{"id":1922810,"date":"2026-05-07T09:11:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T06:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922810"},"modified":"2026-05-07T09:11:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T06:11:54","slug":"professor-expelled-from-university-for-inventing-fake-nobel-prize-and-awarding-it-to-himself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1922810","title":{"rendered":"Professor expelled from university for inventing &#8216;fake Nobel prize&#8217; and awarding it to himself"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/97\/29\/1200x675_cmsv2_3dc72fb2-5f8b-56df-9ff2-d61b9a9a61c6-9749729.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2892008-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2892008\" data-cid=\"9750496\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2892008-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/04\/96\/189x106_cmsv2_0148e622-d113-5d2d-b819-a2918547b0ee-9750496.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrant pupils walk under a railway bridge in Flen, 30 August, 2018\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Sweden plans electronic tags for kids at risk of gang recruitment\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891979-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2891979\" data-cid=\"9750297\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891979-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/04\/67\/189x106_cmsv2_ca09c854-9b4f-51ea-bdc0-816098ab7f3a-9750467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Protesters urge the IOC to reconsider allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag in Lausanne, 25 March, 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Sport<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    IOC lifts Olympic ban on Belarus\u2019s athletes but Russians still barred\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891990-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2891990\" data-cid=\"9750372\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891990-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/03\/72\/189x106_cmsv2_2fe4b8b1-cdf8-5727-b9b4-f24f8a977e3a-9750372.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Budapest\u2019s Pusk\u00e1s Arena will host the 2026 Uefa Champions League final \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Destinations<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    2026 Champions League final: A Budapest football travel guide\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Professor expelled from university for inventing &#8216;fake Nobel prize&#8217; and awarding it to himself<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/97\/29\/1536x864_cmsv2_3dc72fb2-5f8b-56df-9ff2-d61b9a9a61c6-9749729.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"ARCHIVE: The Nobel medal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              ARCHIVE: The Nobel Medal<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Anonymous\/AP2006<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Anonymous\/AP2006\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJean-Philippe Liabot\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1778145114\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-05-07 11:11:54 +02:00\">07\/05\/2026 &#8211; 11:11 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center 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class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        A lecturer-researcher from Besan\u00e7on is at the centre of a scandal rocking academia: he is suspected of having fabricated an international philology award in order to give it to himself. The ruse has seen him expelled from his university.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>This is the story of a professor of language science who mistook his grandiose dreams for reality. Between an oversized ego and digital stagecraft, this is the tale of an academic hoax that will, for him, be settled in court.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Florent Montaclair<\/strong>, aged 56, is currently the subject of an investigation opened by the Montb\u00e9liard public prosecutor\u2019s office (Doubs), concerning several alleged offences, including forgery, use of forged documents, fraud and unlawful assumption of title.<\/p>\n<p>The inquiry also extends to checking parts of his academic record, in particular an alleged PhD obtained from an American university whose very existence is now being called into question.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.56\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/97\/29\/808x451_cmsv2_05df44c3-1726-5c3c-b628-7cbb32c6e8b0-9749729.jpg\" alt=\"Florent Montaclair, during a TEDxBelfort talk in 2017\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Florent Montaclair, during a TEDxBelfort talk in 2017<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">\u00a9 TEDx YouTube<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>A perfectly devised and executed stratagem<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>To burnish his academic aura, he is said to have set up in recent years an entirely fictitious organisation, carefully named so as to suggest international recognition and scientific prestige.<\/p>\n<p>Once this organisation had been dreamed up, everything became simple: it announced its &#8220;results&#8221;, and Professor Montaclair\u2019s name naturally appeared among the laureates. Unsurprisingly, he thus found himself awarded this prize, which he had himself helped to define and bring into being.<\/p>\n<p>Armed with this distinction, presented as \u2018international\u2019, the accolade was then woven into his career. It appeared on his CV and in his professional presentations, projecting the image of a researcher recognised at the highest level. This \u2018award\u2019 thus became a lever of credibility, boosting his visibility and shoring up his position in academic circles, while potentially opening up new career opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The harder the fall<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>But in the digital age of permanent fact-checking, lying is a risky business. It was when colleagues at Marie &amp; Louis Pasteur University of Franche-Comt\u00e9 <em>(source in French)<\/em>, as well as journalists, sought to verify the origins of this mysterious prize \u2013 which no one in specialist circles at the Sorbonne or at Oxford had ever heard of \u2013 that they began to smell a rat.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation quickly brought to light the complete absence of any legal structure, genuine jury or funds associated with this prize. The \u2018Nobel of philology\u2019 was nothing but a chimera.<\/p>\n<p>And as so often, such stories end badly, starting with his expulsion from the university. The lecturer <em>&#8220;no longer holds any position whatsoever within the university<\/em> &#8221; where he had been employed for more than 20 years, the institution\u2019s deputy director of communications said.<\/p>\n<p>A process to assess the facts he may be accused of has been launched in parallel by the Ministry of Education, and could also result in disciplinary measures, including the outright withdrawal of his professorial title.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-c-mention-original-translation\" class=\"c-mention-original-translation\">\n<aside>This text was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and originally published in\u00a0French    <\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>                          Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Danish universities reject foreign researchers amid espionage fears<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Harvard University sues Trump administration to halt freeze of federal grants<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Sweden plans electronic bracelets to monitor children at risk of gang recruitment<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  university<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Besan\u00e7on<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Education<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  France<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  fake news<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Nobel Prize<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2891868-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891868\" data-cid=\"9749731\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891868-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/97\/31\/320x180_cmsv2_0480c004-2bbc-55c1-a99d-e0edfe06648c-9749731.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Health workers in protective gear evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship at a port in Praia, Cape Verde, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    After coronavirus, should we fear hantavirus? 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See where you fall in Europe\u2019s income tax divide<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2891331-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891331\" data-cid=\"9747275\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Timmy the humpback whale presumed to have died<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2891764-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891764\" data-cid=\"9749267\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukraine &#8216;will respond in kind&#8217; Zelenskyy says ahead of Moscow parade<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2891845-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891845\" data-cid=\"9749575\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Actress sues James Cameron for \u2018stealing\u2019 her face for &#8216;Avatar&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2891868-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891868\" data-cid=\"9749731\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    After coronavirus, should we fear hantavirus? 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What you need to know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891959-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891959\" data-cid=\"9750168\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891959-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/01\/68\/320x180_cmsv2_27a5babc-6bba-592b-a66d-6913f2fc9ac7-9750168.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The European Commission is coordinating the response with member states.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU steps up coordination on hantavirus but insists risks are &#8216;low&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891976-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891976\" data-cid=\"9750294\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891976-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/02\/94\/320x180_cmsv2_533d2287-fa8b-5d1c-8c9b-de0ea313d071-9750294.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Here\u2019s what you need to know about the deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak explained in under 3 minutes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891858-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891858\" data-cid=\"9749694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891858-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/96\/94\/320x180_cmsv2_dd8627d5-dc6e-5b91-bcb2-2bf9e374f308-9749694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Union flags flap in the wind outside of EU headquarters in Brussels, 4 November, 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    White House calls Europe terrorism &#8216;incubator&#8217; in security strategy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891783-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891783\" data-cid=\"9749372\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2891783-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/93\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_275de323-764d-532b-8b59-4bd6593eefcf-9749372.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='A retired man holds a placard which reads \"Macron robs the money of the old men and women\" during a rally in Paris, France, Thursday June 14, 2018. ' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Who pays more tax? See where you fall in Europe\u2019s income tax divide<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891331-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891331\" data-cid=\"9747275\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Timmy the humpback whale presumed to have died<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891764-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891764\" data-cid=\"9749267\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukraine &#8216;will respond in kind&#8217; Zelenskyy says ahead of Moscow parade<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891845-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891845\" data-cid=\"9749575\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Actress sues James Cameron for \u2018stealing\u2019 her face for &#8216;Avatar&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891868-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891868\" data-cid=\"9749731\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    After coronavirus, should we fear hantavirus? What you need to know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2891411-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2891411\" data-cid=\"9747562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Who has the most ultra-rich in Europe in 2026 and where are they growing fastest?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">This is the story of a professor of language science who mistook his grandiose dreams for reality. Between an oversized ego and digital stagecraft, this is the tale of an academic hoax that will, for him, be settled in court.Florent Montaclair, aged 56, is currently the subject of an investigation opened by the Montb\u00e9liard public prosecutor\u2019s office (Doubs), concerning several alleged offences, including forgery, use of forged documents, fraud and unlawful assumption of title.The inquiry also extends to checking parts of his academic record, in particular an alleged PhD obtained from an American university whose very existence is now being called into question.A perfectly devised and executed stratagemTo burnish his academic aura, he is said to have set up in recent years an entirely fictitious organisation, carefully named so as to suggest international recognition and scientific prestige.Once this organisation had been dreamed up, everything became simple: it announced its &#8220;results&#8221;, and Professor Montaclair\u2019s name naturally appeared among the laureates. Unsurprisingly, he thus found himself awarded this prize, which he had himself helped to define and bring into being.Armed with this distinction, presented as \u2018international\u2019, the accolade was then woven into his career. It appeared on his CV and in his professional presentations, projecting the image of a researcher recognised at the highest level. This \u2018award\u2019 thus became a lever of credibility, boosting his visibility and shoring up his position in academic circles, while potentially opening up new career opportunities.The harder the fallBut in the digital age of permanent fact-checking, lying is a risky business. It was when colleagues at Marie &amp; Louis Pasteur University of Franche-Comt\u00e9 (source in French), as well as journalists, sought to verify the origins of this mysterious prize \u2013 which no one in specialist circles at the Sorbonne or at Oxford had ever heard of \u2013 that they began to smell a rat.The investigation quickly brought to light the complete absence of any legal structure, genuine jury or funds associated with this prize. The \u2018Nobel of philology\u2019 was nothing but a chimera.And as so often, such stories end badly, starting with his expulsion from the university. The lecturer &#8220;no longer holds any position whatsoever within the university &#8221; where he had been employed for more than 20 years, the institution\u2019s deputy director of communications said.A process to assess the facts he may be accused of has been launched in parallel by the Ministry of Education, and could also result in disciplinary measures, including the outright withdrawal of his professorial title.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/05\/07\/professor-expelled-from-university-for-inventing-fake-nobel-prize-and-awarding-it-to-himse&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/74\/97\/29\/1200x675_cmsv2_3dc72fb2-5f8b-56df-9ff2-d61b9a9a61c6-9749729.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Sweden plans electronic tags for kids at risk of gang recruitment Spain Tenerife locals &#8216;concerned but calm&#8217; as hantavirus-hit cruise ship approaches Sport IOC lifts Olympic ban on Belarus\u2019s athletes but Russians still barred Destinations 2026 Champions League final: A Budapest football travel guide Europe News Sweden plans electronic tags [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1922810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1922810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1922810"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1922810\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1922810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1922810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1922810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}