A pair of very notable names headline a list of people who will be receiving honorary degrees from UBC this spring.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Greta Thunberg are among 18 individuals who will be honoured by the university in May.
“I am delighted to bestow honorary degrees to Dr. Henry and Ms. Thunberg, along with all of our remarkable recipients this spring,” said Santa J. Ono, UBC president and vice-chancellor.
“Dr. Henry and Ms. Thunberg have served as leading voices in the midst of two of the most significant crises we collectively have ever faced: the global pandemic and climate change.”
Ono added that both women are “truly an inspiration” to everyone at UBC.
UBC grants honorary degrees, which are the highest honours conferred by the university, to deserving individuals who have made substantial contributions to society.
They’re conferred honoris causa, meaning “for the sake of honour,” and are awarded as either Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters or Doctor of Science.
Dr. Henry will receive a Doctor of Science from UBC’s Vancouver campus, while Thunberg will receive a Doctor of Laws from UBC Okanagan.
“It is an honour to have Dr. Henry and Ms. Thunberg, together with all 18 recipients this year, join the UBC community,” said Lesley Cormack, deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBCO.
“As a university that is committed to bold thinking and social and technological innovation, their contributions to the most urgent issues of our day—including public health and climate change—are critical in our journey towards a better, safer and more sustainable future.”
Here’s a list of the other 16 people who will receive honorary degrees from UBC this spring:
