HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS BOUNDLESSACHIEVEMENT

Transcription

1 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS BOUNDLESSACHIEVEMENT THE JUNE 2013

2 Chancellor s Message THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL H. WILSON, P.C., C.C., LL.D. JUNE is an exhilarating time at the University of Toronto. Faculty and staff look forward to sharing in our students celebration of their graduation from university, in the presence of their family and friends and in a ceremony rich in tradition. This year, as the carillon rings, more than 12,500 students will be closing one important chapter in their lives and opening another. As Chancellor, it is a great honour for me to be involved in this special day, to be the first to congratulate our graduates on their accomplishment and welcome them to our U of T alumni community. Joining them will be some of Canada s and the world s most remarkable leaders, on whom the University will confer honorary degrees. This year, we will celebrate visionaries in the fields of business, community service, education, science and technology individuals with a passion for sharing their knowledge and insights with colleagues, students and the world, to be used as a foundation for others to build upon. These unique role models provide our students with an added source of inspiration to aim high, to realize their dreams, and to contribute to their communities and their country. Congratulations to the University of Toronto graduates and honorary graduates of 2013!

3 THURSDAY, JUNE 13, :30 P.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa Robert J. Birgeneau One of the world s most cited physicists, Robert J. Birgeneau ( 63, B.Sc., St. Michael s) is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Toronto. Professor Birgeneau s research concerning fundamental properties of materials has earned him international renown. He is a fellow of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Canada. A prominent leader in higher education, Professor Birgeneau is a past President of the University of Toronto. He has served as Dean of the School of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and at the end of May this year is stepping down as Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). He will remain on campus as a member of its faculty in the Departments of Physics and Materials Science and Engineering. Professor Birgeneau s illustrious career began when he enrolled in St. Michael s College on a needs-based scholarship from a small parish in Toronto. In recognition and gratitude for this award, he and his wife Mary Catherine generously created a scholarship to help students in similar circumstances. For his excellence in the academy and outstanding contributions to higher education, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, upon Robert J. Birgeneau.

4 THURSDAY, JUNE 6, :30 P.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa William A. (Bill) Buxton A pioneer and scholar in the field of human-computer interaction, William A. (Bill) Buxton envisioned a world where psychology, computer science, engineering and human factors combine to create innovative and elegantly designed technology. A University of Toronto alumnus (M.Sc.), Mr. Buxton also taught at U of T, where he created a wide array of devices that anticipated today s popular touch-screen devices. In recent years, he has had tremendous influence on the design of interactive computer applications and co-holds 21 issued patents. Mr. Buxton is currently a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, and has held science leadership roles in a series of innovative companies, including Alias Wavefront and Silicon Graphics. One of the World s 27 Most Influential Designers (Business Week 2010), his influence in the field has received international recognition, with honorary degrees from institutes in Canada and Europe and an Academy Award for Scientific and Technological Achievement. Mr. Buxton is a strong advocate for supporting fundamental research in Canadian society and has transplanted the university research model to numerous successful industry groups. For his pioneering research and development in the field of human computer interaction (HCI) and excellence in device design, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, upon William A. (Bill) Buxton.

5 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, :30 P.M. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Paul Cadario An exemplar of global citizenship, University of Toronto alumnus Paul Cadario (B.A.Sc.) works tirelessly to reduce poverty and improve the living standards of people around the world. A Rhodes Scholar, he received a B.A. and M.A. in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Oxford. During his tenure at the World Bank, Mr. Cadario promoted development in Africa and Asia and oversaw the Bank s activities in central and Eastern Europe, and in the former Soviet Union. Mr. Cadario shares his leadership and knowledge with the University as a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Global Innovation. A long-time member of the Dean s Advisory Board in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Mr. Cadario has been involved with the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA), the University s international alumni community and Governing Council. Through generous gifts to the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering s Centre for Global Engineering and to the School of Public Policy and Governance, Mr. Cadario has enriched the lives of alumni, students and faculty members. For his outstanding service to the University, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon Paul Cadario.

6 FRIDAY, JUNE 7, A.M. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa N. Murray Edwards Murray Edwards (LL.B 83) is regarded as one of Canada s most influential business leaders and an architect of western Canada s economic success. He is also a generous donor to Canadian educational, cultural, and community organizations and institutions. Mr. Edwards co-founded Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., which has become one of the largest independent crude oil and natural gas producers in the world. Today his business interests encompass companies in the areas of aerospace, sports and leisure. As well as supporting universities in western Canada, Mr. Edwards and his wife have created the Edwards Legendary Leaders Series at the Banff Centre. In addition, Mr. Edwards volunteers his time and expertise to many organizations, including the Council of Champions for UpStart (formerly the Calgary Children s Initiative), and the boards of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the C.D. Howe Institute. He has served on the boards of the Banff Centre, the Canada West Foundation and the Business Development Bank of Canada. For his outstanding record of achievement in business and support to educational, cultural, and community organizations and institutions, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon N. Murray Edwards.

7 MONDAY, JUNE 17, :30 P.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa Wendy Freedman A triple alumna from U of T, astronomer Wendy Freedman is best known for her ground-breaking work on the measurement of the Hubble constant the current rate of expansion of the universe. For this acheivement Dr. Freedman was honored with the prestigious Gruber Award for Cosmology Dr. Freedman s research includes an examination of the evolution of stars, distant supernovae and the properties of dark energy. She has a leadership role with the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale and was the first woman to join the permanent scientific staff of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution in Pasadena, California. In 2003, she was named the Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair and Director of the Carnegie Observatories. Dr. Freedman is a member of many scientific societies and currently chairs the board of directors for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Organization. She is leading the effort to construct the 25-meter class telescope at Carnegie s Las Campanas Observatory, which will open a new window on the universe for the 21st century. For her excellence in the academy and for pioneering contributions to the field of astronomy, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, uponwendy Freedman.

8 THURSDAY, JUNE 20, A.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa Dr. Frederic (Eric) L. R. Jackman A distinguished alumnus of the University of Toronto (B.A. Trinity College; M.A.), Dr. Frederic (Eric) L. R. Jackman is a businessman, psychologist and philanthropist. Following a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, Dr. Jackman became a practicing psychologist. He is also President of Invicta Investments ULC and Chairman of the Jackman Foundation. As a board member and volunteer of a variety of worthy organizations, Dr. Jackman s commitment to community service has benefited people across Canada. He is President of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, founder of The Canadian Journalism Foundation and Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Windsor, as well as past President of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Among his many accolades Dr. Jackman has supported the University of Toronto personally and through the Jackman Foundation. His gift to the Institute of Child Study in 2010 was the largest to support research for early child development in Canadian history. To honour his dedication to public service Dr. Jackman received the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. The University of Toronto will be conferring his fourth honorary doctorate. For his outstanding service to the University and to the broader community, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, upon L. R. Frederic (Eric) Jackman.

9 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, A.M. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Paul Krugman Named the most celebrated economist of his generation by The Economist, Paul Krugman is the Professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He has served as a consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, as well as to a number of countries including Portugal and the Philippines. His seminal work, which won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2008, explained patterns of international trade and the geographic concentration of economic activity (e.g. cities) by examining the effects of economies of scale and consumer preferences for diverse goods and services. Among the most widely cited economists in the world today, Dr. Krugman is best-known for his commentary on economic and political issues for The New York Times. He is author or editor of 23 books. Dr. Krugman has received the John Bates Clark Medal from the American Economic Association, awarded biennially to the best U.S. economist under 40 years of age. In 2004, Dr. Krugman received the Asturias Award, also known as the European Pulitzer Prize. For his outstanding service to the public good and excellence in the academy, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon Paul Krugman.

10 MONDAY, JUNE 10, :30 A.M. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Sam Pitroda Inventor and innovator Sam Pitroda is widely acknowledged to have led India s technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, allowing service delivery to millions of Indian citizens. This was accomplished through the creation of an infrastructure to allow broadband service technology to penetrate down to the village level. Mr. Pitroda is the Chair of the National Innovation Council of India and an advisor to the Indian Prime Minister on Public Information and Infrastructure and Innovations. He is also a Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development. Mr. Pitroda provided a blueprint for reform of knowledge-related institutions and infrastructure in India. As the Chair of the Indian National Knowledge Commission, he and his colleagues hope that broadened participation in education will help to bring about social inclusion for those who have been disenfranchised from Indian society. Mr. Pitroda is a successful entrepreneur who currently holds close to 100 worldwide patents. He also has a keen interest in Canadian knowledge-based sectors and actively promotes the Canada-India bilateral relationship. For his outstanding accomplishments in innovation, communication and social inclusiveness in India, and the broader global community, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon Sam Pitroda.

11 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, A.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa William T. Reeves U of T alumnus William T. Reeves (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) transported millions of people to wondrous worlds through his transformative work in the art and science of film. Dr. Reeves, who worked with film animation giants Lucasfilm and Pixar, has played a key role in bringing computational tools to the art of animation. His work demonstrated that mathematics, computer science, software development and art can be combined to make amazing images. He created a revolution in technology with Luxo Jr., a short film featuring two playful desk lamps that was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1995, Dr. Reeves was Supervising Technical Director for the movie Toy Story, Pixar s first full-length feature animation film, which changed the industry. In 1997, Dr. Reeves received the Scientific and Engineering Academy Award for his work on particle systems. The following year, he was a co-winner of this important award for his work on developing Pixar s internal animation software. He has won two additional Academy Awards, one in 1988 for Tin Toy and a second for groundbreaking innovation in film making. For excellence in the innovative application of computer science and digital technology to the realm of arts and entertainment, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, upon William T. Reeves.

12 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, :30 P.M. Doctor of Science, honoris causa Stuart A. Rice Scientific icon and pioneer Stuart A. Rice is acclaimed for his fundamental contributions to theoretical and experimental chemistry and his global influence in research and teaching. An outspoken activist for chemistry at a national and international level, Professor Rice is the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at The University of Chicago. He has co-authored over 700 papers and his academic work encompasses subjects from the statistical mechanics of fluids to the structure and dynamics of molecules absorbed on surfaces. His overall leadership has been recognized by many major awards, including the National Medal of Science (the highest award in science given by the U.S. government) and the recently awarded Wolf Prize. His scientific memberships include the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Irish Academy of Arts and Sciences. Professor Rice has taken an enthusiastic role in helping the University of Toronto to evaluate and enrich its academic programs in chemistry. For his outstanding scholarship in chemistry and his influential teaching and mentorship, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, upon Stuart A. Rice.

13 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, A.M. Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa Donald Sadoway Innovator and alumnus Donald Sadoway (B.A.Sc.; M.A.Sc.; Ph.D.) seeks to establish the technologies required to make efficient use of energy and natural resources in an environmentally sound manner. His research led to the creation of slimcell, an ultra-thin, light and portable battery that can store more energy than conventional lead-acid and lithium ion batteries. With his team, Dr. Sadoway also developed a grid-size battery made from affordable and widely available materials. His vision is to scale this battery to the capacity necessary to provide electricity storage to major electric utilities. The John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Sadoway is the author of 145 scientific papers and holds 18 U.S. patents. Founder of the battery company Ambri and the metals company Boston Electrometallurgical Corporation, he was included in TIME Magazine s 2012 list of the 100 Most Influential People. Dr. Sadoway was also elected to the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences and has won several teaching awards at MIT. For his pioneering research and his outstanding contributions to higher education and sustainable energy, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, upon Donald Sadoway.

14 TUESDAY, JUNE 18, A.M. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Susan Scace Community leader and alumna (B.A., Trinity) Susan Scace is respected for her outstanding volunteer contributions to educational and charitable ventures. She is the author of Take Me With You Please, a many-faceted self-help book for university students. The University has greatly benefited from Dr. Scace s dedication as a member of the executive committee of the Corporation of Trinity College, including a term as vice-chair. She also served on the University of Toronto s Governing Council and sat on numerous Governing Council boards and committees. Dr. Scace is the President of The Henry White Kinnear Foundation, which supports selected organizations across Canada and is a Director on the Board of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She has held leadership roles on the boards of the North York General Hospital and the National Ballet of Canada. As well, she was a member of the United Way Campaign Cabinet and is a member of the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Scace received an Arbor Award in 1996, the University s highest honour for volunteer leadership, and an honorary DSL from Trinity College. For her outstanding service to the University and to the community, the University of Toronto is honoured to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon Susan Scace.