UJEP to award honorary doctorate to Prof. William R. Smith
The Faculty of Science at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (PřF UJEP) will celebrate 20 years of existence with a significant academic event. As part of the anniversary program, on November 27, 2025, an honorary doctorate will be awarded to Professor William R. Smith, an internationally recognized expert in mathematical modeling, statistical physics, molecular modeling, and applied thermodynamics. The ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Red Hall of the Multifunctional Information and Education Center at UJEP.
Professor William R. Smith is one of the world’s leading authorities in his field. Since 1979, he has served as head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the Faculty of Science, University of Guelph in Canada. After the University of Ontario Institute of Technology was founded in 2002, he became its first dean. He is currently a professor emeritus at the University of Guelph, continues to actively conduct research and supervise doctoral students, and remains a respected authority in the field of modern theoretical chemistry.
William R. Smith has long-standing ties with the University of Ústí nad Labem and visits it practically every year. He participates in professional seminars, lectures, and actively engages in discussions with students. His stays at UJEP have been repeatedly supported in the past by the Czech Science Foundation and the university itself.
Prof. Smith has the closest ties with UJEP through his long-standing and fruitful collaboration with Prof. RNDr. Ivo Nezbeda, DrSc., from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UJEP. Their scientific partnership, which began in 1977, has resulted in 49 joint publications in leading international journals to date, which have significantly enriched the research activities of the Faculty of Science at UJEP. In addition, this collaboration has enabled a number of students and young researchers from this faculty to complete postdoctoral internships in Canada, which has significantly strengthened the internationalization of the faculty and the professional growth of its graduates.
“The awarding of an honorary doctorate to Professor William R. Smith is not only an expression of appreciation for his extraordinary scientific qualities, but also for the selfless professional support he has provided to the Faculty of Science in Ústí nad Labem since its establishment. His work and personal commitment have significantly influenced the direction of our research and contributed to the development of the international prestige of the Faculty of Science at UJEP,” says the dean of the faculty, doc. RNDr. Michal Varady, Ph.D.
The ceremony is part of the program celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Science at UJEP.
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