Celebrating the 2025 academic ceremony

During this year’s Academic Ceremony at Luleå University of Technology, doctoral degrees and honorary doctorates were conferred, professors were inaugurated, adjunct professors welcomed, and academic awards presented. The event was held on Saturday and featured a formal ceremony followed by a celebratory banquet.

“With the Academic Ceremony, we honour successful individuals with the ability to inspire engagement, build trust, and convince colleagues and funders of the significance of their research. The ceremony is a tradition that reminds us of the very essence and mission of universities: to produce and disseminate scientifically grounded knowledge that shapes our future,” said Vice-Chancellor Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn in her ceremonial speech.

She also emphasised the importance of fostering a university culture centred on evidence, where differing perspectives and disagreements are encouraged.

“We must be a culture strong enough to withstand criticism and generous enough to give criticism space. In a world where quick reactions and condemnations are ever-present, academia needs to be a home for thoughtful courage,” said Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn.

New titles, doctoral hats and awards

The title of Honorary Doctor was awarded to Joachim Nordin, CEO of Skellefteå Kraft; Petra Viklund, Head of Water and Wastewater at Luleå Environmental Resource Lumire and Lennart Rohdin, former government investigator focused on the rights of national minorities and minority languages in Sweden.

Twenty Doctors of Philosophy and forty-five Doctors of Technology received their doctoral hats. Nine new professors were inaugurated, and two new adjunct professors were welcomed during the ceremony held at Kulturens hus.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of academic awards. Vattenfall’s prize for best doctoral thesis was awarded to Petter Paulsen Thoresen, Nordea’s scientific prize to Professor Xiaoyan Ji, the Student Union’s Supervisor Award to Professor Kristina Ek, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal of Merit was presented to Lars-Eric Aaro and Professor Kristiina Oksman. The Royal Skyttean Society awarded prizes to two promising young researchers: Associate Professor Io Antonopoulou and Associate Professor Jeandri Robertson.

Guests enjoyed musical performances by Kristoffer Töyrä, alumnus of the School of Music, and the chamber choir from the School of Music at Luleå University of Technology.

Festive banquet

Approximately 440 guests attended the subsequent banquet held on the university campus. The evening featured speeches by Vice-Chancellor Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, newly installed Professor Alexander Rozental, newly conferred Doctor Karl Löwenmark, Honorary Doctor Petra Viklund, and County Governor Lotta Finstorp.

The banquet menu was created by chef Johan Eriksson from Centrum Krog in Piteå, showcasing ingredients such as mushrooms, vendace roe, slow-cooked beef brisket, and root vegetables.

Guests were treated to entertainment by former Idol contestant Leo Tekiel and the male choir Snapsakademien. The evening concluded with dancing to the band Covergirls.