Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
February 10, 2003
U of G winter convocation honours radio host, scholars, author
Bob McDonald, host of the CBC Radio science program Quirks and Quarks will receive an honorary degree during the university's winter convocation Feb. 19 to 20 in War Memorial Hall. Some 700 students, including the university's 100,000th graduate will receive degrees during five ceremonies.
In addition, retired Guelph professors O.P. Dwivedi and T.K.(Sandy) Warley, scholars who helped raise the visibility of the university on the world stage; and award-winning author Nancy Huston will be honoured during the university's five convocation ceremonies.
McDonald will receive an honorary doctorate of letters and will address College of Biological Science graduands Feb. 19 at the 10 a.m. ceremony. He has served as a science correspondent, reporter, columnist, writer and host on radio and television for 25 years. His books and video productions on science for elementary and secondary schools are widely used across North America. His fascination and excitement with science and scientific discovery motivate McDonald to bring the voices and faces of Canadian scientists to people of all ages.
At the 2:30 p.m. ceremony, Dwivedi will be named a university professor emeritus and will address College of Social and Applied Human Sciences graduands. He joined the University of Guelph in 1967, teaching environmental policy and law and comparative public and development administration in the Department of Political Science and serving as chair of the department from 1979 to 1990. Dwivedi has made significant contributions in the area of environmental policy-making. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, president of the Canadian Asian Studies Association, chair of the International Political Science Association's research committee on technology and development, and former president of the Canadian Political Science Association.
On Feb. 20, Huston will receive an honorary doctorate of letters and deliver the convocation address at the 10 a.m. ceremony for the College of Arts and the College of Physical and Engineering Science. With 10 novels, 10 essays and four children's books to her credit, she has gained international recognition as an important literary figure. She writes in both English and French, exploring social issues such as poverty, isolation and exile, violence towards women and memory as cultural foundation. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Huston has lived in Paris for almost three decades and has been a professor of French literature at Harvard University since 1994. In 1999, she was named Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will recognize students graduating from the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the Ontario Veterinary College. Marjorie Wall, chair of Guelph's department of consumer studies, will address the graduands.
Warley will receive an honorary doctorate of laws and will address students graduating from the Ontario Agricultural College at the 6 p.m. ceremony. A faculty member at Guelph from 1970 to 1991, he chaired the then department of agricultural economics and extension education from 1970 to 1974. Under his leadership, the department was transformed from one focused largely on farm management teaching to one internationally recognized for the calibre of faculty and post-graduate students. His unequalled knowledge in the history of international negotiations made him a valued member of the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium. Warley continues to serve the U of G community through alumni organizations.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
