University honours for medics, scientists, artists and leaders

Two Nobel Prize winners, an Oscar nominee, and a woman who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of new mothers in the developing world, were among an impressive and distinguished list of high achievers conferred with honorary degrees from the University at summer ceremonies.

Dr Catherine Hamlin has dedicated almost half a century to improving conditions for women in childbirth in the developing world. She first travelled to Ethiopia in 1958 with her husband and partner, Dr Reg Hamlin, to train midwives.

There they saw the joy of parenthood frequently marred in the aftermath of obstructed labour, when a serious condition known as a fistula can occur. They became determined to help these women and developed a delicate surgical technique that greatly improved the chances of a complete cure. Since then, more than 24,000 women have been treated and cured and the hospital now trains doctors from other developing countries.

Dr Hamlin, who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, was a personal choice of the Chancellor Lord Patel for an honorary degree.

Another personal choice of the Chancellor was Dundee-born acclaimed singer/songwriter Sheena Wellington.

Nobel Prize winners Professors Zhores I Alferov (Physics, 2000) and Sydney Brenner (Physiology or Medicine, 2002), and the artist and animation director/producer Jimmy Teru Murakami, who was nominated for an Oscar in 1968 for his short film, The Magic Pair Tree, were recognised by the University for their contributions to science and art.

Local talents were also acknowledged. Dundee-born author of the groundbreaking 'Rule of Five' for drug discovery research, Dr Christopher Lipinski; one of Scotland's leading singer songwriters, Sheena Wellington; the Principal of Dundee College, Mr Iain Ovens OBE; and the chairman of publishing group DC Thomson & Co Ltd, Mr Andrew Thomson, all accepted honorary degrees from the University.

Honorary degrees were also conferred on Dr Suzanne Lacasse, managing director of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and Mrs Sybill Stortz, chairman of Karl Stortz GmbH & Co.

Almost 3000 students also celebrated their graduation at ceremonies held during the summer months. For three days in June and July, the campus was busy with garden party celebrations as many of the new graduates shared their successes with family and friends.