Professor Kümmerer, based at Leuphana University Lüneburg in Germany, is renowned for his groundbreaking work in sustainable chemistry and green and sustainable pharmacy, particularly in developing environmentally benign pharmaceuticals.
He is a Professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources and formerly served as Director of the Research & Education Hub at the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Center (ISC3). In addition to these roles, he has advised organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the European Union (EU), and various national governments. He developed the first fully online, extra-occupational study programs in sustainable chemistry.
Professor Kümmerer is also the founder and current leader of several internationally recognized initiatives, including scientific journals, a Sustainable Chemistry Summer School, and the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Through these activities, he has significantly influenced international chemical policy, research, and education.
His decades-long efforts have laid the foundation for integrating environmental sustainability into pharmaceutical development. Long before it became a mainstream concern, Professor Kümmerer advocated for the Benign by Design concept – designing medicines that are effective yet readily biodegradable in the environment as well as green and sustainable pharmacy. His visionary research has gained global recognition, including an honorary doctorate from University of Gent (Belgium), the prestigious Wöhler Award for Sustainable Chemistry and Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.
The University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Pharmacy has benefited significantly from Professor Kümmerer's collaboration. Since 2016, he has inspired numerous research projects and academic initiatives at the university, helping to shape the emerging field of sustainable pharmacy. His work directly contributed to two major EU-funded projects (PREMIER and TransPharm) and supported the establishment of the world’s first professorships in Sustainable Pharmacy at the Faculty.
By honoring Professor Kümmerer, the University of Helsinki not only celebrates a distinguished scientist but also reinforces its commitment to environmentally responsible innovation in pharmaceutical sciences.
Faculty to confer honorary doctorates at the conferment ceremony
The 101st conferment ceremony of the Faculty of Philosophy will be held from 22 to 24 May 2025. The ceremony will celebrate six new honorary doctors who have made exceptional contributions to science and society.
University faculties bestow honorary doctorates at their conferment ceremonies. Conferment ceremonies are part of the academic tradition, where graduating masters and doctorates are formally conferred to their new academic rank.
Previously, honorary doctorates in philosophy have been bestowed on, among others, Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, physicist Fabiola Gianotti and software developer Linus Torvalds.