In remarkable recognition of his contributions to the fields of physiology, environmental health and sustainability, Dr Andreas Flourisassociate professor at the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science of the University of Thessaly, was included in the prestigious list TIME magazine’s TIME100 Next for 2023. This annual list recognizes 100 people from all walks of life, politics, science, art and social action with the most powerful perspective to change the future of the world.

The TIME100 Next list is published from 2021 and Dr. Fleuris is the first Greek to be included in it. So far, the list has included politicians such as Sanna Marin, the former prime minister of Finland who took office just weeks before her country’s first case of coronavirus, Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia who campaigned to support Ukraine from the European Union, as well as Rishi Sunak, the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who when he was included in the TIME100 Next list was a relatively unknown economist and had just been appointed Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. The list also includes artists such as Dua Lipa, a pop star with millions of fans worldwide, as well as Ana de Armas, star of films such as ‘Knives Out’ and ‘James Bond – No Time to Die’. The TIME100 Next list also includes athletes such as Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest tennis player to become world No.1, Marcus Rashford, a star of Manchester United and the England national team, who led a campaign to convince the government to face child hunger in the United Kingdom, as well as Luka Doncic, who at the age of 21 was already selected in the NBA’s top five. Finally, the TIME100 Next list includes leaders, inventors and activists such as Victor Glover, a NASA astronaut who will fly to the dark side of the moon late next year on the Artemis 2 spacecraft, Vanessa Nakate, a well-known climate activist from Uganda, which has launched a major program to convert schools to solar energy, and Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, the first female mayor of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.

With an illustrious career spanning the past 20 years, Dr. Flouris has dedicated his research to understanding the impact of climate change and environmental factors on public health and other aspects of our lives such as the economy, competitiveness and quality of life. He is an advocate of climate action and the fight for sustainability, aiming to secure the future of our planet and societies.

“I am honored to be included in the TIME100 Next list,” said Dr. Fluris to APE-MPE. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work of my FAMELab research team at the University of Thessaly and the support of my colleagues and mentors. The purpose of my research is to help create a more sustainable and just future for all.”

What distinguishes Dr. Fluris is not only his significant academic achievements but also his effort to translate scientific knowledge into social action. He has advised governments and international organizations, such as the Cyprus Presidency, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Greece, the Ministry of Labor of Qatar, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Organization Space and NASA, on the critical interactions of climate change and environmental factors with health, sustainability, and impact assessment and risk communication in the present and future.

As Dr. Fluris explains to APE-MPE, “our studies span a wide spectrum, from small and large-scale field studies, basic and applied laboratory research, clinical studies, environmental monitoring and modeling, epidemiological research, risk assessment and analysis politics or economy”. Continuing, he states that “we are very happy that our research has been funded by the Commission with more than 20 million euros since 2010. They are very interested that our research focuses on Commission priorities, such as the effects of heat stress, atmospheric pollution and extreme weather phenomena on health and quality of life”. So far, Dr. Fluris’ research has had a significant impact on policy. He has helped develop guidelines and legislation on heat stress and air quality as well as climate change adaptation strategies.

Dr. Fluris’s inclusion in TIME100 Next is not only a recognition of his outstanding contribution to science, but also a testament to his commitment to creating a more sustainable and better world for future generations. He also states that “as an advocate for climate action, I work closely with national and international organizations to promote sustainability initiatives that can lead to a more environmentally aware world. I try to translate science data into actionable environmental, climate, health and economic policies for organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the Bank of Greece and others”. For this reason it has a strong presence in global media such as BBC, CBC, Financial Times, NewYorkTimes, WIRED, HBO and ThomsonReutersFoundation. As he states, “the ability of scientists to communicate complex concepts to the public is vital to raising awareness in society. Taxpayers support research but, unfortunately, it often goes unused and does not progress beyond the level of a scientific article that only a few people read. We have to change that.”

In recent years it has become clear that the tireless work and dedication of Dr. Flouris inspires others to engage in this field of research. As he says, “so far I have been lucky enough to supervise the research of more than 60 excellent postdoctoral and doctoral or postgraduate students. Today, many of these people work in organizations such as the European Commission, major universities and research centers in Europe and North America, or have followed other highly innovative career paths. I am very proud of the work done by the researchers of our group”. He tries to support his colleagues at all stages of their careers, which was recognized from the first years of his career in Canada, giving him the title of “Academic All-Canadian Mentor”. He concludes by emphasizing to APE-MPE that “the next generation of scientists is our best hope for dealing with the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. As an academic, I am committed to supporting their work and helping them make a positive impact on society as a whole.”