1974 Fredericton Encaenia

Hawkins, Rosemary Beatrice Durick

Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)

Orator: Condon, Thomas J.

Image
Image Caption
L to R: Rosemary Beatrice Durick Hawkins, Sir Max Aitken
Second Image Caption
Source: Joe Stone fonds-UA RG340, 1974 (#11088B)

Citation:

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1974
ROSEMARY BEATRICE DURICK HAWKINS
to be Doctor of Science

Some from Newcastle go down to the sea in ships, others chart voyages no less hazardous in the realm of science whose secrets are also mysterious and whose depths are equally unknown. As an honours Latin scholar in her undergraduate years at UNB, Rosemary Hawkins must have known, with Sallust: faber est quisque fortunae suae -- "each one is the maker of his own fortune". But for this remarkable woman, faced with a plethora of possible fortunes, the only problem was what to embark upon -- classics or biology, physiology or pharmacology, music or zoology, research or teaching. Undaunted by the fact that few women of her generation ventured forth far from home, Dr. Hawkins went on to combine nearly all of these in an outstanding career centered on the biomedical sciences, while making a comfortable home for her husband and son, replete with handsome needlework, as she went along.

We salute today a distinguished Canadian scientist. Her collaborations with Banting, Best, and Mendel on the breakdown of neuro-transmitter substances and with Haist and Kalant on diabetes and basic alcohol research have brought her the highest accolades from her scientific peers. At the frontier of scientific research she not only blazed a brilliant trail for herself but in the process also won the respect and acceptance of the Canadian academic community for women scientists. UNB is pleased to honour one of her most remarkable alumnae.

Praeses admittit Rosam Mariam Beatricem Durick Hawkins honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Scientia.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2

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