Every year, on the penultimate Friday of March, Ghent University celebrates its Dies Natalis or birthday with a solemn session in the Aula and the presentation of honorary doctorates. On Friday, 22 March 2024, Ghent University awards six honorary doctorates for scientific merit. This year, the list includes Professor Ülo Mander (University of Tartu) and Professor Paul Michael Garrett (University of Galway). The honorary doctors are honoured during an official ceremony that can also be followed via livestream.
Meet the two honorary doctorates from ENLIGHT partner universities:
Professor Paul Michael Garrett
Professor Paul Michael Garrett: School of Political Science and Sociology, University of Galway (Ireland)
Promotor: Professor Rudi Roose, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Professor Paul Michael Garrett, of the University of Galway, was recently labeled by the International Journal of Social Welfare as 'probably the most important critical theorist of social work in the English-speaking world'. The only Irish scholar in the 'top 100 most influential global contributors to social work journals', his influential work focuses on neoliberal capitalism, social work and critical social theory. In 2002, Garrett obtained his PhD from the University of Nottingham. In 2020, he received a DLitt (Higher Doctorate) from the National University of Ireland and was elected a member of the prestigious Royal Irish Academy (RIA). His recent book “Dissenting Social Work: Critical Theory, Resistance and Pandemic” confirms his position as an authority in the field of social work.
Public lecture by Professor Garrett - 'The ‘End of Social Work’ or ‘Dissenting Social Work’?'
Read the brief description (in Dutch)
Thursday 21 March, 9:00 to 10:30
Location: Campus Ledeganck, Auditorium 4 (H. Dunantlaan 2).
Register to be there.
Professor Ülo Mander
Professor Ülo Mander: Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu (Estonia)
Promotor: Professor Veerle Van Eetvelde, Faculty of Sciences
As professor of physical geography and landscape ecology, Professor Ülo Mander has built an impressive academic career in which he has made a substantial contribution to the international development of landscape ecology and the scientific approach to this discipline in Europe. In his interdisciplinary research he integrates geography and ecology and focuses mainly on wetlands, their role in climate change and the associated solution-oriented approaches. The large number of international publications and numerous awards are characteristic of his groundbreaking and socially relevant research. During his impressive academic career, he has promoted and applied the landscape ecology approach worldwide and Professor Mander remains a source of inspiration in the field.
Public lecture by Professor Mander
Thursday 21 March, 16:30
Location: Auditorium 6, Campus Ledeganck, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 33, 9000 Ghent
Please register to be present at the lecture.
Read the full article.