THE WORLDS of exploration, higher education, biotechnology and business strategy are to be honoured by the University of Abertay, Dundee, this week.

Renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes; Dr Chris Masters, former chairman of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council; Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon; and Professor Dave Ulrich, Professor of Business at the Michigan University, will all receive honorary doctorates at Abertay’s summer graduation ceremonies on Thursday.

Described as the world’s greatest living explorer by the Guinness Book of Records, Ranulph Fiennes has also variously been a soldier, adventurer, charity fund-raiser, author, and scholar.

He was the first man to visit both the North and South Poles, and to cross Antarctica, entirely on foot, unsupported.

In 2003, just weeks after suffering a massive heart attack, he ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.

He has raised huge sums for charity, including £4 million for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and £1.5 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

This week, Abertay University will award Sir Ranulph an Honorary Doctorate of Science.

Chris Masters FRSE is chairman of Sagentia AG, a technology consulting and development company based in Cambridge.

After graduating in chemistry at King’s College London, he achieved a PhD at Leeds University, and then held a series of senior posts with the Shell Group, Christian Salvesen, and Aggreko plc, retiring in 2002.

From 1998 until 2005, he was chairman of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, guiding the higher education sector through the early years of devolution and the development of a distinctive Scottish funding system.

Dr Masters will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Abertay.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is chairman and managing director of Biocon, one of India’s leading biotech- nology companies.

Dr Mazumdar-Shaw studied zoology at university in her home city of Bangalore, followed by a postgraduate degree in malting and brewing in Australia.

She also runs the Biocon Foundation, which helps to bring about social inclusion of economically weak communities.

Abertay is awarding Dr Mazumdar-Shaw an Honorary Doctorate of Technology.

Dave Ulrich is Professor of Business Administration in the Ross Business School at Michigan University. He is also a founder and partner with the RBL Group—a consulting firm offering advice on human resources to companies.

Abertay will be awarding Mr Ulrich an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration.