Louis Rapkine

Louis Rapkine (July 14 1904 in Tchichenitch of Russia - December 13 1948 in Paris) was a French biologist, specializing in embryology and enzymology, but most known for his efforts in saving and restoring the french scientificcommunity during world war II, largely assisted by the Rockefeller Foundation. [Doris T. Zallen, "Louis Rapkine and the Restoration of French Science after the Second World War", in French Historical Studies, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1991), pp. 6-37]

His parents Israël Rapkine and Ida Sorkine moved as a result of Kiev pogrom (1905) in the area, to Paris (1911) and Montréal (1913), where he studied medicine at McGill University (1921-24),moving back to Paris (1924). He worked with Charles Pérez and Maurice Caullery (1925). at Station biologique de Roscoff, at Collège de France under Emmanuel Fauré-Fremiet(1926), at
Départément Biophysique under René Wurmser (1927). andbecame famous for his joint research with P. Trpinac (1938).

Rapkine established the "Comité français pour l'accueil et l'organisation du travail des savants étrangers" (1936). He assisted thirty scientists in their secret emigration from the wartaken France (1940).The Rapkine French Scientist Fund was established in his name (1951) , to assist in the purchase of tools and materials for scientific use. It was overseen by Bethsabée de Rothschild. The fund was continued under the name of Pasteur Foundation (1985) in New York City (a part of the Pasteur Institute network). [ [http://picardp1.ivry.cnrs.fr/Rapkine.html picture and chronological biography] ] He died from cancer.

Awards

*Prix Pourat (1932)
*Legion of Honour ("Chevalier", 1947)

References