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A ceremonial conferment is a traditional, academic celebration, in which doctorates and honorary doctorates are conferred. This was the 24th conferment in science and technology in the history of Aalto Unviersity and its predecessor.

The Ceremonial Conferment took place in the Aalto Hall in Otaniemi.

Dean Jouko Lampinen gave a speech behalf of the organising School which was this year the School of Science. In his speech, Lampinen reminded the audience that the conferment is the most prestigious of the University's academic ceremonies and that doctoral graduates are formally welcomed as fully-fledged members of the academic community.

Mikko Dufva DSc. (Tech) receives his doctoral hat from Conferrer Matti Kaivola.

Honorary Doctors 2016

Schools of technology confered honorary doctorates on eleven eminent persons in the fields of science, technology and society.

Ilkka Kivimäki is a serial entrepreneur, with over 20 years of experience in running high-growth technology companies, and one of the founding members and former chair of the Startup Foundation, and the Slush Conference. The Startup Foundation, together with its Slush Conference, Startup Sauna and Startup Life programmes, were established for Aalto students, entrepreneurs and startup investors. It brought the visibility of Finnish entrepreneurship to a completely new level, leading to significant growth in entrepreneurial activities in Finland.

Matti Lievonen's work with Aalto University, in promoting the development of pure transportation fuel and his work in the nationally important strategy of developing liquid transportation, fuels as a source of renewable energy, is of great importance. The co-operation between Neste and Aalto University in developing renewable biofuels, which have proved competitive in both technology and business at international level, is of high importance.

Professor Pei Gang's close co-operation with Aalto University has led to the development of a partner Design Factory at Tongji University, the Tongji on Tracks student co-operation, as well as the establishment of the Tongji Lounge at Aalto University Campus. He has also been the initiator of the joint Aalto-Tongji training programme at the Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation.

In addition to the above the Honorary Doctors 2016 are Professor Pedro Echenique, Professor Nader Engheta, Academician Riitta Hari, Professor Akira Isogai, Professor Emeritus Yukitaka Murakami, Brigadier General (Engineering) Kari Renko, Professor Magdalena Salazar Palma and Professor Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen

Honorary Doctor Pei Gang, Provost Ilkka Niemelä, Honorary Doctor Kari Renko (Read more about Kari Renko: ) and Vice President Hannu Seristö after the conferment ceremony.

Jubilee Doctor, Professor Emeritus Matti Ranta looked back to his own doctoral thesis process back in the 1960's. A person may receive the title of jubilee doctor if at least 50 years has passed since they became Doctor of Technology. (Read more about Matti Ranta )

Jubilee Doctors 2016 are Eero Byckling (D.Sc.(Tech) 1962), Carl Enebäck (D.Sc.(Tech) 1964), Jussi Hyyppä ( D.Sc.(Tech) 1966), Teuvo Kohonen ( D.Sc.(Tech) 1962), Kalle-Heikki Korhonen (D.Sc.(Tech 1962), Veikko Leivo (D.Sc.(Tech 1962), Markku Mannerkoski (D.Sc.(Tech 1964), Yrjö Mälkki (D.Sc.(Tech 1965), Juhani Oksman (D.Sc.(Tech 1963), Matti Ranta (D.Sc.(Tech) 1966), Jussi Rastas (D.Sc.(Tech) 1966) ja Eino Tunkelo (D.Sc.(Tech) 1966). 

The Conferment Banquet and Ball took place in the Event Center Telakka in Helsinki.

Photos: Adolfo Vera; Photo of Jouko Lampinen, doctoral hat: Aalto University / Mikko Raskinen