Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) granted Honoris Causa (HC) doctoratal degrees to two Nobel Laureates, Dr. Sir Richard J. Roberts in the field of physiology and Prof. Sheldon L. Glashow in physics, in Grha Sabha Pramana UGM on Friday (10/2).
Sir Richard John Robert Ph.D has been granted the title due to his work in science and research globally that has promoted social and health equity, world peace and university development, especially in developing countries.
Prof. Sheldon L. Glashow earned the award for his work in researching how the universe came into being. In 1979, he was granted the Nobel Prize for this work entitled “How Basic Science Drives Technological Progress”.
The Doctor HC awards were conferred to Sir Roberts and Prof. Glashow by the Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D, witnessed by the Chair of the Academic Senate and Governor or the Province of Yogyakarta Special Region, Sri Sultan HB X.
Dwikorita Karnawati said the achievements of both Nobel Laureates are phenomenal that resulted in good impacts on humanity and their work has inspired many other researchers.
“We hope our young as well as our senior researchers continue to conduct phenomenal research. We also hope to follow up the cooperation with both the Nobel Laureates, especially in molecular biology,” said the Rector.
Promotors of the title awardees, Prof. Sofia Mubarika H., M. Med.Sc., Ph.D., said the research of Sir Richard John Roberts, “has started a revolution on genome structures and functions not only on virus and bacteria, but also human beings,”
Mubarika said Sir Robert worked on disemination of restriction enzyme and other research. He also developed socio-entrepreneurship at New England Biolabs, which was the first to sell restriction enzyme in the world with most income going to funding research in the world. Sir Roberts also turned his attention to world peace through dialogues for sustainable education, research, and services.
“In South East Asia, Sir Roberts built the bridge to facilitate and ehance dialogue between communities of diverse cultures to achieve world peace. He also built sustainable cooperation with universities that are expected to produce joint research programmes for better education and services,” she said.
Prof. Dr. dr. Hardyanto Soebono, Sp.KK (K), Chair of Academic Senate, said the Senate had the authority to approve and establish policy for academic matters. So, the UGM Academic Senate had accepted the proposal for the ganting of Dr HC awards to the two Nobel Laureates.
“Studying the backgrounds of the two Nobel Laurates, the Senate was certain that both deserve the Dr HC titles,” he added.