Richie Hawtin Accepts His Honorary Doctorate From Sir Patrick Stewart

Back in May, it was revealed that techno trailblazer Richie Hawtin would receive an honorary doctorate from the UK’s University of Huddersfield – one of eight recipients to receive the honor in 2015. (Play ‘spot the DJ’ in the lineup of recipients.)

Last week, Hawtin traveled to Huddersfield to accept the Honorary Doctorate – which was handed to him by none other than Sir Patrick Stewart, who happens to be the Chancellor of the University. As Hawtin points out in a new Facebook post, the University of Huddersfield is renowned for its focus on innovation in technology.

As Hawtin tells it, 25 years ago there were no University level programs for Music and Technology close to where he lived in Windsor, Canada. At a crossroads between continuing his film studies and pursuing a career in music, he took the plunge and started Plus 8 alongside John Acquaviva. In 2015, Hawtin has his own educational project, CNTRL, and is hoping to “work more closely together with the University of Huddersfield and other like-minded institutions around the world.”