The annual Board of Governors Meeting is the occasion for honoring people of distinction, and the 26th gathering was no exception. This year, the University’s highest accolade, the honorary doctorate, was conferred * on one of the world’s most outstanding geneticists, Sir Walter F. Bodmer, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, and Head of the ICRF Cancer & Immunogenetics Laboratory at Oxford’s Institute of Molecular Medicine; * on one of the greatest analytical philosophers of our day, Prof. Saul A. Kripke, McCosh Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University; * and on one of the very few who succeeded in escaping from Auschwitz and then made it his mission to tell the word, Dr. Rudolf Vrba, now Assoc. Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Sir Walter was honored in recognition of his “wide-ranging and seminal contributions to the study of human genetics… and the genetics of cancer; [and] in esteem for his inspirational work toward the advancement of science and increasing public awareness of the sciences.” In his acceptance speech, he referred to three scientific/technological revolutions of our time: nuclear, computer and information technology, and genetics and molecular biology. In regard to the last, he called the human genome project the “book of man,” which contains “the basis for a remarkable understanding of all aspects of biology, but particularly cancer research.” He does not believe, however, that there will be “benefit from the benefits without an understanding…by the public.” He called on scientists to communicate with the public, to explain what they are doing.
“In mathematics,” he told his audience, “one can speak of advances, but in philosophy this is not clear.” Though the latter aimed at a “more exacting understanding of things,” he questioned whether he himself just reflected the ideas of others or whether he has indeed “advanced clarity of thought and an understanding of problems that will forever elude us.”
Professor Vrba was recognized for his “heroism and daring action in exposing the horrors of Auschwitz during the war, which led to the saving of Jewish lives; [and in] appreciation of his educational contribution and devotion to spreading knowledge about the Holocaust.”
In what amounted to a summary of his historical activity, Vrba commented: “So, when we today analyze and remember the Holocaust, we are not thinking of the past in order to teach hatred against anyone or anybody. We are in reality trying to understand, and thus prevent, the always dark forces from repeating the politics of murder and robbery as practiced by the Germans and their armies during the Nazi period. Therefore, continuous, thorough research as well as teaching of the Holocaust as an integral part of German history is in the interest of the whole world, including Germany and the Germans.” For the text of his address, click here.