News

Mayor of Espoo Jukka Mäkelä, Artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila and 13 other influencers in the fields of technology, art and society are awarded an honorary doctorate at Aalto University

Aalto University’s doctoral conferment ceremonies for the fields of art and technology will take place 13 and 14 June 2019 in Dipoli in Otaniemi. Honorary doctors’ panel discussion will be held 11 June.
Promootio_2018_akti_sorjonen

Honorary doctorates of art will be awarded to:

  • Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Visual artist and filmmaker
  • Jacob Buur, Professor of User-Centred Design, University of Southern Denmark
  • Helena Hyvönen, Professor Emerita, Textile Artist
  • Leena Iisakkila, Landscape Architect
  • Kari Korkman, Director, Founder, Helsinki Design Week
  • Irit Rogoff, Professor of Visual Culture, Goldsmiths, University of London
  • Gerfried Stocker, Artistic and Managing Director, Ars Electronica
  • Daniel Thawley, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, A Magazine Curated By

Honorary doctorates of technology will be awarded to:

  • Matti Kauhanen, Director of Technology, ABB
  • Arvo Kokkonen, Director General, National Land Survey of Finland
  • Enrique J. Lavernia, Professor, University of California
  • Marja Makarow, Director, Biocenter Finland
  • Jukka Mäkelä, Mayor of City of Espoo
  • Jussi Pesonen, Managing Director, UPM Oy
  • Markku Tilli, Research Director, Okmetic Oy

An honorary doctorate is the highest honour a university can award. A ceremonial conferment is the most distinguished celebration of a university. In the conferment ceremony, doctors and honorary doctors from different fields of science are conferred their doctorates. In the conferment ceremonies for arts, people with Master’s degrees are also awarded, unlike in the field of technology. The idea behind the ceremonial conferment is that those who have earned their degree are accepted as full members of their scientific community and are introduced to that community.

Welcome to a panel discussion ‘Future of university as a hub of creativity, heritage, and innovation’ at Aalto University 11 June with Jacob Buur, Kari Korkman, Marja Makarow, Jukka Mäkelä and Gerfried Stocker. The discussion will focus on the role, significance and the potential of the university campus in the future. The event venue is Dipoli, auditorium Lumituuli at 1–3 pm. and it will be in English. Free admission.

The conferment ceremony of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture will take place 13 June and the conferment ceremony for the field of technology 14 June. The technology conferment ceremony includes Aalto University’s four schools of technology: The School of Engineering, the School of Chemical Engineering, the School of Science and the School of Electrical Engineering.

The conferment ceremonies are part of Aalto University's Ceremony Week.

More information:

  • Project Manager Tatu Pohjola, Aalto University, [email protected], +358 50 576 0125
  • Communications Specialist Anne Tapanainen, Aalto University, [email protected], +358 50 434 9711

Photo: Heli Sorjonen, Aalto-yliopisto

  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

A serene Japanese garden with a pond, rocks, and various trees, including vibrant red and green foliage.
Press releases Published:

What makes nature restorative? Aalto University researchers explore Finnish forests and Japanese gardens

Biodiversity is central to the restorative power of Finnish forests.
Room with multiple speakers mounted on metal frames in a circular arrangement. A stool and a grid platform are in the center.
Press releases Published:

New technology brings immersive audio to everyone’s pockets

A new type of sound recording technology allows recording of immersive soundscapes with ordinary microphones and an inexpensive accessory
Picture by Mikko Huotari.
University Published:

Grief support group for those who have lost a loved one

In spring 2025, a support group will be organized for Aalto students and employees who have lost a loved one.
A group of people walking past large windows in a modern building with vertical wooden slats and indoor lights.
Research & Art Published:

Funding for a democratic transition to sustainability

Three projects from Aalto University are among the recipients. The Nessling Foundation's grants aim to advance the implementation of sustainability transitions in the context of democracy, the EU, and nature conservation areas.