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A pair of Queen’s professors is being recognized during the Spring Convocation ceremonies at Mount Allison University.

Professor Emeritus Art McDonald (Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) and Professor John Smol (Biology) will receive honorary degrees from the Sackville, N.B.-based university during its graduation ceremonies on May 16.

Dr. McDonald is the co-winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research conducted at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory that determined neutrinos are capable of changing their type – indicating that they have mass. He also recently won the Killam Prize in the Natural Sciences, was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada and was elected to the US National Academy of Science.

“I am very pleased to receive this honor from Mount Allison, particularly as I am from the Maritimes. I have a special place in my heart for this excellent university,” Dr. McDonald says. “My wife, Janet, is a graduate and I visited Mt. A. many times during our university days. I still remember being run over by their football team when I played for the Dalhousie junior varsity.” 

Dr. Smol, the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change and 3M Teaching Fellow, is the recipient of numerous international awards, including the ECI Prize from the International Ecology Institute, for his work in aquatic ecology, climate research and ecological history.

“I am honoured to receive this honorary degree and to speak at Mount Allison’s convocation, a university I have always admired for their commitment to teaching and research,” Dr. Smol says. “I am also pleased to share this day with my friend Art McDonald.” 

Also receiving honorary degrees are Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire, Canada’s premiere indigenous-led charity and Verna Kirkness, national leader in indigenous education and associate professor emerita at the University of British Columbia.

Chancellor Peter Mansbridge and President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Campbell will preside over the ceremonies that will see approximately 470 graduates receive their degrees.

“This year’s honorary graduates are leaders in their respective fields,” says Dr. Campbell in a releae from the university. “This past year we celebrated the Year of the Environment on campus and we look forward to marking the Year of Indigenous Knowledge at Mount Allison this coming academic year. We are pleased to mark this occasion by welcoming our honorary graduates to campus and as part of the Mount Allison University community.”

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Dr. Smol will also receive an honorary degree from Ryerson University at the Faculty of Science ceremony on June 14.

His is one of eight honorary degrees being awarded by Ryerson. Recipients are chosen based upon "their positive contribution to society; significant achievement in the use of an interdisciplinary approach to university education; and noted accomplishments and/or applied research in a field related to Ryerson."