Professor Maggie Roe receives honorary doctorate
Professor Maggie Roe has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala.
20 October 2025
During a ceremony on Saturday 4 October 2025, Professor Maggie Roe received an Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences. She was one of three individuals to receive the award from SLU's Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science, and seven from the university overall.
In the citation from SLU, Maggie was credited for her contribution to the field of Landscape Architecture, specifically her research into changing coastal landscapes, foodscapes and landscape policy, She was also thanked for her valuable contributions to landscape studies at SLU, as she has a longstanding relationship with the institution. Their comments included:
An inspiring and knowledgeable lecturer... she contributes to teaching on [our] Food and Landscape Masters' programme, invites colleagues to apply for grants and join field trips, and is consulted as an expert by the faculty.
Forging global connections through landscape research
Maggie is a Professor of Landscape in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and co-director of the School's Landscape Collaboratory and the Newcastle University Centre for Landscape. Her research interests have recently focused on participatory landscape planning related to food and water landscapes, in particular in coastal landscapes.
The day before the ceremony, Maggie and others in receipt of an honorary doctorate, were invited to deliver short lectures on their research. Maggie showcased her work around 'Stories of changing landscapes: collaborative creative research in coastal and delta landscapes.'
Speaking of her work with SLU and career in landscape studies, Maggie said:
"I have really enjoyed my long and rewarding association with various Landscape colleagues and students at SLU, including Professor Ingrid Sarlöv-Herlin at Alnarp, and Dr Andrew Butler, Associate Professor at Uppsala, both of whom have collaborated with me in various ways in academic life here in Newcastle University, as well as at SLU.
Landscape is a field which never leaves you - I think I have lived and breathed this work every day since the beginning of my first degree in landscape architecture, and I wouldn't have it any other way! It means an immense amount to me to receive this degree. Sometimes in academic life it is hard to understand whether your work has had any effect or recognition. This award is for me an important indicator of the international peer valuation of a body of work developed over many years, and I am happier than I can say to accept it.
It was a real honour to receive the award, and we celebrated in true Swedish style in SLU's main lecture theatre and the castle in Uppsala. It was a privilege to be amongst the others receiving the honorary degrees as well as many PhD students. I am overwhelmed by the kind words of Vice Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel and all the colleagues and staff at SLU and very much look forward to further collaborations in future years."
Credit for all images: Jenny Svennås-Gillner