Honorary Degree Recipient 2015

Dr. Dominic Lam - Honorary Doctor Degree of Science

Dr. Dominic Man-Kit Lam is a world-renowned scientist, artist and philanthropist who is proud to be a Lakehead University alumnus.

Dr. Lam began his undergraduate studies at Lakehead University. He was born in Swatow, China, and grew up in Hong Kong. He moved to Fort William in 1965, received a city scholarship to Lakehead University and became one of Lakehead’s first international students.

Dr. Lam obtained his Honors Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Lakehead in 1967, followed by a Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia in 1968 and a PhD from the University of Toronto in 1970. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, eventually joining the faculty in Neurobiology and Biochemistry. During that time, Dr. Lam worked under two Nobel Laureates, Professors Torsten Wiesel and David Hubel.

In 1985, he invented a drug for use against secondary cataracts. Dr. Lam then established the first biotechnology company in Texas, which went public in 1988. He also founded the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology. Since 1990, Dr. Lam has devoted much of his time to making vaccines from edible plants and microorganisms that can be consumed by man and animals.

He continued to teach, became involved in charity work and became a visual artist.

While making photographs of the eye, he discovered a process now called Chromoskedasic Painting, where colours can be produced on black and white photographic paper without using dyes or pigments.

Dr. Lam strongly believes in the need to use his research and wealth to benefit humankind. In 1982, Dr. Lam and Dr. David Paton brought Project Orbis, an airplane with ophthalmic equipment and specialists, to China to provide free education, eye care and surgery to those in need.

In 1999, Dr. Lam founded the World Eye Organization to focus on research, prevention and treatment of eye diseases, and assist low-income people with their eyes. As a renowned artist he uses proceeds from his various artworks to help fund the World Eye Organization.

Dr. Lam has eagerly re-engaged with his alma mater after almost 50 years. He hopes to help Lakehead become a major international university. He is living proof to Canadian and international students that you can realize your dreams at Lakehead University.