U of L honorary degree recipients named

BY SIMMONS, GARRETT 

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

The University of Lethbridge Senate has announced the third and fourth of its distinguished 2014 honorary degree recipients.

On Monday, it was made official, as pioneering scientist in plant biotechnology and epigenetics, Barbara Hohn, is set to be recognized later this month.

“Dr. Hohn’s influential work in epigenetics and biotechnology is especially significant to the ongoing research pursuits here at the university, and we’re thrilled that she has accepted our offer of an honorary degree,” said University of Lethbridge chancellor, Shirley McClellan.

The U of L will present Hohn with the degree of Doctor of Science, honouris causa, at the spring 2014 convocation ceremony I on May 29, at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

An influential and celebrated scientist, Hohn is a pioneer in plant biotechnology and plant epigenetics, as well as an exceptional mentor for future generations of scholars, according to a press release from the university.

In a time when society did not expect or encourage women to become scientists or biochemists, Hohn defied those expectations, the release continued. She received a degree in biochemistry from the University of TŸbingen, Germany, one of Europe’s oldest universities, and completed her post-doctoral studies at Yale and Stanford universities. She went on to establish a laboratory at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Switzerland.

Hohn’s contributions to scientific research are significant and wide-ranging, according to the release, and have opened new directions in science. She has published research articles in high-ranking journals such as Cell, Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Plant Cell and the EMBO Journal, among others.

As an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization, a founding member of Academia Europaea, a member of the Swiss National Research Council and the Austrian Academy of Sciences and a foreign member of the Royal Society, Hohn’s scientific achievements have been widely recognized. The results of her work have been applied across the globe, and many of the researchers Hohn has trained are now world leaders in various areas in the life sciences.

The fourth of the university’s distinguished honorary degree recipients will be acclaimed journalist, author and humanitarian, Amanda Lindhout.

“We are very excited that Amanda has accepted our offer of an honorary degree,” said McClellan. “Her story is one of incredible perseverance and compassion. To be able to use the traumatic ordeal she experienced as the impetus to effect change is incredible. Her attitude embodies the ideals of the University of Lethbridge.”

The U of L will present Lindhout with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa, at the Spring 2014 Convocation Ceremony III on May 30 at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Lindhout will also participate in a book signing (A House in the Sky) at 12:30 p.m. in the University Bookstore.

Lindhout is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation and has devoted her life to social responsibility. Born in Red Deer, she became a journalist at the age of 24, travelling to various conflict zones. In 2008, she and a freelance photojournalist went to Mogadishu, Somalia. Two days after arriving, they were both kidnapped by religious extremists and held in captivity for 463 days. During this time, she was repeatedly tortured and assaulted by her captors. After her release, she chose to become a champion for underprivileged people in Somalia.

In 2010, she founded the Global Enrichment Foundation, which aims to provide education, counselling and community programs in Somalia. This foundation has raised millions of dollars to develop programming that empowers Somalians to create a better future.

Since her ordeal, Lindhout has gone to great lengths to share her story, through speaking engagements, a book (A House in the Sky) and other activities. She has participated in a Bill Clinton Global Initiative panel, has given an address to the United Nations Associate in Ottawa, and has moderated a panel of former extremists for the Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism