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Professor Antti Räisänen and Dr Ian McEwan were awarded the Carlos III University of Madrid UC3M honorary doctorate at the end of January. The honorary doctorate festivities were a wonderful experience for Antti Räisänen.

‘The grandeur of the experience was unprecedented: the arrival in the hall followed by a brass band, receiving the symbols of the honorary doctorate, the speech to an audience of several hundred people, countless sincere congratulations from friends and strangers, and the hospitality throughout the whole visit.’

In his ten-minute speech, Räisänen talked about the wireless world.

‘The rector's response to the speech was fun to listen to, because the rector and his assistants had found out that running marathons is one of my hobbies and told the audience about it, comparing it to scientific research. He mentioned it was particularly significant that I have supervised more than 50 doctoral dissertations. He saw this as superb evidence of my desire to pass knowledge on.’

Professor Räisänen has known UC3M’s Professor Magdalena Salazar for over 25 years and was a visiting professor at UC3M himself for a 6-month period.

‘For instance, I have written numerous publications and one book with several other UC3M university researchers and professors.  Since the autumn of 2013 I have taught on UC3M’s European Fundamentals of Antennas doctoral course. I have also been a reviewer for several UC3M doctoral dissertations,’ he said.

Professor Räisänen received the symbols of the honorary doctorate, which are a certificate, the university medal, a gold ring with the university seal on the ring finger of his right hand, the doctor’s hat on his head, white gloves, and finally a leather-bound Spanish-language edition of Cervantes’ Don Quijote de la Mancha. The ritual also involved embracing the rector twice (first from the left, then from the right) to show that the doctor was now received as a full member of the scientific community of the university. Rector Juan Romo in the middle and Dr. Ian McEwan on the right side.