Birthday of UL to be celebrated with new postage stamp, reading by world’s leader and ball

The University’s foyer will house the exhibition “Two Moments Before 100 Years” dedicated to the 98^th celebration of the UL establishment. The UL Library’s exhibition has been created in anticipation of the University's 100^th anniversary in 2019. The exhibition portrays all the UL rectors as personalities of their time. At 10:00, the anniversary will open with an ecumenical service in the Small Hall lead by the Associate Professor of the UL Faculty of Theology, Reverend, Dr. theol. Juris Cālītis. At 11:30, thecancellation of the postage stamp dedicated to UL Academic Centre will be celebrated at the Small Hall. Within the series of Latvian architecture, “Latvijas Pasts” will release a new postage stamp and cover authored by the artist Ģirst Grīva and dedicated to the UL Academic Centre in Torņakalns. Meanwhile, from 9:00 to 17:00 at the UL Academic Centre itself everyone will have an opportunity to acquire the new stamp and cover, and also to post them to the recipient of one's choice. The postal mark on the stamp will be unique, available only on this day and a reminder of this significant event. The celebration will continue with the Ceremonial UL Senate meeting in the Great Hall at 12:00, to be opened by the Chairman of the University of Latvia Senate, Prof. Māris Kļaviņš. During the meeting, the UL Honorary Doctorate will be awarded to the Director of Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf Institute of Fluid Dynamics  Dr. Gunter Gerbeth for the productive cooperation with the UL Institute of Physics throughout 30 years; to the Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Dr. Ismail Serageldin for strengthening the UL’s international cooperation in the field of education, science un culture; and to Prof. Antoine Alemany of the National Centre for Scientific Research, Grenoble for continuous contribution to the development of magnetohydrodynamics research at  the UL; and the UL Professor Skaidrīte Lasmane will receive the title of Professor Emeritus . The solemn meeting will be followed by the Conferment Ceremony of the New UL Doctorates,  to award 54 new doctorate degrees. During the ceremony, the new doctors will receive the UL symbols of honour – degree certificate, UL doctoral scarf and UL doctoral silver badge. After the Senate’s meeting, at 16:00 in the Small Hall the Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, UL Honorary Doctor Ismail Serageldin will take the floor in Presidential Lecture Series “Readings by World Leaders” with a topic “Fighting fake news and alternative facts: 21^st century’s current challenges. Society’s understanding of media literacy”. The lecture series “Readings by World Leaders” commenced during the presidency of Valdis Zatlers and have been reinstated following the initiative of Raimonds Vējonis initiative and support of V. Zatlers and Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. “Serageldin to this day retains his position as an excellent example of an academic universalist, who addresses the most significant topics in development of the world, discussing  social security and guarantee of the quality of life in a profound and understanding manner”, thus the Rector of the UL Indriķis Muižnieks describes the UL Honorary Doctor. At the end of the day everyone, who holds the University in their heart is invited to enjoy the festivities of the UL ball. The Birthday ball will be opened with speeches and congratulations of I. Muižnieks and other guests, followed by the irreplaceable tradition – polonaise. Operetta Orchestra, conducted by Guntars Bernāts will fill the Great Hall with ballroom music until the midnight. The performers of the night will include Latvian Operetta Fund’s soloists Evita Zālīte, Anta Jankovska (Italy), Irma Pavāre, Nauris Puntulis and Nauris Indzeris. Celebration will be broadcasted live. Every student, academic staff member, employee and graduate of the UL is invited to celebrate the University’s 98^th birthday together!