Traditional cannon salute and ringing of the bells at the Conferment Ceremony
Laurel wreaths waiting to adorn the heads of new doctors. Photo: David Naylor
The Winter Conferment Ceremony will be held on Friday, 31 January. In total, 67 new doctors and 18 honorary doctors will be conferred in a ceremony held in the Grand Auditorium. The celebration kicks off at 7:00 in the morning with the traditional cannon salute at Uppsala Castle, followed by the ringing of the bells in Uppsala Cathedral.
During the Conferment Ceremony, the new doctors will receive their doctoral insignia, which consists of either a hat or a laurel wreath and a ring and diploma.
A cannon salute will be fired both in the morning and then at irregular intervals during the ceremony itself to make everyone in Uppsala aware of the significance of the day.
Honorary doctors
The Winter Conferment Ceremony also pays tribute to honorary doctors from Sweden and abroad. Honorary Doctor is a title bestowed upon a person who has made outstanding scientific contributions or otherwise promoted research at the University. Use of the Honorary Doctor title in Uppsala originates from the poet P D A Atterbom – Professor of Aesthetics and Modern Literature – who in 1839 succeeded in having a person appointed as an Honorary Master. Honorary doctors are appointed by the faculties.
Many of the honorary doctors give open lectures organised by the faculties in connection with their visit to Uppsala.
Åsa Malmberg
Programme:
07:00 Cannon salute from Uppsala Castle
08:00 Bell-ringing, Uppsala Cathedral
12:00 Conferment Ceremony for all nine faculties in the Grand Auditorium in the University Main Building. Uppsala University’s symphony orchestra, the Royal Academic Orchestra, will play during the ceremony.
The ceremony includes cannon salutes at intervals between approximately 12:45 and 15:00.