By Chen Shuzhen, Li Han
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Professor Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), was awarded Tsinghua University Honorary Doctorate April 18.
The awarding ceremony of the doctorate, hosted by Tsinghua Vice President Xie Weihe, was held in the main building. Tsinghua President Gu Binglin awarded the diploma to Prof. Birgeneau.
After the awarding ceremony, Professor Birgeneau delivered a speech entitled “the Public University in the 21st Century”. During his speech, Prof. Birgeneau first highlighted mission and societal impact of pubic universities. He then explained the role public institutions can play in the 21st century. He also talked about collaboration between Tsinghua and UC Berkeley and the challenges faced by both in the 21st century.
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“Our two institutions, Tsinghua and Berkeley, share many traits and aspirations,” said Professor Birgeneau. “We share a mission to educate the brightest students and to contribute through research, scholarship and innovation o the continuing development and betterment of out contry and the world.”
After the speech, Prof. Birgeneau answered several questions raised by the seated students.
Prof. Birgeneau and President Gu planted a tree symbolizing the friendship of UC Berkeley and Tsinghua in the Friendship Garden of Tsinghua later that day.
Chancellor Birgeneau is both an internationally distinguished physicist, and a leader in higher education. He got his degrees from University of Toronto and Yale University. Prior of being the chancellor of UC Berkeley, he has served as president of the University of Toronto and dean of the School of Science at MIT, where he spent 25 years on the faculty. Chancellor Birgeneau is also a foreign associate of the American National Academy of Sciences. Chancellor Birgeneau has received many awards for teaching and research, and is one of the most cited physicists in the world for his work on the fundamental properties of materials.
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(Photo by Guo Haijun)
