ACADEMIC CEREMONIES. On Friday, May 6, the conferment ceremony finally took place in the Congress Hall of the Swedish Exhibition and Conference Center–a year and a half late due to the pandemic. At the long-awaited celebration, more than 130 doctors and 10 honorary doctors received their conferments during the ceremonies. See the photos taken by the university photographer Johan Wingborg.
This year’s theme for the University’s main celebration, the Conferment of Doctoral Degrees, was A university for the world, which is also the title of the University’s vision. Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg referred to that theme in her welcoming address.
“The conferment ceremony demonstrates that we are a university for the world in a very literal sense. We have many doctors and guests from other countries, and international collaboration over the years has become more and more intense,” Eva Wiberg said, referring to everyone who had defended their doctoral theses online.
She pointed out that international collaboration can partly be managed digitally but that in-person meetings can never be replaced altogether.
The Vice-Chancellor invited attendees to imagine that the current date was October 16, 2020. That was precisely the date on which the ceremony had been scheduled to occur, if the pandemic had not gotten in the way.
Since then, much has happened. Some people have moved and gotten new jobs, maybe even children.
“Even so, you have taken the trouble to participate in this little flashback. Why? I believe that the pandemic, despite all the misery, nevertheless had a significant lesson: the realization that it is important to be together.”
The day is, above all, a festive occasion and celebration for everyone who completed a doctorate. More than 130 doctoral degrees were awarded during a ceremony in Latin, and the doctors were conveyed across the academic parnasse, or bridge, by the respective degree conferrer appointed by the faculty.
Ten honorary doctorates
Degrees also were conferred on 10 honorary doctors, who received their insignia. This is a way of honoring individuals, both inside and outside Sweden, who have made a meritorious contribution to research at the University.
Bo Håkansson, the 2020 honorary doctor at Sahlgrenska Academy, was one of the recipients. Håkansson is a professor of electrical engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. His world-class research on the propagation of sound waves in human bone has led to a hearing aid, anchored in the skull bone, currently available around the world. It has had life-changing significance for people with hearing loss.
In addition to the conferment, the Vice-Chancellor presented a number of awards. The University’s highest award, Socii et Amici Universitatis Gothoburgensin, went to business leader and University Chair of the Board Carl Bennet.
Pam Fredman Award
The Pam Fredman Award was awarded to Rättspraktiken, the Gothenburg Law Clinic, through which law students provide free legal advice under the supervision of university teachers. Sara Gabrielsen received the Gunnar Svedberg Award for her involvement as project manager for “An Easy Way In,” which provides an avenue for students to report sexual or other forms of harassment. School of Business, Economics and Law Dean Per Cramér presented the Pro Studio et Scientia Award to Kerstin Renard for her commitment to strengthening the business school’s interaction with the surrounding community.
Students from the Academy of Music and Drama, the Gothenburg Brass Quintet, and the Academy Choir provided musical entertainment. After the ceremony, guests mingled and enjoyed a grand banquet with entertainment before the dance began.
BY: ALLAN ERIKSSON/ELIN LINDSTRÖM
PHOTO: JOHAN WINGBORG
More photos from the ceremony–photographer Johan Wingborg
