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Greek Paleoanthropologist Katerina Harvati Wins the 2026 Albert Einstein World Award for Science

Greek paleoanthropologist Katerina Harvati, professor at the University of Tübingen in Germany, will receive one of the world's most prestigious scientific honors, the 2026 Albert Einstein World Award for Science. The award is presented by the World Cultural Council in recognition of her pioneering research in paleoanthropology, which has transformed our understanding of human origins.

"This is a tremendous recognition of my research, my scientific career, and the field of paleoanthropology as a whole," Harvati told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA). "It highlights the global significance of paleoanthropology, which seeks to answer fundamental questions for all humanity: Where do we come from? How did we get here? And what might the future hold for us?" she added.

A professor at the Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Director of the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen, Harvati has pioneered the development and application of innovative methods, including virtual anthropology and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics. These techniques enable researchers to digitally reconstruct fragmented or deformed fossils and then quantify, statistically analyze, and compare them, significantly advancing the study of human evolution.

Columbia–University of Ioannina Joint Initiative Rethinks Mental Health Care for Refugees

Psychological support takes time. It is built on the development of a trusting relationship between therapist and client through repeated sessions. But what happens when the person in need of help is a refugee who is constantly on the move?

This is the question at the heart of the international research project "Healing Roots," a joint initiative of Columbia University and the University of Ioannina. Conducted in collaboration with the Region of Epirus, the Society for Psychosocial Research and Intervention, and the Network for Children's Rights, the project aims to investigate and evaluate mental health programs for refugees and migrants and, ultimately, to design new interventions tailored to the realities of their lives. The researchers are focusing on Greece and the Balkans while also examining other refugee-hosting regions around the world.

"We found that there are many opportunities to improve mental health services for internally displaced people in low-income and developing countries affected by civil conflict. However, the most significant gap is the lack of programs for people who have crossed international borders. At the same time, there is limited scientific evidence on which interventions are most effective for these populations. Refugees who have been forcibly displaced are constantly on the move and are often unable to participate in multiple interactions with mental health professionals," Charles Branas, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University and the project's lead coordinator on behalf of the university, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).

https://www.amna.gr/mobile/article/1007199/Columbia-Panepistimio-Ioanninon-Ereunitiko-programma-schediazei-nees-parembaseis-psuchikis-upostirixis-gia-prosfuges?fbclid=IwY2xjawThSzhwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMEViODdhU2ZIYTM3OGVZU3JzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeGvQUW8tb1ZDrKuLsJgwxhZHoZjoHDY-IGxZBP71b3wZcQG9bmU0zDol14kg_aem_f1pOA7W7W9jj2DuVOjEsgg