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The appointment of honorary doctors has a long-standing tradition. The doctorates are awarded in recognition of major scientific efforts or outstanding work for the benefit of science. They are often used to honour scientists who have made a significant difference, and who often have strong ties to the university that awards the degree.
18 new honorary doctors appointed this year
The University of Oslo has appointed honorary doctors since 1902.
It started with the 100th anniversary of the birth of mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. The university received temporary permission from the Parliament – by legislative resolution – to award a degree, doctor matemathicae honoris causa, to 29 prominent foreign scientists in the fields of mathematics, physics, and astronomy. Among them were many of the truly great scientists of the time.
Since then, a total of 493 honorary doctorates have been awarded.
This year, 18 new honorary doctors receive their degrees, 10 of whom are women. Ten of the candidates come from European countries, while eight are from the USA.
Annual Celebration and seminar on academic freedom
– As usual, there is an impressive list of strong academics to be appointed. There will be a great deal of academic events linked to each of the candidates, arranged by UiO's faculties and museums, says Rector Svein St?len.
The rectorate has itself promoted two of the honorary doctors, Dr. Sjur Bergan and Professor Trond Petersen. They will both take part in an event about academic freedom and democracy in Domus Bibliotheca before the Annual Celebration and award ceremony in the University aula in September.
– It is important to understand what academic freedom means not only for the university as an institution, but for democracy itself, says St?len, who is pleased that this topic is high on the agenda during the last Annual Celebration for his two rectorates.
UiO’s honorary doctors
- Professor Laura Nasrallah, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
- Professor Shaheen Sardar Ali, Warwick, UK.
- Professor Andreas L. Paulus, G?ttingen, Germany.
- Professor Gra?a Raposo-Benedetti, Paris, France.
- Dr. Richard J. Hatchett, London, UK.
- Professor José van Dijck, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Professor Sally Haslanger, Cambridge, USA.
- Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, Berlin, Germany.
- Professor Irena Hajnsek, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Professor Alamelu (Lalita) Sundaresan, Houston, USA.
- Professor Anders M. Dale, San Diego, USA.
- Professor Marion Fourcade, Berkeley, USA.
- Professor Eric Dearing, Boston, USA.
- Dr. Sjur Bergan, Strasbourg, France.
- Professor Trond Petersen, Berkeley, USA.
- Professor James C. Scott, New Haven, USA.
- Dr. Anne Larigauderie, Bonn, Germany.
- Chairman of the board Eilif Holte, Oslo, Norway.
Read more about the honorary doctors
About honorary doctorates at the University of Oslo
- UiO's honorary doctorate is awarded to distinguished, usually foreign, academics.
- The title is awarded to researchers who have contributed significant scientific works.
- Honorary doctors are usually appointed every three years in connection with UiO's Annual Celebration.