Another honour for Prof. Klaus Kümmerer: The University of Helsinki has awarded the long-time Director of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) and distinguished scientist at Leuphana University Lüneburg his second honorary doctorate within a year. In its 101st conferment ceremony of the Faculty of Philosophy, the globally renowned university awards his pioneering work in the fields of Sustainable Chemistry as well as Green and Sustainable Pharmacy, and in the development of environmentally friendly products and pharmaceuticals. Prof. Kümmerer had already received an honorary doctorate from Ghent University (Belgium) in March. With this new distinction for outstanding contributions to science and society from the Finnish university, he joins the ranks of past recipients such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was honored in 2017.
Long-time ISC3 Director Prof. Kümmerer Awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Helsinki
High recognition for one of the leading figures in the field of Sustainable Chemistry
“The honorary doctorate from the University of Helsinki is a very special award granted to only a few scientists worldwide. All the more reason for us to celebrate that Prof. Klaus Kümmerer is now among them. He has earned this recognition through his tireless commitment to one of the most vital issues of our future, as well as his support of young researchers and innovative ideas,”said ISC3 Managing Director Dr. Thomas Wanner.
“On behalf of the entire ISC3 team, I warmly congratulate him. We are proud and grateful to count one of the world’s most important minds in Sustainable Chemistry among us.”
According to the official statement from Helsinki, his decades of efforts laid the groundwork for integrating ecological sustainability into pharmaceutical development. Long before Sustainable Chemistry gained its current prominence and public recognition, Prof. Kümmerer was already promoting his concept of “Benign by Design” – the development of products that are both effective and readily biodegradable in the environment.
“It is a profound honor to receive this recognition, and I am truly thankful,”said Prof. Kümmerer.
“But I am particularly pleased that Sustainable Chemistry – and now also Green and Sustainable Pharmacy as a holistic approach – is gaining even more visibility in education, industry, policymaking, regulatory bodies, and the public. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy are indispensable for developing the processes and products we need for a viable future and a functioning circular economy.”
For his development of the Benign by Design approach, his dedication to nurturing young talent in Sustainable Chemistry, his decades of research contributions, and his ongoing efforts to raise public awareness for a sustainable future – pursued through various national and international committees – Prof. Kümmerer was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande) earlier in 2024.
Prof. Kümmerer has also been widely recognized throughout his academic career, including the 2023 Wöhler Prize for Sustainable Chemistry by the German Chemical Society (GDCh). As Director of the Research & Education Hub at ISC3 from 2017 to 2024, he promoted forward-thinking approaches in research and higher education in Sustainable Chemistry. In close collaboration between ISC3 and the Leuphana Professional School, he developed two globally unique, part-time online degree programs: the Master of Science in Sustainable Chemistry and the MBA in Sustainable Chemistry Management. Prof. Kümmerer is among the most frequently cited German environmental scientists. According to the international Stanford Ranking (2023), he ranks 16th among the world’s top researchers in Environmental Science.
The Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Helsinki has also greatly benefited from collaborating with Prof. Kümmerer. Since 2016, he has initiated numerous research projects and academic initiatives, contributing significantly to shaping the emerging fields of Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. One notable result of his visionary research is the establishment of the world’s first professorships in Sustainable Pharmacy at the faculty.