UCD closes 150th anniversary celebrations with honours 

Robert Gallo, Carole Pateman, Sir Bob Geldof 
and Neil Jordan.

As part of the culmination of the UCD 150 celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the University, on June 16th UCD awarded four honorary doctorates to Bob Geldof, Neil Jordan, Robert Gallo and Carole Pateman for their exceptional contribution to global society. 

Sparked by its historic origins under John Henry Newman, who was the first rector of the Catholic University in 1854, UCD has pursued an educational ethos that aims to influence society here in Ireland and on the global stage. The fours recipients of these honorary degrees have each made significant impact on the world through their humanitarian, artistic, scientific and academic work. �We chose to honour these four individuals because their achievements reflect our own guiding principles and we believe they are an inspiration to current and future generations of students.� said Dr Hugh Brady, president of UCD.

Sir Bob Geldof.

Bob Geldof: Dublin-born musician and humanitarian, Bob Geldof has used his fame, his business acumen and his forthright personality to bring about enormous changes to Africa and to Western attitudes towards the plight of the continent and other debt-ridden countries. It is over twenty years since the Live-Aid project began and Bob Geldof continues to fight for the cause. His recent book �Geldof in Africa� and his Live 8 concerts, which will take place in London, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome and Berlin on 2 July 2005, aim to draw attention to the continent the rest of the world is in danger of leaving behind.

Neil Jordan: Born in Sligo and living in Dublin, Jordan a graduate of UCD, where he studied Irish History and English is a published author of many highly acclaimed novels including �The Past� (1979), �The Dream of A Beast� (1983) and �Sunrise With Seamonster� (1994). His books have been translated into over ten different languages. Best known for his screenwriting and directorial roles in films such as The Company of Wolves�, �Mona Lisa�, �Interview with the Vampire�, �Michael Collins�, �The Butcher Boy�, �The End of the Affair� and �The Crying Game�, which won him an Oscar for Best original Screenplay, his films have received over 50 Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. 

Neil Jordan and Sir Bob Geldof with Dr Hugh Brady, 
President of UCD.

Robert C Gallo, MD: A scientist of world importance, Dr Robert Gallo has make a number of medical discoveries through the study of the basic biology of human blood cells that have led to the development of therapies for some of the most devastating diseases on the planet. Dr Gallo opened and pioneered the field of human retrovirology when in 1980 he and his research team discovered the first human retrovirus (HTLV-1) and with others showed it was a cause of a particular form of human leukemia. A year later he and his group discovered the second known human retrovirus (HTLV-2). Dr. Gallo and his colleagues also independently discovered HIV (the 3rd known human retrovirus), and provided the first results to show that HIV was the cause of AIDS. They also developed the life saving HIV blood test (1983-1984). Dr Robert Gallo has been the Director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore since 1996.

Carole Pateman: A Professor of Political Science at UCLA, Carole Pateman is a leading figure in the world of political science. Her reputation has been predominantly built for her work in the area of democratic theory. Professor Pateman has undertaken significant work on the idea of the �Settler Contract� which looks at the legitimacy of terra nullius which formed the basis for colonisation of continents such as North America and Australia. Her contribution to her discipline and to public life has been widely recognised and she has received many awards paying tribute to the breadth and depth of her contribution to political science. 


The honorary graduation ceremony encapsulated the maxim for this year�s UCD 150 celebrations �Celebrating the Past Creating the Future� as the past contributions of the four special graduates were celebrated along with their plans for the future.

Honorary Degrees were presented to:
(Click on name below to read citation)

Sir Bob Geldof
Degree of Doctor of Laws

Robert Gallo
Degree of Doctor of Science

Neil Jordan
Degree of Doctor of Literature

Carole Pateman
Degree of Doctor of Literature