Today’s graduates are privileged – it’s a state they must never forget and one they ought to use to help others, said Robert Birgeneau, an internationally distinguished physicist.
“You have all come from a diverse set of backgrounds – some privileged, some quite under privileged – but none of you can ever consider yourselves under privileged now that you have the great fortune of being a university graduate,” he said.
Birgeneau spoke to graduates from the Faculty of Science and School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at the Thursday, June 11, afternoon session of Western’s 305th Convocation.
Western conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD), upon Birgeneau in recognition of his esteemed academic career in physics as well as his leadership in the academy, where he is known for his commitment to diversity and equity.
“Now that you are all members of the privileged class, remember there are many Canadians who are not as privileged and they need your help,” he told the graduates.
“Inuit, First Nations and Metis treatment continues to be a national embarrassment; these are communities that need your support,” he went on, with a notion of gratitude to individuals who helped bolster him when he was young, helping him pursue an education.
“Graduates, you can make the same difference in someone’s life; you only have to care,” he said.
The first in his family to complete high school, Birgeneau earned a BSc in mathematics on a needs-based scholarship from the University of Toronto, and then went on to complete a PhD in physics at Yale.
At 24, in 1966, he became an instructor at Yale’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, and he completed a post-doctoral fellowship two years later at Oxford.
Working in industry for some time after, Birgeneau returned to academia in 1975 to begin a 25-year career at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)as a physics professor, where he eventually became department head, then dean of science. As dean, Birgeneau began a pioneering study on the status of women faculty members in science at MIT, establishing his reputation as a champion for diversity, equity and other social justice issues, which over time has come to include LGBT rights, affordable education, and the plight of undocumented students.
In 2000, Birgeneau was appointed the 14th president of the University of Toronto, serving four years before moving on to become chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, a post he held until 2013. Under his leadership, Berkeley became the first university in the United States to offer comprehensive financial aid to undocumented students and the first public university to provide significant financial aid to middle-class students.
“Figure out what you’re good at,” Birgeneau added, and if you’re lucky, that will overlap with what you love to do.
Be ambitious, don’t underestimate yourselves, act with integrity.
“One or two failures will only strengthen you. If you are always successful, all that will mean is you lack the courage to do things that are hard.”
Birgeneau is a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of London, American Philosophical Society and other scholarly societies. He has received many awards for teaching and for his research on the fundamental properties of materials, including a special Founders Award from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the 2008 Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award as a ‘Champion of Excellence and Equity in Education,’ and the 2009 Shinnyo-en Foundation’s 2009 Pathfinders to Peace Prize.
At Berkeley, Birgeneau currently holds the Arnold and Barbara Silverman Distinguished Chair in the Departments of Physics, Materials Science and Engineering and Public Policy.
In his citation, John Capone, vice-president (research), called Birgeneau an outstanding academic who has exemplified extraordinary leadership.
“Among the myriad descriptions one might use to characterize Robert Birgeneau, one might start with the fact that he is a highly cited Canadian-born physicist, internationally recognized for his teaching and research on the fundamental properties of materials,” Capone said.
But he is so much more than that, he continued, giving examples of Birgeneau’s work and accomplishments not only in the academy, in fundraising and leadership. Capone highlighted the ways in which Birgeneau worked for equity and fairness in the academy.
“I urge you not to lose your youthful enthusiasm. May your lives be richly rewarding and fulfilling, and may you enjoy much health and happiness,” Birgeneau added.
Also during the ceremony, the Hellmuth Prize for Achievement in Research was presented to Biology professor Shiva Singh and the Edward G. Pleva Award was presented to Chemistry professor Lars Konermann and Biology professor Charles Trick.