On 30 October 2025 the university awarded its first ever honorary doctorate for public engagement (and also for her work in comedy and culture) to Susan Morrison.
Here at Napier, we have benefitted enormously from Susan’s curiosity and her gift for sharing knowledge (we think for more than fifteen years, but recollections are sketchy!). Not many years ago, when academics mostly communicated with the public from behind a lectern, Susan championed a more engaging and creative approach. Her vision has enriched generations of researchers and transformed our university’s public engagement.
In 2011 she co-founded Edinburgh’s Bright Club, giving researchers the chance to share their work with audiences at The Stand Comedy Club— which The Guardian once described as “the thinking person’s comedy night.” In 2013 she helped launch the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas (CODI), enabling researchers to bring their work to
the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This past August, Napier academics took part in 21 shows as part of the new Provocateurs programme—initiatives in which Susan’s guidance and energy have been central.
Susan’s support for public engagement has benefitted researchers across Edinburgh and Scotland, not just at Napier. Much of it stems from the brilliant work done by the Beltane Network for Public Engagement, which was key in setting up Bright Club and CODI. This honorary degree is all about celebrating Susan – her enormous contribution to the work we do, but also hopefully shares the value of engagement more widely.
Susan Morrison Honorary Doctorate, Oct 2025, laureation speech
Congratulations Dr Morrison!