December 12, 2017

Graduates celebrate academic achievements in summer ceremonies

Renowned scientist Professor Tim Flannery to receive Honorary Doctorate

The next generation of innovators and business leaders will this week celebrate their graduation from the University of Wollongong (UOW).

Hundreds of students from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences and the Faculty of Business will don their blue gowns and caps to mark the completion of their studies at UOW.

Both undergraduate and postgraduate students will celebrate their academic achievements in the ceremonies, to be held over the next three days (Wednesday 13 December to Friday 15 December).

Professor Tim Flannery, one of Australia’s preeminent scientists and environmental champions, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science during Wednesday morning’s ceremony, where he will also deliver the guest address.

The Honorary Doctorate will recognise Professor Flannery’s immense contribution to the worlds of science and conservation, and impressive career as an author, historian, palaeontologist, academic and climate change advocate.

Professor Allan Chivas, a renowned expert in the field of earth sciences, will be honoured with an Emeritus Professorship during the three days of ceremonies.

Professor Chivas was part of a research team who discovered the world’s oldest fossils, 3.7 billion-year-old stromatolites, in a remote area of Greenland’s icecap, which pinpointed the earliest existence of diverse life on earth. He will be honoured for his contribution to UOW’s research community.

Bachelor of Engineering student Dan Simpson will be recognised with the Robert Hope Memorial Prize during Wednesday morning’s ceremony. The medal is awarded to a student who demonstrates outstanding academic performance and leadership and contributes to the wider community.

Dan, who majored in Civil and Environmental Engineering, has achieved tremendous success both in the classroom and in the community during his time at UOW. A leader in Team UOW Australia-Dubai’s entry in the 2018 Solar Decathlon Middle East, Dan is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and, during his time at UOW, has been involved in projects in Jakarta and Rwanda, where he helped to build a water supply system in a rural village.

Fellow graduate Siobhan O’Brien has forged a path as an outstanding student during her time at UOW. Graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Siobhan has used her experience in the science lab to develop a next-generation version of the prosthetic hand.

Laura Cartwright, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Advanced Mathematics (Honours), is passionate about encouraging young women to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects.

Since its foundation, UOW has awarded more than 140,000 degrees and diplomas. 

Photos of UOW's Graduation Ceremonies can be accessed on Flickr.