The Humboldt Foundation’s Bessel Reward is part of the German government’s “1,000 Heads” program, which aims to draw in leading worldwide researchers to Germany on a long-lasting basis. Among up to 20 prizes awarded yearly went to the London-based scientist in 2026. Dr. Giorgio Di Gessa performs research study at the intersection of social, health, and life course research studies using quantitative methods. He examines how social and demographic elements affect healthy aging, utilizing comprehensive longitudinal data and analytical techniques. His research concentrates on the concern of how social activities– such as paid work, volunteer work, or informal caregiving– belong to physical and psychological health in middle and older age. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Di Gessa also examined how measures to include the virus have impacted mental health, social scenarios, and access to healthcare, especially amongst older adults.
During his see to TU Dortmund University, he is teaming up with Prof. Martina Brandt and her team at the Chair of Social Structure and Sociology of Aging Societies on relative, policy-oriented research study on aging societies, household relationships, and caregiving. In particular, he analyzes how caregiving responsibilities over the life course affect social inequalities, health, and employment trajectories. In his lecture “Caregiving, Inequalities, and Health: Evidence From England,” which will happen on 29 April 2026 at 4:15 p.m. at Emil-Figge-Straße 50, he will provide existing findings on the impacts of caregiving on lifestyle. His analyses are based on information from the long-lasting research study “English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.” He will likewise provide an outlook on scheduled research study into caregiving histories and their long-term repercussions for work and health in older age.
About the Social Science Colloquium