World Cultural Council Awards to take place at Graduation

Published On Tue 17 Nov 2015 by Roddy Isles

The University of Dundee will play host to the prestigious World Cultural Council Annual Award Ceremony as part of its Winter Graduation celebrations this week.

Graduands and their guests will see the Albert Einstein World Award of Science presented to Professor Ewine Fleur van Dishoeck of the Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands and the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts awarded to Professor Milton Masciadri of the University of Georgia, at the Graduation ceremonies in Caird Hall on Thursday, 19th November.

Professor van Dishoeck, an expert in Molecular Astrophysics, was selected for the award for her contribution to understanding the universe at the atomic level. She follows in the footsteps of Sir Philip Cohen, of the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences, who won last year’s award. Professor Sir Philip’s success is the reason the University has the honour of hosting this year’s ceremony in Dundee.

Professor Masciadri's award is in recognition of his multi-faceted career as a performing artist, cultural ambassador, educator, international leader and author and for his contributions towards disseminating culture as a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Professor van Dishoeck will discuss her research in a special talk at the Dalhousie Building at 1pm on Wednesday, 18th November, while Professor Masciadri will give a lecture and recital in the University’s Chaplaincy Centre at 3pm on the same day.

Six talented early-career researchers, all of whom are female – and three of whom are based at the University of Dundee – have also been selected to receive World Cultural Council Diplomas in recognition of the international impact they have already achieved through their research.

“We are privileged to host the 32nd Annual World Cultural Council Award Ceremony, and this accolade makes Winter Graduation even more special,” said Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University. “The fact that our graduating students will be sharing a stage with two distinguished world leaders in their respective fields will, I’m sure, prove an inspiration to them as they begin their own careers.”

The World Cultural Council aims to promote culture, values and goodwill throughout the world. The awards honour outstanding personalities whose work has had a significantly positive impact on the cultural legacy of mankind. Members of the Council include several Nobel laureates, and the ultimate goal is to increase the use of knowledge and to achieve a rapprochement among people, nations and governments, regardless of ideology, opinion, religion, race or gender.

The researchers who are to receive World Cultural Council Diplomas are:

  • Dr Sara Brown, clinical academic dermatologist at the University of Dundee.
  • Dr Sara Robertson, course director of Textile Design at the University of Dundee.
  • Dr Sarah Coulthurst, molecular microbiologist at the University of Dundee.
  • Dr Catherine Heymans, Reader in Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh.
  • Dr Lisa DeBruine, from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Glasgow.
  • Dr Sinéad Rhodes, child development researcher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde.

More than 1000 students will be joined by family and friends to celebrate their academic achievements at the University of Dundee's Winter Graduation. Taking place at Caird Hall over three ceremonies on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November, the Graduation will see students spanning a wide range of disciplines receive their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas.

Professor van Dishoeck’s lecture, entitled ‘Building stars, planets and the ingredients for life between the stars’ takes place at the Dalhousie Building at 1pm on Wednesday, 18th November.

‘Being an Ambassador through Music’, Professor Masciadri's lecture and recital takes place at the University’s Chaplaincy Centre at 3pm on Wednesday, 18th November.


For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head of Corporate Communications
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384910
Mobile: 07800 581902
Email: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk