Honorary doctorates
Since 1921, DTU has been conferring the degree of Doctor Technices honoris causa to individuals who fulfill the requirements for obtaining the Doctor Technices degree and have made an important contribution to DTU. Since 2000 the Honorary Doctorates is awarded at DTU’s Annual commemoration Day.
2024 David J. Moss In recognition of his pioneering contributions to the development of optical frequency combs
2024 Morten B. Meldal In recognition of his pioneering and transformative contributions to the fields of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
2024 Jan Hesthaven In recognition of his outstanding and seminal contributions to applied mathematics and computational science and engineering, bridging from mathematical analysis and algorithms to advances in applications.
2023 Abigail Allwood For pioneering research and discovery of novel hetero-epitaxi complex functional oxide thin films materials with greatly enhanced or new properties
2023 Chang Beom-Eom For pioneering research and discovery of novel hetero-epitaxi complex functional oxide thin films materials with greatly enhanced or new properties
2022 Sang Yup Lee Groundbreaking systems metabolic engineering of microbial cell factories.
2022 Victor de Lorenzo Pioneering research in environmental microbiology and biotechnology, designing new smart technologies in the field of synthetic biology,with a consistent clear vision of solving global problems concerning pollution and climate changes
2021 Michael D. Thouless Outstanding contributions to theoretical and experimental research in mechanics of fracture of layered materials, thin films, adhesive joints and fibre composites.
2020 Kay Axhausen Outstanding contributions to research in transport planning, transport behavior and transport survey methods, including theoretical, numerical, and experimental research
2020 Arthur D. Yaghjian Exceptional and seminal contributions to fundamental and applied electromagnetic field theory leading to advanced analysis, measurement, and development of modern antennas and scatterers.
2019 Frances Hamilton Arnold: Development and application of directed evolution for identification of novel enzymatic functions.
2018 Paulo A. F. Martins: Outstanding contributions to theoretical, numerical, and experimental research and development in metal formingand joining technologies.
2018 Charles J. Weschler: Sustained, seminal contributions advancing knowledge of the chemistry of indoor environments, especially in relation to human occupants.
2017 Klaus Petermann: Seminal contributions to research on photonic devices and optical communications.
2017 Marion P. G. Koopmans: Exceptional achievement in the study of viruses with a focus on early detection, preparedness and response for viruses with the greatest public health impact, as well as an outstanding dedication to the OneHealth approach and Open cCience.
2016 Charles Meneveau: Outstanding and highly innovative scientific achievements in fluid dynamics, particularly for his work on turbulence and atmospheric physics and its applications in wind energy.
2016 Gerd Leuchs: Pioneering and outstanding contributions in the field of quantum optics, quantum information, optical microscopy and interferometry.
2015 Anders Nilsson: Exceptional expertise and outstanding achievements within the fields of surface physics, ultrafast chemistry, and the structure of liquid and solid water, through pioneering applications of x-ray spectroscopic techniques.
2015 William W. Nazaroff: Outstanding contributions advancing understanding of the physics and chemistry that control human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments.
2015 John E.P. Connerney: Exceptional achievements in space research as well as highly innovative technological research, particularly for his contributions to designing space instrumentation and using it to reveal new sides of the Solar System.
2014 Bjerne S. Clausen: I anerkendelse af fremragende forskning med særlig vægt på in-situ karakterisering af nanopartiklers betydning for industriel heterogen katalyse.
2013 Wieslaw Królikowski: Outstanding and seminal contributions to fundamental nonlinear optics within light localization and solution formation and interaction in nonlinear media.
2013 Paul Seymour: Outstanding and seminal contributions to the mathematical foundations of networks with far reaching applications to theoretical computer science.
2012 Yechezkel Barenholz: Outstanding contributions to lipid membrane research and highly innovative achievements in nanomedicine.
2012 Richard W. Ziolkowski: Outstanding and seminal contributions to metamaterial-inspired antennas.
2011 Hassan Aref: Outstanding and highly innovative scientific achievements in fluid dynamics, particularly for his work on chaotic advection and vortex dynamics.
2011 James B. Rawlings: Outstanding and seminal contributions to Model Predictive Control.
Æresdoktorer 2010-2000
2010 Alfonso Valencia: Outstanding and highly innovative scientific achievements in computational biology, particularly for his creation of data integration schemes which incorporate text miningfor the extraction of protein interactions – a seminal contribution which constitutes the basis of much of the current work within the fields of bioinformatics and systems biology.
2010 Fiona Anne Harrison: Highly innovative and pioneering studies leading to outstanding scientific achievements in experimental and observational high-energy astrophysics - particularly for her role in the development of hard X-ray focusing telescopes, her leadership in future high-energy missions and her great results achieved in the Gamma-Ray Burst science.
2009 Peter Roepstorff: Outstanding and highly innovative scientific achievements in protein chemistry and proteomics, particularly for his creation of the world-wide used area of mass spectrometry of proteins and other biological macromolecules.
2008 Patrice Courvalin: Outstanding and ground-breaking contributions to our understanding of the molecular background and evolution of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria, with great importance for the detection and control of serious disease problems.
2007 Willi Gujer: Outstanding and innovative contributions to the development of deterministic models for biological wastewater treatment technologies and the transfer of the models to the water industry.
2006 Klavs F. Jensen: Ground-breaking and truly fundamental contributions to the development of Chemical Engineering, in particular within Chemical Reaction Engineering, Micro-Electronics and micro-Reactors – and all with a great impact on the Chemical Industry.
2006 Alan Needleman: Outstanding and innovative contributions to the understanding and modeling of deformation and fracture phenomenon of structural materials.
2005 Gregory N. Stephanopoulos: Outstanding contributions to the implementation in the field of biotechnology and life sciences, particular in pioneering and defining the field of metabolic engineering.
2005 Bengt Kasemo: Outstanding, innovative contributions to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology particularly in the areas of biomaterials and environmental heterogeneous catalysis.
2004 Cleve Moler: Outstanding and groundbreaking contributions in practical algorithms and software for mathematical modelling, which have revolutionized computational modelling and simulation worldwide.
2004 Victor C. Li: Outstanding, innovative contributions to materials research and engineering and providing our society and the construction industry with new, safe and sustainable building materials.
2003 John D. Spengler: Outstanding interdisciplinary research contributions to the indoor air sciences and environmental engineering that have been of great benefit for human health and quality of life.
2003 Craig R. Barret: Significant contributions to understanding of metallic microstructure and its influence on material properties, and for pioneering contributions to the development of the ITindustry.
2002 Martin A. Schmidt: For significant contributions to the development of the field of Microsystems research excellent research within process development as well as design and manufacturing of novel MEMS components.
2001 Alaa E. Mansour: For væsentlige bidrag til udviklingen af dimensioneringsprincipperne for maritime konstruktioner baseret på fremragende forskning inden for pålidelighedsteori, bølgebelastninger og ultimativ bæreevne.
2001 William Harry Melody: For fremragende forskning inden for interaktionen mellem teknik, økonomi og offentlig regulering på telekommunikations-/kommunikationsområdet.
2000 Lester Alan Gerhardt: For væsentlige bidrag til praktisk ingeniørarbejde baseret på fremragende forskning inden for adaptive systemer, mønstergenkendelse og billedbehandling.
2000 Edwin N. Lightfoot (University of Wisconsin-Madison): For fremragende forskning inden for transportprocesser i kemiske og biologiske processer.
Æresdoktorer 1999-1980
1994 Myer Bloom: For fremragende og fundamental forskning inden for biologiske systemers fysik og kemi.
1992 John W. Hutchinson: For fremragende og omfattende forskningsindsats inden for såvel strukturel mekanik som materialers mekanik.
1991 Willum Kann Rasmussen: For med usædvanlig idérigdom at have udforsket og udviklet konstruktioner og konstruktionsprincipper.
1990 Borg Madsen: For fremragende og banebrydende udforskning af træ som konstruktionsmateriale.
1987 Masao Doyama: For fremragende og omfattende forskningsindsats inden for faststoffysik og materialevidenskab.
1985 Mogens Hilmer Nielsen: For en betydningsfuld indsats inden for enzymforskning, der har medført en udvikling, hvor dansk enzymteknologi indtager en fremtrædende plads internationalt.
1983 Anders Hald: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den matematiske statistik og dens anvendelser i ingeniørvidenskaberne.
1983 Alan Garnett Davenport: For betydningsfuld og original forskningsindsats til udvikling af vindteknikken og især til løsning af dynamiske vindlastproblemer.
1980 Per Olof Strandell: For betydningsfuld forsknings- og udviklingsindsats som procestekniker, metallurg og konstruktør inden for den metalbearbejdende industri.
Æresdoktorer 1979-1960
1979 Gustav Lorentzen: For betydningsfuld forskningsindsats samt omfattende bidrag til udviklingen af køleteknikken og dens anvendelser.
1979 Michael Selwyn Longuet-Higgins: For betydningsfuld og vidtspændende indsats inden for valgbølgeforskningen til gavn for løsningen af kyst- og oceantekniske problemer.
1979 Leopold Benno Felsen: For betydningsfuld forskningsindsats inden for anvendt elektromagnetisk feltteori.
1979 Sven Gregert Terjesen: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af en moderne kemiteknisk uddannelse i Norden samt egen kreativ grundlæggende og anvendt forskning.
1979 Niels K.F.W. Clauson-Kaas: For betydningsfuld kreativ indsats til fremme af fabrikation af organiske produkter i kemisk industri og af udviklingen af kemien i Danmark.
1979Karl Ove Nielsen: For betydningsfuld indsats for den eksperimentelle fysik med betydning for ingeniørvidenskaberne.
1979 Joseph Bishop Keller: For betydningsfuld indsats på en række områder af anvendt matematik og matematisk fysik med udbytte for ingeniørvidenskaberne.
1974 Thomas Kilgore Sherwood: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af den videnskabelige kemiingeniøruddannelse og den dertil knyttede forskning.
1974 Fritz Leonhardt: For betydningsfulde bidrag til forskning og udvikling af beton- og stålkonstruktioner.
1974 Viggo Kjær: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af elektronisk forskning som grundlag for industriel produktion af måleinstrumenter.
1974 Henning Højgaard Jensen: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af undervisnings- og forskningsmiljøet ved Den polytekniske Læreanstalt – især i forbindelse med opbygningen af elektrofysikretningen og den faststoffysiske forskning.
1974 George K. Batchelor: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for hydrodynamisk forskning samt omfattende virksomhed som videnskabelig skribent og redaktør.
1974 Ove Nyquist Arup: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den bygningstekniske ingeniørvidenskab og dens kreative samspil med funktionen og dets kunstneriske udtryk.
1969 Haldor Topsøe: Af betydningsfuld indsats inden for den kemitekniske ingeniørvidenskab, særlig den forskningsmæssige og tekniske udvikling af katalytiske produktionsprocesser.
1969 Pierre Grabar: Af betydningsfuld indsats for den kemiske ingeniørvidenskab ved nyskabelse af metoder til studiet af høj molecylære stoffer, specielt proteiner.
1969 Knud Christensen: Af betydningsfuld indsats inden for dem kemitekniske videnskab og fortjenstfuldt arbejde til fremme af forskningen i Danmark.
1969 Richard Courant: Af betydningsfuld indsats som forsker, forfatter og organisator til gavn for matematikken og dens anvendelser.
1969 Ronald Percy Bell: Af betydningsfuld indsats inden for syre-base reaktionernes kinetik og teori.
1968 Morten Lassen-Nielsen: For betydningsfuld ingeniørmæssig indsats inden for funderings- og vandbygningsområdet især i forbindelse med sænketunneler.
1965 Uno Lamm: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af den stærkstrømstekniske ingeniørvidenskab – specielt forskningen inden for elektrisk kraftoverføring ved højspændt jævnstrøm.
1965 N.E. Holmblad: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den elektroniske ingeniørvidenskab og dens samordning i Danmark.
1965 H.B.G. Casimir: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af fysisk og elektronisk forskning som grundlag for industriel produktion.
1965 Gordon Stanley Brown: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af den videnskabelige ingeniøruddannelse og den dertil knyttede forskning med interdisciplinært sigte.
1960 Anker Dolleris Engelund: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for området bærende konstruktioner.
Æresdoktorer 1959-1940
1954 Carl August Møller: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for teknisk virksomhedsledelse.
1954 Kai Ulrik Linderstrøm-Lang: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den kemiske videnskab.
1954 Aage Garde: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den elektrotekniske ingeniørvidenskab.
1954 Hans Peter Christensen: For betydningsfuld indsats til industriens og forskningens fremme.
1954 Niels Janniksen Bjerrum: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den kemiske videnskab.
1954 Anders Kristian Bak: For betydningsfuld indsats inden for den maskintekniske ingeniørvidenskab.
1954 Aage Rørbye Angelo: For betydningsfuld indsats til fremme af elektricitetsproduktionen.
1954 Professor Peter Marius Frandsen
1951 Professor Søren Absalon Larsen
1951 Civilingeniør Lauritz Sigvald Johannesson
1942 Professor Alfred Lütken
1942 Civilingeniør Niels Hjelte Claussen
1940 Civilingeniør Paul Vilhelm Peter Bergsøe
Æresdoktorer 1939-1920
1935 Bogtrykker Ivar Jantzen
1933 Professor Karl Meyer
1929 Professor, dr.ing. Harald Malcolm Westergaard
1929 Professor, dr.phil. & med. Søren P.L. Sørensen
1929 Dr.phil. Valdemar Poulsen
1929 Direktør Christen Overgaard
1929 Borgmester Holger Chr. V. Møller
1929 Civilingeniør Poul Sehested Harald Larsen
1929 Fabrikant Henrik Johannes Krebs
1929 Direktør Frederik F.W. Johannsen
1929 Overingeniør Johan O.V. Irminger
1929 Professor William Hovgaard
1929 Direktør Malthe Conrad Holst
1929 Professor, dr.phil. Johannes Trolle Hjelmslev
1929 Diplomingeniør, dr.ing. Jens Lassen la Cour
1929 Professor, dr.phil. & scient. Niels Bohr
1929 Direktør Hans Henrik Blache
1929 Civilingeniør Axel Bendixen
1921Professor Henry le Chatelier