Golfer and marine scientist to receive honorary doctorates
Stirling University is all set to hold its first in-person graduations since 2019
Professional golfer Catriona Matthew OBE and marine and polar scientist Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRS will receive honorary doctorates at this week’s Stirling University graduation ceremonies.
The ceremonies on Friday, April 1 – which will see 719 students graduate – will be the university’s first in-person graduations since November 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Sir Gerry Mccormac, Principal and Vice- Chancellor, said: “Everyone is looking forward to celebrating with our graduands, and their families and friends, on campus.
“Alongside them, I am delighted that we will recognise the outstanding achievements of Catriona Matthew OBE and Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRS, who will receive honorary doctorates.
“Catriona has close ties to the university having been the first woman to join our international sports scholarship programme in 1987.
“She went on to become a household name in golf, winning a host of titles – including the British Open, WPGA Championships, Scottish Open and Australian Open – and competing at the Olympics, World Cups, and the European Championships.
“She represented Team Europe in the Solheim Cup on nine occasions as a player before becoming the first Team Europe captain to win successive Solheim Cups in 2019 and 2021.
“Catriona is a role model for young female golfers and continues to support the development of her sport. We will recognise Catriona for her outstanding contribution to women’s golf.”
He went on: “Sir Ian is a highly respected marine and polar scientist who has held a host of senior positions throughout his distinguished career. A former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, he is currently a professor at St Andrews University and Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office, and has served on the UK’S Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) during the pandemic.
“He previously served as the first Director of the Scottish Oceans Institute and was Director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit. He spent 14 years leading a research programme in Antarctica studying the structure and dynamics of energy flow in the Southern Ocean and later specialised in the human impacts on marine ecosystems. Sir Ian will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to environmental science.”
The ceremonies are a new and permanent addition to the university calendar – complementing the summer and winter graduation events which are held every year.
Professor Mccormac added: “I extend my congratulations to all of our graduands and honorary graduands on their hard-earned accomplishments.”
Catriona will be recognised for her outstanding contribution to women’s golf and Sir Ian for his outstanding contribution to environmental science, in balancing science and evidence to influence policy