6 February 2001
Honorary Degrees
This year's round of honorary degrees at the University of Dundee are to
be conferred upon an eclectic group of high achievers from a range of
disciplines representing the University's past, its diverse interests
and its international network of associates.
Dr Ian Graham Bryce, former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the
University will receive his LLD for service to the University community. He is also
to be honoured this year with a CBE announced in the new year honours list
for services to higher education and research.
Xu Ya-fen is chairperson of the Wanli education group in China with
which the University has very close ties. Mrs Xu has successfully introduced a
new type of independent education in modern communist China and the
Wanli group officially recognises the University of Dundee as its official UK
partner university.
Dr Salvador Moncada is the director of the Wolfson Institute for
Biomedical Research in London and is one of the world's top biomedical scientists.
He was named the world's second most cited biomedical scientist over the
1990s by Sciencewatch in Philadelphia who carry out a regular international
journal survey.
Sir Robert Wilson, the chairman of Rio Tinto Plc is being recognised by
the University for the role he has played in the international mining
industry, in influencing and developing mining company policy to take account of
global environmental and human rights issues. Sir Robert has taken a
close interest and been a keen supporter of the University's internationally
acclaimed centre for energy, petroleum and mineral law and policy.
Syd Scroggie, hillwalker and poet, is a local legend. After losing a leg
and being blinded in both eyes during the second world war, he made
himself a new life and considers blindness as "really a sort of adventure". For
the following 30 years or more he pursued hillwalking as a hobby, walking
thousands of miles and making over 600 overnight trips.
All honorary degrees will be conferred during the summer graduation
ceremonies.