Manolis Kogevinas Receives an Honorary Doctorate from the Democritus University of Thrace

The Democritus University of Thrace, in Greece, has awarded an honorary doctorate to Manolis Kogevinas, Research Professor at ISGlobal, during a formal ceremony held on Monday, 15 December 2025. The distinction recognises his academic career and long-standing contribution to public health–oriented research.

“It is an honour to receive this doctorate, and even more so from the Democritus University of Thrace,” said Manolis Kogevinas. “The university bears the name of Democritus, one of the most materialist thinkers of ancient Greece, who proposed the theory of atoms at a time when microscopes or similar tools did not yet exist. It also plays a unique role as a bridge between East and West, given its location near the borders with Turkey and Bulgaria.”

Kogevinas has maintained a close professional relationship with the institution over the years, including collaborations with the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Konstantinidis, who considers him a mentor. In 2024, he participated in a scientific meeting in the Evros region —sponsored by the President of the Hellenic Republic— focused on climate change and health following the most devastating wildfires recorded in Europe in recent years.

A career dedicated to public health

According to the university, the honorary doctorate recognises the entirety of Kogevinas’ academic trajectory, including his research focused on health promotion and his extensive university career. Within the Greek academic system, he has held full professorships at the Medical School of Crete and the National School of Public Health in Athens.

Kogevinas has authored more than 850 scientific publications, supervised 14 doctoral theses, and mentored numerous early-career researchers. His career has included positions at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), the Municipal Institute of Medical Research (IMIM) in Barcelona, and the co-directorship of CREAL (Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology). He has also served as President of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) and Director of the European Educational Programme in Epidemiology (EEPE).

Research with societal impact

In recent years, his research has focused on the health effects of circadian disruption, combining large epidemiological studies with molecular and exposome-based approaches. Throughout his career, Kogevinas has remained strongly committed to translating scientific evidence into public health policy, serving on WHO expert committees and European research evaluation panels.

The honorary doctorate adds to a series of international distinctions received by Kogevinas, among which he highlights the John Goldsmith Award from the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) as especially meaningful. The award is the highest recognition granted by the society and is conferred by peers in the field of environmental epidemiology.