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| Renowned scientist Prof. Francisco J. Ayala |
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| Newspaper magnate Mr. Lei Seng Chon |
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| Renowned educator Prof. Chia-Wei Woo |
Following the conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa upon Dr. Louis Cha, who is better known by his pen name Jin Yong, earlier this year, the University of Macau (UM) will confer honorary doctorates upon another three distinguished individuals, namely the renowned scientist Prof. Francisco J. Ayala, the newspaper magnate Mr. Lei Seng Chon, and the esteemed educator Prof. Chia- Wei Woo, in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. The ceremony will take place on 5 November. Besides the honorary doctorates, higher degrees will also be conferred at the ceremony. UM Chancellor and Chief Executive of Macao SAR Dr. Chui Sai On will preside over the ceremony. Because this year marks the 30th anniversary of the university, a gala dinner in celebration of the anniversary will be held following the ceremony.
Prof. Francisco J. Ayala will be conferred the Degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa. Prof. Ayala is a renowned scientist committed to the studies of evolutional genetics and molecular biology. He is University Professor and Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. He was a member of the U.S. President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, the president and chairman of the Board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the president of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of the U.S. Prof. Ayala has published more than one thousand articles and is the author or editor of forty books. Prof. Ayala is a member of the United States National Academy of Science as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has received numerous honours, including the 2001 National Medal of Science from former U.S. President George W. Bush, the 2010 Templeton Prize for his exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, from HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at a private ceremony in Buckingham Palace, London.
Mr. Lei Seng Chon will be conferred the Degree of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa. Mr. Lei is a newspaper magnate. In 1958, he co-founded the Macao Daily News with his friends, and successively served as manager, vice-editor-in-chief, editor-in-chief, and director of the newspaper. He is currently the president of the board of directors of the Macao Daily News and the Macao Culture & Media Group, honorary member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and member of the Chinese Writers’ Association. He was a deputy to the seventh People’s Congress of Guangdong Province, member of the National Committee of the eighth and ninth Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CCPCC), deputy to the ninth National People’s Congress (NPC), member of the Drafting Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, member of the Preparatory Committee of the Macao SAR, member of the Election Committee of the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, deputy-director of the Macao SAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of NPC (for two terms). For many years, he has spared no effort to advance culture, public welfare and education, making important contributions to the stability and prosperity of Macao. He was awarded the Golden Medal of Lotus Flower and the Grand Medal of Lotus Flower by the Macao SAR government, in 2002 and 2009, respectively.
Prof. Chia-Wei Woo will be conferred the Degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa. Prof. Woo is a renowned educator. He was the founding president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and is also President Emeritus and University Professor Emeritus at HKUST. He now serves as independent non-executive director on the boards of Lenovo Group, Shanghai Industrial Holdings, and First Shanghai Investments. He published one hundred and twenty papers and books in various fields of physics. In 1983, Prof. Woo was appointed president of San Francisco State University (SFSU), becoming the first Chinese American to head a renowned university in the U.S. In 1988, he returned to Hong Kong and founded the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and within a short time he turned HKUST into a first-rate university. He received many honours and awards for his professional achievements and contributions to society, including the Gold Bauhinia Star from the Hong Kong SAR government, the CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from the Queen of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II, and the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur from the president of France.
