Honorary Degree Ceremonies

EPFL Professor Michael Graetzel receives the title of doctor honoris causa of the NKUA’s Department of Chemistry

EPFL Professor Michael Graetzel receives the title of doctor honoris causa of the NKUA’s Department of Chemistry

The Director of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at EPFL, Professor Michael Graetzel, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Department of Chemistry of the NKUA’s School of Science.

LAB 7121 1024x683

The awarding ceremony took place on Tuesday, 5 November 2024, at 12:00, at the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (main building, 30 Panepistimiou St).

Addressing the ceremony was the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

LAB 6886 1024x683

It was the Vice-President of the NKUA’s Administration Council, Professor at the Department of Chemistry Mr Nikolaos Thomaidis, who presented the work and personality of the honouree.

LAB 6958 1024x683 (1)

Immediately afterwards, the Chair of the Department of Chemistry of the NKUA’s School of Science, Professor Evi Lianidou, read the Department’s Resolution, the Award, and the Honorary Diploma.

LAB 7055 1024x683

Then, the Dean of the NKUA’s School of Science, Professor Aristeidis Parmakelis, invested the honouree with the gown of the School.

LAB 7084 1024x683

 

LAB 7096 1024x683

The ceremony concluded with the honouree, Professor Michael Graetzel, delivering a speech entitled Energy Beyond Oil’.

LAB 7133 1024x683

In his address to the honouree, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said, among other things, the following: ‘Professor Graetzel is one of the most distinguished figures worldwide in the fields of Chemistry and Renewable Energies and has contributed significantly to the progress of science through research and discoveries that paved new paths for sustainable development and energy transition.

The honouree serves the science of Chemistry by researching the conversion of solar energy into chemical and electrical energy as well as storage. He is internationally renowned for his pioneering discovery of the dye-sensitized solar cells, the so-called Graetzel cells. He was the first to conceive and implement mesoscopic photosystems for the conversion of solar light into electrical energy as well as chemical fuels mimicking natural photosynthesis—a promising alternative to traditional photovoltaics. His work has sparked global interest, opening the way for sustainable solutions in the production of energy.

His publications, numbering over 1,800, with some 500,000 citations—the largest number of citations in Chemistry worldwide—are a performance that mirrors his influence in the international research community.

Professor Graetzel is a true pioneer. Beyond the realm of Chemistry, his contribution to science and technology has a significant impact on upcoming advancements in renewable energy and enables humanity to create a sustainable future.

LAB 7110 1024x683

LAB 6832 1024x683

 

School of Medicine and School of Law top the admission scores

School of Medicine and School of Law top the admission scores

For another consecutive year, the School of Medicine and the School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have maintained their pre-eminence and appeal, securing top spots in the admission scores of the ‘Panhellenic Exams’. In addition, the Departments of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and Informatics have proven exceptionally popular, continuing […]

‘NKUA in the City’: Overview of activities, 2024-2025

‘NKUA in the City’: Overview of activities, 2024-2025

The series of educational, cultural, and artistic activities titled ‘NKUA in the City’ was introduced by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens—following a proposal by the present author—and officially launched on March 21, 2024. The events are co-organized with the Municipality of Athens based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was mutually agreed upon […]

Faculty members of the Department of Public Law meet online with representatives of the Sino-German Legal Cooperation Programme and GIZ—the German Agency for International Cooperation

Faculty members of the Department of Public Law meet online with representatives of the Sino-German Legal Cooperation Programme and GIZ—the German Agency for International Cooperation

On Monday, 14 July 2025, an online meeting took place between two faculty members of the Department of Public Law at the School of Law of the University of Athens, namely Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Dr Aikaterini Iliadou, and Assistant Professor, Dr Nikolaos Simantiras, on the one hand, and, on the other, […]

Memorandum of Understanding between NKUA and Henan University (China)

Memorandum of Understanding between NKUA and Henan University (China)

On July 16, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Henan University. The agreement was signed in Zhengzhou, China, by Professor Sophia Papaioannou, Vice Rector for Academic, International Affairs and Extroversion, on behalf of NKUA, and Professor Zhang Ligang, Vice President of Henan University. This […]

The “MOVE AS YOU ARE” Program – Project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program in the field of Sports

The “MOVE AS YOU ARE” Program – Project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program in the field of Sports

Globally, the Child Eye Health organization estimates that at least 450 million children have vision conditions requiring treatment, and 90 million children live with some form of vision loss. In Europe, the European Blind Union (EBU) (https://www.euroblind.org/) estimates that 30 million people are visually impaired. These figures highlight the significant scale of the problem and […]

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ranks first in Greece and Cyprus – Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2025 and US News Global University Rankings 2025-2026 announced

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ranks first in Greece and Cyprus – Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2025 and US News Global University Rankings 2025-2026 announced

US News & World Report Media Company has recently published the results of its Best Global Universities Rankings for 2025-2026. In this 11th consecutive annual edition of the US News Best Global Universities Rankings, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens placed 1st among Greek and Cypriot Universities and 216th worldwide. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki […]

Once again, top-scoring candidates choose the University of Athens

Once again, top-scoring candidates choose the University of Athens

It is a day of joy for many candidates who have recently sat the nationwide examinations for admission to Greece’s Higher Educational Institutions. Among this year’s top achievers—those scoring over 19,000 points—a significant number have once again set their sights on enrolling in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). One of the highest […]

University of Athens

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which was inaugurated on May 3, 1837, was initially housed in a renovated Ottoman building on the northeastern side of the Acropolis. This building has since been restored and now functions as the University Museum. Originally named the "Othonian University," after Otto, the first king of Greece, it consisted of four academic departments and 52 students. As the first university of the newly established Greek state, as well as of the broader Balkan and Mediterranean region, it assumed an important socio-historical role, which was pivotal in the development of specific forms of knowledge and culture within the country.

Stay Connected

Follow hub.uoa.gr on Social Media

closebutton
Skip to content