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Studierende sitzt am Arbeitsplatz und schaut auf den Laptop. © Aliona Kardash​/​TU Dortmund
Social science colloquium

Research Award Winner Speaks on Ageing and Care in England

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A photo of Dr. Giorgia Di Gessa © Brittany Echemendia
Dr. Giorgio Di Gessa from University College London has been conducting research at TU Dortmund University since the beginning of the year. The associate professor of statistics and population health came to Germany as part of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award and is collaborating with Prof. Martina Brandt at the Department of Social Sciences. At the social sciences colloquium on 29 April 2026, he will speak about his findings on care, inequalities, and health, drawing on examples from England. The English-language lecture is open to all interested parties.

The Humboldt Foundation’s Bessel Prize is part of the German government’s “1,000 Heads” program, which aims to attract top international researchers to Germany on a long-term basis. One of up to 20 prizes awarded annually went to the London-based researcher in 2026. Dr. Giorgio Di Gessa conducts research at the intersection of social, health, and life course studies using quantitative methods. He investigates how social and demographic factors influence healthy aging, utilizing extensive longitudinal data and statistical methods. His research focuses on the question of how social activities — such as paid work, volunteer work, or informal caregiving — are related to physical and mental health in middle and older age. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Di Gessa also investigated how measures to contain the virus have affected mental health, social circumstances, and access to healthcare, particularly among older adults.

You can read the full article on TU Dortmund University's main website.