World Sustainability
Award

100,000 USD Prize

World Sustainability
Award

100,000 USD Prize

Awardees

2022
2021
2020
2018
2017
Prof. Dr. Michael R. Templeton

Michael R. Templeton is Professor of Public Health Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London and t...

Prof. Dr. Thomas P. Lyon

Thomas P. Lyon holds the Dow Chair of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce at the University of Michigan, with appointments in both the Ross Sch...

Dr. Krithi Karanth

As a scientist, her research in India and Asia, spanning 24 years, encompasses many issues in the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. She has con...

stars 2022
Prof. Dr. Michael R. Templeton

Michael R. Templeton is Professor of Public Health Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London and t...

stars 2022
Prof. Dr. Thomas P. Lyon

Thomas P. Lyon holds the Dow Chair of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce at the University of Michigan, with appointments in both the Ross Sch...

stars 2022
Dr. Krithi Karanth

As a scientist, her research in India and Asia, spanning 24 years, encompasses many issues in the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. She has con...

stars 2021
Prof. Dr. John Elkington

Prof. Dr. John Elkington is a world-renowned author, advisor, and entrepreneur who has advocated and promoted sustainability for more than four decades....

stars 2021
Prof. Dr. Jianguo 'Jack' Liu

Prof. Dr. Jianguo “Jack” Liu is a world leader in systems integration and sustainability (e.g., integrating ecology with social sciences, policy, and te...

stars 2020
Prof. Dr. Michael Mann

Prof. Dr. Michael Mann is Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State Universit...

stars 2020
Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha

Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha is a medical doctor with expertise in clinical pathology, neuroscience, and psychiatric disorders. She is head of stake...

stars 2018
Dr. Mathis Wackernagel

Dr. Mathis Wackernagel is the co-creator of the Ecological Footprint and President of the Global Footprint Network. After his mechanical engineering deg...

stars 2018
Dr. Zhifu Mi

Dr. Zhifu Mi is a Lecturer at The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London (UCL), with research interests in th...

stars 2017
Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs is a world-renowned professor of economics, leader in sustainable development, senior UN advisor, bestselling author, and syndic...

stars 2017
Dr. Sonia Sachs

Dr. Sonia Sachs is a paediatrician and public health specialist with a specialty in paediatric endocrinology. Dr. Sachs practiced medicine for over 20 y...

Process of Nomination

Nominations need to be submitted by a third party to info@mdpi-foundation.org. The Selection Committee is then responsible for reviewing and selecting the winner(s) of the World Sustainability Award. Please note that if there is more than one winner, the total amount of 100,000 USD will be divided equally amongst the winners. The winner(s) will be informed in due course and will be required to attend the Award Ceremony which is held during the World Sustainability Forum.

What will the Selection Committee be looking for?


  • A unique, sustained and outstanding achievement based on strong pure or applied research in any appropriate discipline
  • Achievement that addresses at least 2 pillars of sustainability* and demonstrates measurable impact within those particular pillars
  • Novelty and feasibility of real-life applications of the research 
  • Entrepreneurial potential of the research
  • Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

*The 3 pillars of sustainability are as follows:

  • Social (Standard of Living, Education, Community, Equal Opportunity)
  • Environmental (Natural Resource Use, Environmental Management, Pollution Prevention)
  • Economic (Profit, Cost Savings, Economic Growth)
  • Nominees for the World Sustainability Award may be senior individual researchers or groups of researchers from the international research community.
  • Please note that self-nominations are not accepted.
  • The Selection Committee will review the nominations and select a winner.
  • The awardee(s) will be informed on 15 June 2023.
  1. Download and fill in Nomination Form
  2. Attach the nominee’s detailed CV, including a list of most relevant publications and a list of funded projects
  3. Please send the files to info@mdpi-foundation.org. Nomination deadline is 14 April 2023 extended to 14 May 2023.

Nomination must be submitted in English, in one single document, PDF format.

Dr. Shu-Kun Lin

Permanent Selection Committee Member Founder and President of MDPI and founder and chairman of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation

Prof. Dr. Ed Constable

Permanent Selection Committee Member Former Vice President for Research of the University of Basel

Dr. Shu-Kun Lin

Permanent Selection Committee Member Founder and President of MDPI and founder and chairman of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation

Prof. Dr. Ed Constable

Permanent Selection Committee Member Former Vice President for Research of the University of Basel

Non-Permanent Members:


  • A university professor from the Scientific Board of Sustainability
  • An unaligned university professor with expertise in sustainability
  • A representative of either an intergovernmental organization, a civil society or the business sector

Up to three non-permanent members of the selection committee may be appointed for each Award. Re-appointments are possible three years after having served on the Selection Committee.

  • The right to the World Sustainability Award is not transferable.
  • A recipient can receive the World Sustainability Award only once.
  • The recipient/s of the World Sustainability Award is/are required to participate in the award ceremony at the World Sustainability Forum.
  • The associated costs are covered by the organizers to an extent that will be communicated to the recipient.