Johan von Schreeb, professor of Global Disaster Medicine at Karolinska Institutet, is awarded KTH Great Prize 2024 "for his efforts to reduce suffering in the world". It was announced by KTH on 3 October.
"With an unfailing competence and presence, he sees the people, the risks, the context, the vulnerability and the opportunities to help those whose lives have been shattered somewhere in the world. His efforts, on the ground, through coordination or as a researcher, alleviate the suffering of war and natural disasters. It also gives a belief in the human in all of us. Johan von Schreeb, is a very worthy recipient of KTH Great Prize." This is the motivation for the 2024 award winner.
Present in disaster areas
Johan von Schreeb is professor of Global Disaster Medicine at KI, research group leader of the group Global Disaster Medicine - Health Needs and Interventions, and Director of the Centre for Health Crises. At KI, Johan von Schreeb's work is characterised by research, policy work, teaching and fieldwork.
Johan von Schreeb describes as his greatest driving force to be present in disaster areas in various ways. An example of that driving force is that, at the same time as the prize is announced, he is in Italy.
There he is on assignment from the World Health Organization, WHO, to classify an Italian field hospital according to the WHO's EMT (Emergency Medical Teams) program, a program he himself has been involved in developing. From there, he travels on to Beirut to contribute with international relief efforts.
KTH Great Prize
KTH's Great Prize was established following an anonymous donation to KTH in 1944. Today, the prize money amounts to SEK 1.5 million and it is to be awarded to a person who "through epoch-making discoveries and the creation of new values as well as through ingenious applications of the findings gained in the areas of practical life promotes Sweden's continued material progress, or a person who, through scientific research, has found particularly valuable principles or methods that are useful for applications, who furthers the above-mentioned purpose, or a person who, through artistic efforts, exerts a powerful influence especially on the mental life of his own people."
