Tartu City Council nominated honorary citizens of Tartu

Tartu City Council awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Tartu to Director of UT Estonian Genome Center Andres Metspalu, Professor of the University of Tartu Peeter Tulviste and sports organiser Rein Kamarik. The honorary decoration Tartu Täht was awarded to the chair of management board of AS Kodumaja Lembit Lump, manager of restoration projects and promoter of cultural life of Tartu Jüri Kulasalu and a long-term teacher of Helika kindergarten Merike Lillo.

Academician Andres Metspalu, Director of the University of Tartu Estonian Genome Center, has largely contributed to the advances of gene technology and molecular diagnostics in Estonia. As a result of his long-term work, Estonia has created its own bio bank – the Genome Center. Andres Metspalu was the founder of the Chair of Biotechnology of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of the University of Tartu and he has had an important role in the creation and development of gene technology as a specialisation and a field of study.

Professor Peeter Tulviste has contributed to the good of Estonia and Tartu as the Rector of the University of Tartu in 1993–1998, as a member of Riigikogu and as a member and chair of Tartu City Council. He has dedicated his academic career to teaching psychologists and to psychology-related research. As a member of the editorial board of the cultural journal Akadeemia and the council of publishing house Ilmamaa, Tulviste has made a significant contribution to the development of intellectual life in Estonia.

The titles of Honorary Citizen together with the decoration Tartu Suurtäht as well as the decorations Tartu Täht were awarded on 23 February at the ceremony dedicated to the 97th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in Vanemuine concert hall.

The title of Honorary Citizen of Tartu recognises lifelong outstanding merit to the city of Tartu. The decoration Tartu Täht is awarded for special merit to the city of Tartu.