New professors were installed

On the evening of 24 October, the newly installed professors and recipients of this year’s major academic prizes received their diplomas in front of the academy and their families in Aula Medica’s Erling Persson hall.

“This is an evening in which we pay homage to science and to particularly deserving researchers and teachers, and an occasion for us as a university to congratulate and get to know our new professors,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Anders Hamsten in his opening address, drawing attention to the 41 professors, including 16 adjunct and visiting professors, and the prize recipients.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Kerstin Tham presented this year’s three grand silver medallists, and the deans of Research, Doctoral Education and Higher Education each presented in turn the recipients of the academic prizes for 2013, including the Eric K. Fernström Prize, the Dimitris N. Chorafas Prize and the Pedagogy Prize.

When the lights were dimmed, films about the professors were screened on stage. One after one, they presented their research fields and talked a little about themselves. They included Jonas Ludvigsson, newly appointed professor of clinical epidemiology, who talked of how he managed to make his way to Bolivia without a krona to his name (offered to do research free); Mikael Rydén, professor of clinical and experimental adipose tissue research, who spent a week learning how to make the perfect cappuccino; and Ivanka Savic Berglund, professor of neurology specialising in gender differences, who proved to be just as devoted to dance as she is to her research.

In his speech, Professor Anders Hamsten talked about society’s expectations on the scientific community for the prompt implementation of research in healthcare practice, and about how the new professors will play a pivotal contributory role in Karolinska Institutet’s vital mission to improve human health.

“And I assume that you will be taking an active part in education,” he said.

This was the first installation ceremony in Aula Medica, and the second time the new auditorium has been used for an academic ceremony since its official opening. After the ceremony, the prizewinners and new professors were congratulated by their friends and colleagues.

Text: Madeleine Svärd