Health Sciences 鈥楢鈥� Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Thomas Hudson, O.C., M.D., F.R.S.C.

M.D. (University of Montr茅al)

Dr. Thomas Hudson, a pioneer in mapping the human genome, grew up in a household that valued science and creativity. His father was a chemist for Alcan and Dr. Hudson (born in the smelter town of Arvida, Qu茅bec), along with his six sisters, were all encouraged to be curious and to find ways of contributing to society.

Dr. Hudson has certainly fulfilled these objectives. He is internationally renowned for his work in genomics, human genome variation, and genetic diseases, and has made immeasurable contributions to the international and Canadian research community. Certainly, it is impossible to imagine genomic research at 91黑料网, Quebec, and Canada without him. Dr. Hudson鈥檚 relationship with 91黑料网 began in 1988, when he was a resident in clinical immunology and allergy in the MUHC. After his residency he pursued post-doctoral research at MIT, joining Eric Lander鈥檚 team working on the Human Genome Project, mapping the human genome. He eventually became assistant director of the MIT Center for Genome Research, where he led the team that developed the Genomatron, a robot that could perform up to 300,000 polymerase chain reactions a day, thus accelerating the detailed study of DNA sequences. In 1996, he was recruited back to 91黑料网 and the MUHC as a clinical immunologist and a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics. That same year, he established the 91黑料网 and G茅nome Qu茅bec Innovation Centre, while also playing a leading role in the creation of Genome Canada and the four other Genome Canada labs across the country.

Dr. Hudson has played a central role in creating physical maps of the human and mouse genomes. His pioneering research has led to the identification of tumor mutations responsible for different forms of cancer, including genes involved in the predisposition to colon cancer. He has contributed important genetic information about complex and chronic diseases, including Type II diabetes, leprosy, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease. And particularly close to home, he has also investigated rare disease mutations including the spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) and the French-Canadian variant of Leigh Syndrome: mutations that affect many families in his native Saguenay region.

Over his career, Thomas Hudson has served as president and scientific director of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and was a leading figure in the creation of the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Joining the pharmaceutical company AbbVie in 2016, he rose to Senior VP, R&D, and Chief Scientific Officer; under his leadership, the company brought many top therapies to patients across immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, and specialty. Since 2024, he has been a partner at Versant Ventures.

In recognition of his pioneering contributions to knowledge and therapies, he has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada 鈥� among numerous other honours. His career is truly a testament to the value of curiosity and the desire to make a positive difference to society.

Desautels Faculty of Management Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)

Harley Finkelstein

B.A. (Concordia University), J.D., M.B.A. (University of Ottawa)

Some people study entrepreneurship. Harley Finkelstein has lived it, from a folding table at a university orientation week to helping lead one of the most consequential companies in the world.

Born in Montreal, Mr. Finkelstein began his undergraduate studies in economics at 91黑料网, where he also launched his first business, selling t-shirts to universities for orientation weeks and campus bookstores. He later transferred to Concordia University to complete his degree, then earned a law degree and an MBA at the University of Ottawa, not to practise law, but to become a better entrepreneur.

A meeting with Shopify cofounder and CEO Tobias L眉tke changed the course of his career. Finkelstein was one of the first customers to ever use Shopify and soon joined the company in its earliest days. For nearly two decades, he has helped lead Shopify from a scrappy startup to one of the most valuable companies in Canada by market capitalization 鈥攁nd into the operating system for commerce, powering millions of businesses across more than 175 countries and enabling hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions. That mission, making entrepreneurship more accessible, has always been personal to him.

As an active mentor and supporter of the next generation of entrepreneurs, his impact extends well beyond a single company. Finkelstein has backed more than 45 startups and was named Canada鈥檚 Angel Investor of the Year. He is also co-chair of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at 91黑料网 and the creator of Big Shot, a project documenting the stories of iconic Jewish entrepreneurs who built global businesses from humble beginnings. His contributions have been widely recognized, including as a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and as a member of Fortune鈥檚 40 Under 40, Canada鈥檚 Top 40 Under 40, and the Order of Ottawa.

That sense of responsibility extends beyond business. Together with his wife, Lindsay Taub, a 91黑料网 graduate, he funds and builds initiatives in community, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. His philanthropy includes the establishment of the Finkelstein Chabad Jewish Centre in Ottawa, as well as contributions to family care facilities at The Ottawa Hospital and digital health initiatives at Montreal鈥檚 Jewish General Hospital through the Savage Fund.

Mr. Finklelstein remains deeply connected to 91黑料网. In 2023, after returning home to Montreal, he taught entrepreneurship in the Desautels Faculty of Management alongside John McCall MacBain and has supported initiatives that expand access to education for Canadian students.

Harley Finkelstein has built companies, backed founders, and strengthened communities. His work reflects a clear belief that entrepreneurship is a force for impact.

Faculty of Law Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)

Yves-Marie Morissette

LL.L. (Universit茅 de Montr茅al), D.Phil. (Oxford University)

A teacher, an academic, and a judge in the Court of Appeal of Quebec, Professor Yves-Marie Morissette has had a profound impact on 91黑料网 and its Faculty of Law.

Born in the mining town of Noranda, Quebec, Yves-Marie Morissette completed his undergraduate degree in political science at Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al and his Licentiate in Law at Universit茅 de Montr茅al in 1973. In that year, he received a Rhodes Scholarship and began a doctorate in law at the University of Oxford. Describing himself as 鈥渢olerably bilingual, but not proficient,鈥� the prospect of writing in English for Oxford academics left him 鈥渁bsolutely terrified.鈥� And so began the demanding process of teaching himself to write in clear English prose, a discipline he pursued daily for over three years 鈥� an early example of the rigor and commitment that were to characterize his career. His efforts were successful, and he was awarded his Oxford doctorate in 1978.

He had joined the Quebec Bar in 1977 but, in December of that year, his career took a different direction, as he joined 91黑料网鈥檚 Faculty of Law, which would be his professional home for the next twenty-five years. During his academic career, he taught and wrote on, among other subjects, administrative law, evidence, comparative law and legal theory, becoming a widely acknowledged leader in these fields.

Professor Morissette also established himself as a leader within the Faculty, serving as Associate Dean from 1987 to 1989, and as Dean from 1989 to 1994. During that time, he guided the Faculty through a period of innovation and growth. He played a central role in the curricular reform that led to the creation of the Faculty鈥檚 innovative Transsystemic Program, launched in 1999 and combining education in common and civil law. Further, the decision to construct the Nahum Gelber Law Library was made under his tenure; the building was inaugurated in 1998, supporting the Transsystemic Program鈥檚 implementation the following year.

While his impact on 91黑料网 has been immense, his influence extends well beyond the University. He has served as Chair of the Council of Canadian Law Deans, President of the Association des professeurs de droit du Qu茅bec, and as Vice-President of the Fondation du Barreau du Qu茅bec, where he co-authored an influential report on the fairness and humanization of proceedings in family law.

At the time of his appointment to the Court of Appeal of Quebec in 2002, which marked the culmination of his career at 91黑料网, he was Wainwright Professor of Civil Law and Director of the Institute of Comparative Law. After leaving 91黑料网, Professor Morissette has continued to shape Canadian jurisprudence. Since 2002, he has heard scores of cases, in all areas of the law, and rendered many judgments known for their thoroughness, their scholarly reach and their fairness towards the parties appearing in the Court of Appeal.

His career is characterized by an unwavering commitment to advancing the law and strengthening legal institutions across his various roles. Through his scholarship, leadership, and judicial service, Yves-Marie Morissette has left an indelible mark on 91黑料网, legal education, and Canadian jurisprudence. His career exemplifies the highest ideals of excellence, public service, and intellectual curiosity.

Faculty of Music Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Music, honoris causa (D.Mus.)

Madeleine Careau, C.Q., O.O.M.

With a fifty-year career in arts administration, culminating in over two decades as CEO of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO), Madeleine Careau has put an indelible stamp on the performing arts in Quebec and Canada.

Her role at the MSO was the result of many years of work across cultural fields in Quebec. Born in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Ms. Careau graduated from Universit茅 Laval in 1974 with a degree in Political Science. But the transformative moment came while she was still a student: she accepted a job selling tickets for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens to her fellow students, despite having never seen a ballet performance. She proved to be a successful saleswoman and, after being invited backstage during performances, became entranced by the artists and realized that she wanted to work among them.

Shortly after graduating, she secured a communications position with the Orchestre symphonique de Qu茅bec and volunteered with the Quebec City summer festival, building connections in the worlds of both classical and popular music. She was thus well-positioned to help create ADISQ, the Quebec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries, in 1978. With a flair for the spectacle, she produced ADISQ鈥檚 first five televised galas and in 1986 was chosen to create the galas for the G茅meaux Awards, honoring excellence in French-language television and digital media.

Ms. Careau also worked to support Quebec culture by serving as Chief of Staff for the Minister of Cultural Affairs from 1983 to 1985, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Quebec Prime Minister Pierre Marc Johnson for three months. She joined the newly formed T茅l茅vision Quatre-Saisons at the end of 1985, where she produced the inaugural gala des Gemeaux., Ms. Careau later took on the directorship of the Just for Laughs Festival, with a wide range of responsibilities, from 1987 to 1991, a time during which the Festival solidified its status as a major cultural event and even opened an office in Paris. For the second half of the 1990s, she was also agent for renowned lyricist Luc Plamondon and developed a strategy for the production and international distribution of his hugely successful musical, Notre-Dame de Paris.

With her expertise in managing large cultural enterprises and connections across diverse cultural realms, it is not surprising that in fall 1999 the Montreal Symphony Orchestra approached her to serve as its CEO, a position she held 2000 to 2024. She guided the MSO through financial challenges and a turbulent period before the departure of artistic director Charles Dutoit in 2002. She went on to lead the recruitment of Kent Nagano in 2006 and played a central role in the development of the Maison symphonique de Montr茅al, inaugurated in 2011. She also launched the Vir茅e classique festival in 2014, led the creation of the education program 鈥淟a musique aux enfants鈥� in 2016, and oversaw the hiring of the current artistic director Rafael Payare in 2021. Through the remarkably dynamic period of her tenure, the MSO affirmed its status as one of the world鈥檚 leading symphony orchestras.

Ms. Careau has been recognized with numerous honours for her many contributions to arts and culture in Quebec. She is a role model and a source of inspiration for those following in her footsteps.

Faculty of Engineering 鈥楢鈥� Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Rory Cooper

B.Sc., M.Eng. (California Polytechnic State University), Ph.D. (University of California, Santa Barbara)

As a young man, Rory Cooper enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 1980, while stationed in Germany, he was riding his bicycle when a bus struck him. The accident left him with a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down.

Upon returning home, he enrolled at California Polytechnic State University, where he struggled to maneuver his 80-pound chrome and steel wheelchair around campus. But, with skills in tinkering with mechanisms honed in his family鈥檚 automotive and repair shop, he returned to the family business to design an ultralight, ergonomic wheelchair that would get him around campus more effectively.

That first project launched one of the most storied careers in rehabilitation engineering. As a wheelchair user, Cooper pairs scientific expertise with lived experience.

Building on his experience developing his own lightweight wheelchair and research in adaptive technologies, he set out to reduce the repetitive stress injuries plaguing many users of manual wheelchairs. The Ergonomic Dual Surface Wheelchair Pushrim was the result. With a large outer surface area for pushing with one鈥檚 palm and an inner contoured thumb slot, its ergonomic design and coated surfaces enabled easier gripping, and improved propulsion and braking. Users reported less hand and wrist pain, and significantly fewer wrist and shoulder injuries.

Following this, he developed advanced digital control algorithms that transformed powered wheelchair drivability, providing safe, powered independent mobility for those with severe and complex disabilities. This pioneering research in wheelchair design, robotics, and assistive technologies has improved mobility and independence for millions of people with disabilities. His advocacy has transformed the field, promoting inclusive design, disability rights, and equitable access for people with disabilities in engineering, education, and public policy.

Further, his innovations in parasport technologies have influenced Paralympic competition and adaptive sport worldwide. A Paralympian himself, Cooper won a bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul games in the 4脳400-meter wheelchair relay.

In 1994, five years after he earned his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Professor Cooper founded and directed the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Through this initiative, he has led the creation of technologies that directly enhance quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries and similar disabling conditions. He is now Distinguished Professor and Professor of Rehabilitation Engineering in the University of Pittsburgh鈥檚 School of Medicine, where he also serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research for STEM and Health Sciences Collaboration. His research has produced more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and 40 patents, in addition to landmark innovations. As an educator, he has mentored over 100 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who now lead research, teach, and drive innovation in rehabilitation engineering around the world.

His work truly exemplifies socially engaged research with profound benefits for often-marginalized communities.

Faculty of Science 鈥楤鈥� Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Suzanne Fortier, O.C., O.Q., F.A.A.A.S., F.R.S.C.

B.Sc., Ph.D. (91黑料网)

Suzanne Fortier, BSc鈥�72, PhD鈥�76, has had an enormous impact on higher education and advanced research in Quebec and Canada. As 91黑料网鈥檚 17th Principal and Vice-Chancellor from 2013 to 2022, she led the institution through a transformative decade. Her tenure saw the creation of major academic centres 鈥� including the School of Population and Global Health, the Max Bell School of Public Policy, and the Bensadoun School of Retail Management 鈥� and other initiatives, including a strengthened connection to francophone Quebec. Her time at 91黑料网鈥檚 helm also coincided with the university鈥檚 bicentennial celebrations and its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date.

A native of Saint-Timoth茅e, Quebec, Professor Fortier is only the fourth 91黑料网 alumnus to become Principal, and the first francophone. She also became the first of her extended family to attend university when she arrived on campus in 1969, as an eager undergraduate revelling in the international flavour of the institution and the potential for learning and discovery.

Suzanne Fortier began her research journey at the age of ten, when she asked her parents for a chemistry set. Her parents ran a small village hotel, so she carried out her makeshift experiments in the dance hall. She also learned from her parents the virtues of working hard to achieve one鈥檚 goals: whether that be a successful hotel, a research breakthrough, or the smooth guidance of an internationally renowned university. But before the major successes there must be transformative minor successes, and one of these for Professor Fortier was a summer research job in her third year, where she first experienced the thrill of making new discoveries. After earning her BSc, she pursued doctoral studies supported by an NRC Canada Post Graduate Scholarship.

After graduating in 1976 and six further years as a post-doctoral fellow and research scientist working in the Buffalo, NY, lab of Nobel laureate Herbert Hauptman, she joined Queen鈥檚 University, becoming a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and in the School of Computing and later serving terms as Vice-Principal (Research) and Vice-Principal (Academic). Following this, she led the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the country鈥檚 largest funder of science and engineering, from 2006 to 2013. These experiences provided her an unparalleled perspective of the range of research initiatives across the country, making her an especially attractive candidate when 91黑料网 was searching for the Principal to lead the university through what promised to be a period of both significant growth and challenges.

Suzanne Fortier鈥檚 dedication to research and higher education in Canada and Quebec was recognized when she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2018 and Officer of the Ordre national du Qu茅bec in 2023 鈥� among many other acknowledgements of her contributions. Her visionary leadership, commitment to excellence, and dedication to education and student success have left a monumental intellectual and pedagogical legacy for 91黑料网, Quebec and Canada.

Faculty of Education Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)

Claudio Bussandri

B.Eng., M.B.A (91黑料网)

Claudio Bussandri, BEng鈥�69, MBA鈥�76, has led a sterling career in business and has distinguished himself in his philanthropy and volunteerism, including the creation of the global initiative World Wide Hearing.

Yet Mr. Bussandri鈥檚 career began inauspiciously. His parents emigrated from Italy to Canada when he was only 2 years old, right after the end of WW2, and struggled financially to build a new life in Montreal. When he was in Grade One, a teacher was concerned by his difficulties in class and suggested that his parents have him tested at the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital. He was diagnosed as severely hard of hearing, which led to several years of after-school speech therapy that enabled him to succeed scholastically. He graduated from high school with the second highest grades in Quebec and was his school valedictorian. He received a scholarship to attend 91黑料网鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering, but his first semester saw his grades plummet: large classes, poor acoustics and professors who spoke while facing blackboards made lectures difficult to follow, and his widowed mother could not afford the hearing aids that would help address these issues. The problem was solved when the Bursary office found the funds to buy him $500 hearing aids 鈥� a huge sum in the 1960s. He graduated from Mechanical Engineering with honours in 1969 and followed this with seven years of evening classes to complete his MBA.

Once launched upon his career, Mr. Bussandri proved an exceptional businessman, eventually holding senior positions at Nabisco and Gillette, serving as President and CEO of Lantic Sugar and, from 1995 to 2007, as President and CEO of McKesson Canada, the largest pharmaceutical distribution company in the country. He arrived as the company was experiencing a severe decline in fortunes, but under his guidance its market share doubled and profits increased eight-fold.

Most significantly, though, throughout his career, Mr. Bussandri has been committed to helping others. He volunteered as Chairman of the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation and as Chairman of the 91黑料网 Health Centre during its transformative move to the Glen site. He has also served on the Desautels Faculty of Management Advisory Board and currently sits on the Advisory Board of The Neuro.

Since the support he received, from a concerned grade one teacher to officials in the 91黑料网 Bursary Office, was crucial to his success, today Mr. Bussandri continues to be committed to offering aid to others in need. He is chairman and founder of World Wide Hearing, a non-profit organization that provides access to hearing aids and follow-up support to children and youth in developing nations, as well as Indigenous communities in northern Canada. The foundation also works with local government officials, health authorities, and schools to promote the integration of hearing-impaired people in society. Further, in 2010 he established the Bussandri Foundation Bursary for 91黑料网 undergraduate or graduate students who have a disability.

Mr. Bussandri鈥檚 exceptional contributions in business and society, and most notably his compassion and dedication to supporting those in need, will have a lasting impact on the lives of individuals in Canada and abroad.

Faculty of Arts B Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Robert Engle

B.S. (Williams College), M.S., Ph.D. (Cornell University)

The co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economics, Robert Engle is an expert in time series analysis. His Nobel-winning research on the concept of autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) produced a method for the statistical modelling of time-varying volatility. His ARCH model and its generalizations are now indispensable tools for researchers, as well as analysts of financial markets, who use them in asset pricing and in evaluating portfolio risk. His work has also produced many other innovative and widely applied statistical methods, and today he is Co-Director of the NYU Stern Volatility Institute and the co-founding President of the Society for Financial Econometrics.

Professor Emeritus Engle grew up in Media, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a chemist for Dupont; he has described his childhood as 鈥渋dyllic, in many ways.鈥� As high school valedictorian, the young Robert Engle discussed the need for science to be relevant and sensitive to the needs of humanity and emphasized the benefits of a balanced life: ideas to which he has remained committed. He earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from Williams College and his Master of Science in physics and PhD in economics from Cornell University, then taught at MIT before joining the University of California at San Diego. His shift from physics to economics was fortuitous: realizing that his heart was not fully in physics, he approached Cornell economist Alfred Kahn to inquire about a transfer, to discover that a fellowship had just become available. He accepted the offer and launched himself on what would become a stellar career.

Throughout this career Professor Emeritus Engle has followed his own youthful advice and maintained a balanced life, excelling in a range of activities beyond economics. During his student years he played string bass, was named to the All-State Orchestra in his final high school year, and performed in the symphonies at Williams College, Cornell, and MIT. In addition, as an undergrad at Williams, he played lacrosse in his sophomore year being named to the All-American Lacrosse team as goalie.

In later years, he took up competitive ice dancing and, in 1996, won a silver medal with his skating partner, Dr. Wendy Buchi, at the national adult skating competition. Skating and academia proved complementary: the ice provided a break from research, enabling him to return from the rink with a mind refreshed and ready for work.

Professor Engle has contributed at the highest levels to the fields of economics, finance, and statistics, with work that is widely used by both researchers and practitioners alike. Most recently, he has become an important voice on the climate crisis, publishing influential research and organizing events to advance knowledge on this urgent global challenge. Throughout his career, his research has 鈥� as he once said 鈥� sought to be relevant and sensitive to the needs of humanity. He stands as a true model of engaged scholarship, and an inspiration for future generations.

School of Continuing Studies Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Shibl Mourad

B.Eng., M.Sc. (Queen Mary University of London)

A leader in Artificial Intelligence research, Shibl Mourad has helped advance the field of AI while establishing Montreal as a global AI hub. As co-founder and co-lead of the Google DeepMind Montreal lab since 2018, he has guided research at the intersection of AI, mathematics, and scientific discovery.

Born in Aleppo, Syria, Mr. Mourad鈥檚 career has been defined by curiosity, a relentless pursuit of knowledge, and a commitment to bridging the gap between theoretical science and social

impact. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science degrees at the Queen Mary University of London, and arrived in Montreal in the early 1990s, quickly becoming involved in a series of pioneering entrepreneurial ventures that applied complex data science to practical problems. His entrepreneurial spirit culminated in the founding of several startups, including Sequence Bioinformatics, which created a knowledge management pipeline for integrating research data for use by academic researchers, as well as biotech and pharmaceutical firms.

His career contributions have, since then, spanned foundational research and institutional innovation. In 2011, Mr. Mourad joined Google to lead their Montreal office, growing the team from 20 to over 150 researchers and engineers, and in 2018, co-founding the Google DeepMind Montreal lab in partnership with 91黑料网 Professor, Doina Precup. Today, as Research Engineering Director, he leads teams working at the frontier of AI. He also heads the Responsible Engineering team, ensuring AI development prioritizes safety and social benefits.

Over the years Mr. Mourad has built a close relationship with 91黑料网: teaching students, supporting research labs, and hiring 91黑料网 graduates. He helped launch the AI and Machine Learning programs at 91黑料网鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies, building the University鈥檚 first AI curriculum; he also designed and taught the School鈥檚 inaugural Practical Machine Learning course and serves on its Technology and Innovation Advisory Group.

Drawing on his experience as an immigrant who arrived in Canada from Syria in 1990, Mr. Mourad has been a strong advocate for equity in scientific research. At Google Montreal, he championed diversity initiatives, developing programs to advance women in the hiring pipeline and into leadership roles, while fostering a more inclusive culture within research teams. He also served as a prominent voice for the Women at Google initiative. Beyond his work at Google, Mr. Mourad co-founded Techaide, an organization that mobilizes Montreal鈥檚 tech community to combat social exclusion and poverty.

His investigations into the social and personal potential of AI have also led him into other creative realms: his science fiction novel Ka & Salim: An Adventure in Muay Thai, AI and Philosophy, explores the intersection of AI and classical philosophy.

Shibl Mourad鈥檚 career embodies curiosity, diligence, and intellectual creativity, partnered with a dedication to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that technological progress benefits all communities. His achievements are a testament to the power of innovation when guided by a vision for the greater good.

Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences 鈥楢鈥� 鈥� Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)

Helmut Sies, M.D., F.R.C.P.

M.D. (Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany)

Widely hailed as a 鈥渞edox pioneer,鈥� Professor Emeritus Helmut Sies鈥� research has helped transform our understanding of the body鈥檚 fundamental health and disease mechanisms. Redox 鈥� short for reduction-oxidation 鈥� describes a reaction in which one substance gains and another loses an electron, thus one being oxidized and the other reduced. Many important biological processes involve redox reactions.

Professor Sies grew up in Seesen, on the edge of the Harz mountain range in northern Germany, where he developed a profound interest in and curiosity about the natural world 鈥� an interest that was encouraged by some of his first schoolteachers. His education was also formed through high school exchange programs that saw him studying in Kankakee, Illinois, an experience that helped him foster an international perspective. He studied medicine at the University of T眉bingen, the Sorbonne in Paris, and the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, earning his MD in 1967. He later pursued his post-doctoral studies in physiological chemistry and physical biochemistry, establishing himself as an expert in hydroperoxide metabolism and cellular compartmentation. His research soon produced important results. A 1970 study, published together with Britton Chance, demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide, which is involved in redox processes, is not solely a toxic byproduct of bodily processes but is an integral component of cell biology. This led to further insights, including the concept of 鈥渞edox cycling鈥� in 1981, which influenced research into environmental and pharmacological stressors. By this time, he was Full Professor and Chairman of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I at the Heinrich Heine University of D眉sseldorf, where he is now Professor Emeritus. He also is Senior Scientist at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine at D眉sseldorf.

Professor Sies introduced the concept of 鈥渙xidative stress鈥� in 1985 to describe the redox imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants experienced by all organisms. Since then, the concept has been applied across numerous fields, including nutrition, medicine, biochemistry and physiology, aging, and disease treatment. His insights have led to a greater understanding of bodily processes in health and disease. Further, his extensive research on micronutrients (selenium, carotenoids, polyphenols) has contributed to our understanding of nutritional biochemistry, illuminating the biochemical mechanisms and impacts of diet on a wide range of diseases and in the aging process.

Helmut Sies鈥� inquiries in the life sciences have had a profound impact. Ten of his articles on oxidative stress have been cited more than 1000 times each, while a collaboration on hydroperoxide metabolism in mammalian systems has been cited more than 5000 times; he is listed among the top 200 most-cited researchers in Life Sciences worldwide. Helmut Sies鈥� research has trailblazed a path for countless other scientists. He is, in the truest sense, a pioneer.