Guest speakers Professors Georges and Marlene Belfort

Professors Georges and Marlene Belfort were the guest speakers at the Faculty of Commerce graduation ceremony at 14:00 on Friday, 13 December 2019.

Professor Georges Belfort graduated from UCT with a BSc in 1963, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Irvine. He is considered one of the world’s leading biochemical engineers. As an alumnus of UCT, he has maintained contact with the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the award of this honorary doctorate recognises and strengthens the link between UCT and the outstanding scholarship of Professor Belfort.

Professor Marlene Belfort graduated from UCT with a BSc in 1965, followed by doctoral and postdoctoral work at the University of California, Irvine, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is currently a distinguished professor in the departments of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Albany, and is a world-renowned scientist in the field of molecular genetics and biochemistry. Beyond her hugely influential discoveries, Professor Belfort’s prolific publication record, impeccable grant history and long-standing reputation for mentorship make her a worthy candidate for an honorary doctorate from UCT.