Professor Robert Langer, Honorary Doctor of M.U.S.T. (left 7) taking group photo with Vice President Chair Professor Paul Tam and the delegation
The ceremony for the presentation of the honorary doctorate certificate to Professor Robert Langer by Macau University of Science and Technology took place on the 29th of May, 2024, at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The main guests who attended the ceremony include: Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam, Vice President of M.U.S.T., Prof. Richard Lester, Vice Provost for International Activities at MIT, Prof. Li Xiao Dong, Assistant Dean of Faculty of Innovation Engineering & Program Director of School of Computer Science and Engineering, Chair Prof. Wu Naiqi, Head of Department of Engineering Science, Prof. Wang Wenmin, Program Director of School of Computer Science and Engineering, Prof. Sookja Kim Chung, Professor of Faculty of Medicine & Associate Program Director of Engineering Foundation Program, Dept of Engineering Science, Assistant Prof. Zhang Kai, Assistant Professor of Department of Environmental Science and Engineering and Assistant Prof. Cai Qihai, Assistant Professor of School of Business.
President Joseph Hun-wei Lee delivered a recorded speech
At the beginning of the ceremony, President Joseph Hun-wei Lee delivered a recorded speech introducing an overview of Macau University of Science and Technology and its development achievements in recent years. M.U.S.T. implements an education model of “equal emphasis on teaching and research”. The university has three national-level research platforms and more than 20 interdisciplinary research centers ranging from AI in Medicine, robotics and autonomous systems, sustainable development, Fintech, to digital journalism and communication. Following that, President Lee paid tribute to honorary doctoral recipient, Prof. Robert Langer, who is the winner of the Queen Elizabeth Prize of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK – deemed to be the Nobel Prize of Engineering. President Joseph Lee also paid tribute to MIT, an institution that can boast over 50 Nobel Laureates and over 314 members of the US National Academy of Engineering or Sciences (150th anniversary) to its name. MIT has always been a global leader in research, education and science policy with strong historical links with modern China. He ended his speech by wishing that MUST would serve as a bridge in the historic spirit and look forward to academic exchanges with MIT on the grand challenges facing mankind.
Prof. Richard Lester gave a speech
In his speech, Prof. Richard Lester welcomed Professor Paul Tam and the delegation from the Macau University of Science and Technology, and thanked them for making the long journey from Macau to MIT. He conveyed MIT’s mission of engaging in research and education to benefit people everywhere both in fundamental science and applied science and engineering. He recognized Prof. Robert Langer’s contributions to the field of medicine which “have benefited untold numbers of people around the world.…”, a beautiful example of how MIT research and innovation can bring benefits to people around the world, including in China, while simultaneously contributing to improving the welfare of the American people”. He thanked M.U.S.T. for conferring this degree to Prof. Robert Langer and for strengthening the connections between MIT and M.U.S.T.
Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam, Vice President of M.U.S.T. gave a speech
In his speech, Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam extended his warmest greetings and utmost respect to each and every one who gathered at the ceremony. He gave a brief introduction of the newly established Medical Sciences Division (MSD) at M.U.S.T. which, under his leadership, comprises the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Chinese Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, and state-of-the-art research centers and laboratories. He went on to express his distinct honor to recognize the exceptional scientist, Prof. Robert Langer, with an honorary doctorate degree from M.U.S.T., which is the highest accolade bestowed by M.U.S.T., symbolizing the utmost admiration for his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to society. He shared a few anecdotes of Prof. Langer with one of them associating with his co-founding of Moderna, the pioneering biopharmaceutical company behind the revolutionary mRNA vaccine that has saved millions of lives in the COVID pandemic. He also expressed that despite huge demands on his time and intellectual capacity worldwide, Prof. Langer remains a modest, pleasant, engaging and most helpful person. Lastly, Chair Prof. Tam expressed his deepest appreciation to Prof. Langer for accepting M.U.S.T.’s honorary doctorate degree and extended his gratitude to Vice Provost Richard Lester and Prof. Robert Langer himself for their support and assistance in organizing this auspicious event.
Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam, Vice President of M.U.S.T. presented the Honorary Doctor certificate to Prof. Roger Langer
Group photo: (from the left): Prof. Richard Lester, Prof. Robert Langer, Chair Prof. Paul Kwong Hang Tam
Prof. Roger Langer gave a speech
In his speech, Prof. Robert Langer expressed his heartful thanks to M.U.S.T. for conferring the Honorary Doctorate degree to him and was flattered to have such a distinguished group travelling from Macau to Boston to conduct the ceremony. He also thanked President Lee, an MIT graduate himself, for his wonderful comments and Vice President Paul Tam whom he had known for a number of years. He felt honored that Prof. Richard Lester, who is an important contributor at MIT, spoke at the ceremony and apologized on behalf of Provost Cynthia Barnhart who unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremony. Lastly, he commented that M.U.S.T. is a wonderful place and he believed that it is going to continue to grow in stature under its wonderful leadership and with its wonderful people.
Finally, Chair Prof. Paul Tam presented commemorative gifts to honorary doctoral recipient Prof. Robert Langer and Vice Provost Richard Lester. The ceremony concluded in an atmosphere of harmony, friendship and mutual appreciation.
