Call the Midwife actress Laura Main will receive an honorary degree from the University of Aberdeen alongside leading figures spanning archaeology, the arts, history, health, business, science and engineering.
The Aberdeen-born star will receive a Doctor of Letters degree as summer graduations get underway on Monday June 29. An original cast member of the BBC One drama Call the Midwife, she has starred in the series for 15 seasons, with a career that began in Aberdeen’s theatre community before progressing to the Royal Shakespeare Company and major television roles.
Monday will also see awards presented to professional archaeologist Alison Cameron (Master of the University) recognising her lasting contribution to archaeology in North‑East Scotland, including discoveries at Aberdeen’s Franciscan, Carmelite and Dominican friaries, and through her community‑driven Mesolithic Deeside project, and Professor Serhii Plokhii (Doctor of Letters) – one of the most significant scholars of Ukraine and a leading historian of nuclear power and nuclear safety.
On Tuesday Lucy Smith– one of Scotland’s most powerful advocates for people living with motor neurone disease and Bob Keiller– a highly regarded Scottish businessman whose leadership in the energy services sector and commitment to entrepreneurship and regional regeneration have shaped the north‑east economy, will both receive Master of the University degrees.
Internationally acclaimed writer Aminatta Forna,whose memoir The Devil That Danced on the Water and award‑winning novels explore history, memory and resilience, informed by her Scottish heritage, will be presented with an honorary Doctorate of Letters on Wednesday.
Thursday will see a Doctorate of Medicine awarded to Professor George Youngson – a leading paediatric surgeon who made a major contribution to specialist surgical care for children in the north of Scotland and served in senior national and international roles in paediatric surgery.
At the afternoon ceremony Charles Bain – an Aberdeen‑based businessman, fundraiser and dementia research advocate whose philanthropic leadership has enabled vital research equipment and PhD scholarships within the University’s medical school – will receive a Master of the University. In the evening Juergen Maier – a respected engineer‑industrialist and Chair of Great British Energy, known for championing digital manufacturing, low‑carbon power systems and the UK’s clean‑power transition, will be a awarded an honorary Doctorate of Engineering.
The honorary awards will conclude on Friday with Dr Jenna Ross– an award‑winning environmental and agricultural scientist and a strong advocate for STEM education and industry leadership presented with a Doctorate of the University.
University of Aberdeen Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, said: “Honorary degrees give us the opportunity to celebrate people whose work has enriched communities, advanced knowledge and made a real difference to society.
“As our students step forward into the next chapter of their lives, I hope they take encouragement from the remarkable individuals joining them at graduation.”