Ò»±¾µÀ

05 October 2026

What do six honorary doctors talk about over dinner? A new event lets the audience listen in on their conversations. As of this year, the conferment of honorary doctors at Ò»±¾µÀ University has been moved from the spring to the autumn academic ceremony.

People in formal wear. Photographer: Magnus Johansson

The honorary doctors around the table are the journalist who uncovered the Macchiarini scandal, a Kenyan elite runner who sets up schools in the slums, the manager of Fenomenmagasinet, the coordinator for Barnahus Linköping, a business leader who invests in sustainable transport, and one of Canada’s most internationally recognised interdisciplinary researchers.

The panel discussion “Dining with honorary doctors� will be held in English on 8 October at Östergötlands museum. LiU professor Josefina Syssner will host the imaginary dinner and present topics and questions. The honorary doctors will also each hold an honorary doctorate lecture, as usual.

New professors to be inaugurated

The inauguration of professors will take place on 9 October, this time in Norrköping. This year, 23 new professors will be inaugurated. Honorary doctorates will be conferred and several prizes and awards will be awarded: The Ingemar Ingemarsson Teaching Prize, The Onkel Adam Prize for outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine, the Linköping University Medal of Merit and Alumni of the Year.

All events are open to the public. Tickets must be bought for the panel discussion, whereas the other events are free of charge.

As of 2025, academic ceremonies are held twice a year at Linköping University, one in the spring (for doctors and jubilee doctors) and one in the autumn.

Translation: Anneli Mosell

You are welcome to attend

Read more about the recipients

Black and white portrait of a man.

He exposed Macchiarini – and now becomes honorary doctor

The journalist who uncovered the Macchiarini scandal, a Kenyan elite runner who sets up schools in the slums and one of Canada’s most internationally recognised interdisciplinary researchers. These are some of the people awarded honorary doctorates.

En man sitter på marken framför ett träd.

Butterfly researcher receives Sweden’s largest teacher award

At the age of six, he began to collect butterflies. In primary school, he knew he wanted to be a butterfly researcher. Karl-Olof Bergman brings students and problems into nature. He is now rewarded with Sweden’s largest teacher award.

En närbild av en man som bär glasögon.

David Engblom wins award for his research on how our brains make us feel ill

David Engblom, Professor of Neurobiology, is awarded the 2026 Onkel Adam Prize for outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine. He researches the role of the brain in making us feel ill in various medical conditions.

A woman standing on a balcony next to a building.

She promotes AI for societal good in Europe

Helen Köpman, Alumna of the Year 2026, works at the European Commission’s AI Office in Brussels. For more than 20 years she has worked with research issues and innovation at EU level, where a living planet for future generations is her driving force.

En man i labbrock som står framför en vit vägg.

The chemistry teacher who loves experiments

As an upper secondary school teacher, Jesper Svartz is enthusiastic and highly organised. His students compete in chemistry at both national and international level.  He has now been named one of the Alumni of the Year 2026.

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Porträtt på man som står i solen bland gröna träd på Campus Valla

New professor of economics researches people’s life chance

Two identical job applications. One with an Arabic-sounding name. This experiment marked the start of Magnus Carlsson’s research on discrimination and people’s life chances. He is now a new professor of economics at Ò»±¾µÀ University.

En kvinna som sitter framför en spegel och tittar på sin spegelbild.

How AI changes human decision-making

AI can find patterns that people miss, but it does not automatically lead to better decisions. New research from Ò»±¾µÀ University shows how the roles of humans and AI change depending on the situation and the decision being made.

A woman standing on a balcony next to a building.

She promotes AI for societal good in Europe

Helen Köpman, Alumna of the Year 2026, works at the European Commission’s AI Office in Brussels. For more than 20 years she has worked with research issues and innovation at EU level, where a living planet for future generations is her driving force.