Nobel-winning biochemist Sir Richard Roberts to attend MU convocation ceremony

Nobel-winning biochemist and molecular biologist Sir Richard John Roberts is expected as a chief guest at the annual convocation ceremony of Mumbai University graduates on 11 January, 2019. Sir Roberts was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1993 for discovering a phenomenon called ‘split genes’. Currently working as the Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs, a leading biological research reagents manufacturer, he has published roughly 250 research papers on molecular biology and genetics so far. A prominent and vocal supporter of the genetically-modified organism (GMO) movement, Sir Roberts expressed that it was his love for India, among others, that brought him to accept MU’s invitation. “This will be my first time in Mumbai… I am a big fan of India and this will give me a good opportunity to talk to young people (and old) about the benefits of GMOs and why India should embrace them and not listen to the distortions being promulgated by the anti-GMO activists,” Roberts was quoted to have said to Mirror. [caption id=“attachment_5821401” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Sir Richard Roberts. Image courtesy: Genetic Literacy Project[/caption] “This is the first time a Nobel laureate will be present for the convocation ceremony as chief guest,” Suhar Pednekar, Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University told Mumbai Mirror. “It is a golden opportunity for students to get their gold medals and awards from a great scientist.” The convocation ceremony this year is the second after the disaster MU courted on with its **on-screen marking (OSM) fiasco** in 2017. Degrees will be awarded at the convocation to all students that passed the regular and re-evaluation examinations in March 2018. A total of 1.85 lakh degrees and diplomas are expected to be awarded by MU this year, according to a Mirror report. The last time MU had a tryst with a Nobel winner was in 2003 when it awarded renowned economist Amartya Sen with an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree.