Celebration of research and knowledge in the City Hall

The laurel wreath – a symbol of academic freedom. Pictured is the banquet after the 2019 graduation ceremony. Photo: Ingmarie Andersson

Among the common academic traditions at universities and higher education institutes in Sweden, the most important are the professorial installation and the doctoral conferment, both dating from the Middle Ages.

“The ceremony is significant because the entire breadth of the university’s achievements during the past academic year is displayed at the same time. It is a solemn way to celebrate research and knowledge, something that feels particularly urgent in these times of knowledge resistance”, says Anne Heikkinen Sandberg, master of ceremonies at Stockholm University.

158 new doctors and 35 new professors 

During the ceremony those who have defended and obtained their doctoral degree at the university will be conferred. This year, 158 new doctors are participating in the celebration. In addition, 35 new professors will be installed.

Love Dalén, professor at the Department of Zoology. Photo: Sören Andersson

Those who received their doctoral degrees at Stockholm University 50 years ago are also invited to the celebrations and will be conferred as jubilee doctors. The University’s gold medals and the Award for Good Teaching will also be awarded.

The inaugural lecture will be given by Love Dalén, professor of evolutionary genomics at the Department of Zoology.

Honorary doctors at Stockholm University 2023: Janet Thornton, Peter Sarnak, Susanne Ljung, Susan Vroman, Jan Ellenberg, Jim Albrecht, Janet Gornick, Ian Brooks, Birke Häcker, Richard Dyer. Photo: EMBL, New York Photo Store, Peter Jönsson, Private, EMBL, Private, The City University of New York, Private, Laurenz Bostedt, Greg Funnell.

Ten new honorary doctors

Ten honorary doctorates will also be conferred at the ceremony. An honorary doctorate is an expression of the University’s appreciation of outstanding contributions within one of the University’s fields of activity. The appointed honorary doctor must be connected to Stockholm University or have contributed to the university’s activities in some respect. This year’s ten honorary doctors are: Jim Albrecht, Ian Brooks, Richard Dyer, Jan Ellenberg, Janet Gornick, Birke Häcker, Susanne Ljung, Peter Sarnak, Janet M. Thornton and Susan Vroman.

Live broadcast

The Inauguration and conferment ceremony 2023 takes place on Friday 29 September at 17.00 in the Stockholm City Hall. It is broadcast live.

Honorary doctorates 2023

The Award for Good Teaching

The Inauguration and conferment ceremony will take place on Friday, September 29, 2023. Photo: Ingmarie Andersson