaclair also listed a doctorate from a supposed University of Philology and Education in Delaware on his record. No such institution exists.
Discovery of Fake Gold Medal of Philology and Aftermath
The deception first came under scrutiny in Romania. Montaclair had named the Romanian philologist Eugen Simion as the next recipient of the prize. This announcement generated interest there, but local journalists began asking questions. he story received limited attention in France at the time. Montaclair continued his academic work. The matter resurfaced last year when he was scheduled to chair a discussion on fake news. A colleague recalled the earlier reports from Romania.
Police searched his home earlier this year. Montaclair reportedly told officers he had ordered the medal from a jeweller for about €250. He described the effort as an attempt to establish a new academic distinction that had not succeeded. Montaclair has maintained that creating such an award does not violate the law on its own. He has also noted that local media had compared it to a Nobel Prize.
Web Resources on Fake Gold Medal of Philology
1. BBC.com :French professor investigated for awarding himself fake prize
2. Le Monde : The gold medal for deception: How a professor created an international award out of thin air
3. Guardian.com : French professor accused of ‘gigantic hoax’ after inventing Nobel-style prize.