More than 700 students will attend graduation ceremonies in the Albert Halls, Stirling on 25 November when Honorary degrees will be awarded to architect Robert Steedman OBE and environmental history Professor Donald Worster.

University of Stirling Chancellor and broadcaster Dr James Naughtie will present the degrees during ceremonies which will take place at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm.

Mr Steedman will receive an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to architecture and design in Scotland. This includes his design for the University’s residence for the Principal created in 1967 by his architectural design practice Morris and Steedman. The house, which overlooks Airthrey Castle, has spectacular views and was listed by Historic Scotland in 2009. It has been described as one of the best examples of 1960s modern domestic architecture in Scotland.

An architecture graduate from Edinburgh College of Art, Mr Steedman gained a postgraduate Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania prior to founding architectural practice Morris and Steedman in 1958. The practice was lauded for its wide range of innovative buildings and sensitive landscape designs throughout Scotland for corporate, public and private clients over a 50 year period.

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In 1979 he was elected an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy, following his earlier award of the European Architectural Heritage Medal in 1975. He received the Royal Institute of British Architects Award for Scotland for the design of his own home in 1989 and awarded the OBE for services to Architecture and the Built Environment in 1991. In May 2009, his achievements were recognised again as he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

Professor Donald Worster will receive an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of global environmental history.

Professor Worster is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of environmental history and in 2009 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences - one of the United States’ most prestigious honorary societies. Professor Worster actively supported the establishment of specialist research in environmental history at Stirling and works to promote and develop the subject across Europe.

His latest book A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir, won the Homecoming Award for 2009 given by the Saltire Society at the National Library of Scotland. It was also awarded the Book of the Year prize in 2010, given by the Scottish Arts Council and funded by the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist and early advocate of preservation of the environment in the United States.

(GK)