Distinguished figures, including Chief Design Officer of Apple Inc. Sir Jonathan Ive, economist, author and columnist professor Paul Krugman, and philosopher and theologian Monsignor professor Tomáš Halík received honorary degrees at the annual Encaenia ceremony in Oxford on Wednesday.
The illustrious figures enjoyed peaches, strawberries, and Champagne before walking in procession with university dignitaries into the Sheldonian Theatre, which has been used for the ceremony since its completion in 1669.
The ceremony was like re-living a page out of antiquity. The Public Orator, professor Richard Jenkyns, presented the honorands and outlined their achievements in Latin; some in the audience who understood the language got the jokes on time while many examined the English translation.
The presentation of the honorands was poetic and the ceremony traditionally British, featuring a trumpet fanfare and choir.
This year’s honorands were the Rt Hon Lord Mance, Spanish film-maker Mr Pedro Almodóvar, economist professor Paul Krugman, Japanese architect professor Kazuyo Sejima, neurobiologist Dr Cornelia Bargmann, physicist professor Mildred Dresselhaus, theologian Monsignor professor Tomáš Halík, composer Arvo Pärt, and designer Sir Jonathan Ive.
