A great believer in science and in the intrinsic value and potential of the Greek creative spirit, Prodromos-Bodossakis Athanassiades made provision, as part of the Foundation’s activities, for distinguished Greek academics to be recognised for their scientific achievements. In line with its founder’s wishes, in 1993 the Foundation established the ‘Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Awards’.
With these awards, the Foundation acknowledges the creative work of young Greek scientists up to 40 years of age, rewards their commitment and continuous striving for scientific excellence, and honours them as role models for younger generations and for Greek society as a whole.
Awarded every two years, the Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Awards have so far recognised 65 outstanding young Greek scientists who are leading scientific research worldwide.
The Awards cover the following academic fields:
- Science
- Life Sciences
- Applied Science
- Social – Economic Sciences
The criteria for selecting the recipients of Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Awards are the candidates’ outstanding performance in their field of scientific expertise and the comprehensive nature of their research, as well as their contribution, through their work and ethics, to our country’s cultural, scientific and economic development and to Greece’s global visibility.
The Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Awards are accompanied by a monetary prize of €20,000 per academic field.
Submission of nominations
Nominations are submitted exclusively by third‑party nominators. Each nominator substantiates the proposed nomination in its entirety by submitting a nomination letter presenting the proposed candidate, their scientific work, their career path, and the significance of their contribution to the relevant scientific field. The nomination is approved and supported by two referees through the submission of letters of recommendation, which assess the quality, originality, and international recognition of the proposed candidate’s research activity, document specific aspects of the scientific work, complementing the nomination letter, without replacing it. The nominators and referees should be scientists in the candidate’s area of expertise who are of the same or a more senior level, or the head of a university or research institution.
Main bodies of the Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Awards
The main bodies involved in the selection process are (a) the Young Scientist Awards Committee and (b) the Selection Committees.
The Selection Committees, which are each specifically established for each academic field in which a Prize is to be awarded, evaluate the nominations. Each Selection Committee submits its recommended candidates to the Young Scientist Awards Committee.
The Young Scientist Awards Committee, a 10-member advisory body composed of distinguished members of the scientific community, plays a central role in the Distinguished Young Scientist Awards of Bodossaki Foundation. The Committee recommends to the Board of Trustees the academic fields in which the Awards are to be presented and submits its proposals for the selection and nomination of candidates. The Board of Trustees endorses the final recommendation of the Young Scientist Awards Committee and announces the recipients of the Awards.