ACADEMIC CEREMONIES. A kind of short film festival, is how Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg described the the Inauguration of New Professors on May 12, where all 49 new professors were presented with a small film.
“It is you professors and inspiring teachers who make our university the multifaceted, curious, fun and constantly innovative institution it is”, explained the vice-chancellor in her welcoming speech.
As a researcher, the professor can act as the director of a laboratory or be the super hero during a seminar. But even if research is exciting, it means above all hard and diligent work, Eva Wiberg pointed out.
“Research is about getting to know new questions, reading reports, commenting on colleagues’ work, waiting for test results and redoing experiments – again and again. Patience is probably one of the most important qualities of a researcher.”
Teaching is also demanding, noted Eva Wiberg.
“Expectations are high, the number of students is sometimes quite large and the demands to constantly stay up-to-date can feel overwhelming. Therefore, I now offer my warmest thanks for everything you do for the University of Gothenburg.”
The inaugeration itself was done so that a herald read out the professor’s name. Then a 1.5-minute long film was shown about the professor who then went up to the rector to be ceremoniously installed.
Malin Kjellgren performed a piece on harp by Gabriel Fauré and flutist Reetta Hakala, together with pianist Beatrice Vanzo played a piece by Sergei Prokofiev.
Lina Eriksson, professor of political science, spoke on behalf of the professors.
“It’s really not always appreciated that you ask curious questions about how things work, why it happens this way or that, and about causal relationships. But here, in academia, such a character flaw no longer becomes a problem, but is tolerated, even encouraged. I am incurably curious, and that is precisely why there is probably no other profession than being a professor that would suit me.
Excellent teachers and educational award winners were also recognized. Then it was time for Emil Berglind, vice president of Gothenburg University’s student unions, to thank the professors.
“Your work will not only benefit your students but also contribute to the development of your area and society as a whole. Because we are facing a number of tough and new challenges. Not least chatGPT and openAI, which incidentally helped me write around 60–70 percent of this speech.”
After singing by Stella Academica, it was time for marching out and mingling in the foyer.
BY: EVA LUNDGREN
PHOTO: JOHAN WINGBORG
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