Scholar Rejects Honorary Doctorate Over University’s Israeli Ties

A prominent expert on Irish emigration, Professor Kerby Miller, has declined an honorary doctorate from the University of Galway, becoming the third individual to do so this week. His decision was influenced by the university’s ongoing research partnership with the Technion Institute of Technology in Israel, which has ties to the military sector. Professor Miller made his announcement during an event on the Galway campus, where he highlighted the ethical implications of accepting an award from an institution linked to military research.

Professor Miller was set to be acknowledged for his significant contributions to the university’s Imirce digital archive, which preserves emigrant letters dating back over 300 years. Brendán MacSuibhne, an established professor of Modern Irish History who collaborated with Miller on the archive, remarked on the weight of Miller’s decision, emphasizing that a scholar of his calibre should not accept an honorary degree under the current circumstances. MacSuibhne urged the university to recognize the implications of this development.

Earlier this week, both acclaimed actor Olwen Fouéré and filmmaker Margo Harkin also withdrew from the award ceremony, which was set to honor nine recipients from various fields, including arts, culture, and public life. Their decisions stem from objections to the university’s research ties with the Technion Institute, which is involved in developing military technologies. Fouéré expressed her dismay, stating that while she was initially thrilled to receive the honorary doctorate, she could not, in good conscience, accept it.

In her statement, Fouéré underscored the university’s connection to the Irish Centre for Human Rights, which actively works to promote justice in Palestine. She noted that the university’s partnership with the Technion is “extremely problematic” due to its involvement in military technology, including the development of systems used in warfare. Fouéré pointed out that the contract with Technion was signed in December 2024, during ongoing violence in Gaza, further complicating the university’s position.

The €3.9 million ASTERISK research project, focused on extracting hydrogen from seawater, is co-funded by the European Union and involves several partners, including the Technion. Fouéré criticized the university’s lack of responsiveness to calls from staff and the wider community to sever ties with the Technion, claiming that requests for a review of the partnership have been met with legal complications and delays.

In light of her concerns, Fouéré initially intended to accept the honorary degree while also challenging the university’s ongoing relationship with the Technion. However, she ultimately concluded that rejecting the award would send a stronger message at this pivotal moment in the university’s history. She called on Peter McHugh, the interim president of the university, and other leaders to cut all ties with the Technion and comply with obligations under Irish and international law.

In response to the controversy, the University of Galway announced a review of its research collaborations with Israel and Palestine. This review includes a human rights impact assessment, but McHugh indicated that the ASTERISK project was approved before the assessment began. Legal counsel advised that the partnership must continue based solely on existing contractual obligations.

The university stated that the findings of the human rights impact assessment have yet to be published due to recent legal guidance, which noted that the assessment process should not be considered binding without a formalized university policy on such issues. The university remains committed to addressing concerns regarding its research partnerships.

The recent decisions to decline honorary degrees come after the passing of activist and Aosdána member Margaretta D’Arcy, who, along with filmmaker Lelia Doolan, returned her honorary doctorate to the university in protest against its links to the Technion.

Other recipients of honorary doctorates this week include artist Brian Bourke, novelist and translator Anna Heussaff, harpist Kathleen Loughnane, former advocacy manager and deputy general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, and poet and singer Micheál Ó Cuaig.

As the situation develops, the University of Galway faces increasing scrutiny regarding its research affiliations and the ethical implications of its partnerships.