Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Sotiris Vardoulakis is Director of the NHMRC Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) National Research Network and Professor of Environmental Public Health at the University of Canberra Health Research Institute. Previously, Sotiris held senior academic, civil service and consultancy positions in the UK and Australia. He was Director of Research at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh, Head of the Environmental Change Department at Public Health England, and Professor of Global Environmental Health at the Australian National University. He is currently Honorary Professor at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter, and Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
For more than 25 years, Sotiris has advised national and local governments and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the European Parliament, the Pacific Community, and the UK and Australian Governments on the health effects of climate change, air pollution and extreme events, and on sustainable development, health impact assessment, risk communication, and public health. Sotiris has been involved in numerous research projects, including field studies, environmental monitoring and modelling, epidemiology, risk assessment, evidence reviews, and policy analysis in Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Air Pollution, University of Greenwich
Award Date: 3 Mar 2003
Master, (MSc) Environmental Technology, Imperial College London
Award Date: 11 Nov 1998
Bachelor, Physics (Hons), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Award Date: 6 May 1996
External positions
Director, NHMRC Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network, Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Global Research Centre
2021 → 31 Dec 2049
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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H2M: Health and Heat on the Move: Evaluating Air Pollution Exposure and Thermal Comfort Across Sydney’s Commute Modes
INDU, G. (CI), VARDOULAKIS, S. (CoI), Wheeler, A. (CoI), PERIARD, J. (CoI), GOODMAN, N. (CoI), Cowie, C. T. (CoI), SHAO, J. (CoI) & Chawala, P. (CoI)
1/09/26 → 31/08/27
Project: Research
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Empowering first responders to manage heat stress risk
PERIARD, J. (CI), CLARK, B. (CoI), COLTMAN, C. (CoI), Walker, A. (CoI), Brearley, M. (CoI), VARDOULAKIS, S. (CoI), MOHANTY, I. (CoI), TIAN, R. (CoI), NIYONSENGA, T. (CoI), SALVADOR-CARULLA, L. (CoI), RICKWOOD, D. (CoI) & LUKERSMITH, S. (CoI)
16/07/26 → 27/07/29
Project: Research
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“Waka Ŋurrkanhayŋu - Regenerating the existence of life”: Utilising Lived Yolŋu Experiences & Knowledges to Co-create Living Back on Country to Restore Harmony and Health of Humans and Country
VARDOULAKIS, S. (CI), Garrawurra, G. R. (CoI), Buergelt, P. T. (CoI), Matthews, V. (CoI), Maypilama, E. (CoI), Gurruwiwi, D. G. (CoI), Garawirrtja, B. J. (CoI), Munyarryn, Y. D. (CoI), Munyarryn, N. B. (CoI), Gondarra, G. J. D. (CoI), Bukulatjpi, D. C. (CoI), Garawirrtja, D. A. (CoI) & Baker, D. R. (CoI)
National Health and Medical Research Council
1/03/26 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Cause-Specific Loss of Life Expectancy from PM2.5 in Australia: A Public Health, Socio-Economic, and Regional Assessment
Somboonsin, P. (CI), VARDOULAKIS, S. (CoI), Hanigan, I. (CoI), Tefera, Y. M. (CoI), CHASTON, T. (CoI), SHAO, J. (CoI), INDU, G. (CoI) & FATIMA, H. (CoI)
4/02/26 → 14/02/27
Project: Research
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Child & youth climate-safe air and heat intervention, communication and navigation framework for schools
FATIMA, H. (CI), VARDOULAKIS, S. (CoI), LEIGH, G. (CoI), Wheeler, A. (CoI), SHAO, J. (CoI), INDU, G. (CoI), SALVADOR-CARULLA, L. (CoI) & GOODMAN, N. (CoI)
4/02/26 → 14/02/27
Project: Research
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Air Quality Degradation from Open Waste Burning: A Case Study of Brahmapuram, Kochi, India
Das, S., Verma, N., Mitra, S., Shiva Nagendra, S. M. & Vardoulakis, S., 2026, In: Aerosol Science and Engineering. p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Australian Research on Climate Change and Health Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review
Vardoulakis, S., Kazda, L., Haddock, R., Barratt, A. L., McGain, F., Wangdi, K., Okokon, E., Espinoza Oyarce, D., Indu, G., Goodman, N., Matthews, V., Spurrier, P., McGushin, A., Behrens, G. & Skellern, M., Mar 2026, In: Medical Journal of Australia. 224, 3, p. 1-12 12 p., e70165.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Heat-related health impacts in ASEAN countries: A scoping review
Aung, H. W., Kliengchuay, W., Niampradit, S., Aendo, P., Aye, T. S., Intrakun, S., Arthan, D., Koompapong, K., Lin, T. H., Vardoulakis, S., Lung, S. C. C. & Tantrakarnapa, K., Jun 2026, In: Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. 30, p. 1-10 10 p., 101272.Research output: Contribution to journal › Systematic review › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from health-system solid waste: a systematic review
McGushin, A., Okokon, E., Haddock, R. E., O'Brien, A. T., Turner, M. R., McGain, F., McGinley, C., Wyns, A., Vardoulakis, S. & Skellern, M., 2026, In: Lancet Planetary health. 10, 2, p. 1-11 11 p., 101418.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Assessing the health benefits and economic costs of interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution from biomass combustion in Australia
Borchers-Arriagada, N., Campbell, S. L., Goodman, N., Wheeler, A. J., Vardoulakis, S. & Johnston, F. H., 2025, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. p. 1-16 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Woodsmoke and asthma study health data analysis plan
GOODMAN, N. (Advisor), Cowie, C. T. (Consultant) & VARDOULAKIS, S. (Advisor)
22 Jun 2026 → 31 Dec 2026Activity: Consultancy
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"Waka Ŋurrkanhayŋu Regenerating the existence of life": Reviving & Strengthening Indigenous Ways of Being-Knowing- Doing to Heal the Source of ‘Natural’ & Social Disasters
Garrawurra, G. R. (Invited speaker), Maypilama, L. (Invited speaker), Buergelt, P. T. (Invited speaker), Garawirrtja, B. J. (Speaker), Gondurra, J. G. (Speaker), Gurruwiwi, D. G. (Speaker), Munyarryn, Y. D. (Invited speaker), Bukulatjpi, D. C. (Speaker), Munyarryn, N. B. (Speaker), Bukulatjpi , D. E. (Speaker), Matthews, V. (Speaker), VARDOULAKIS, S. (Speaker) & Paton, D. (Speaker)
19 Aug 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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"Waka Ŋurrkanhayŋu Regenerating the existence of life": Restoring health, harmony and adaptive capabilities by reviving and strengthening Indigenous ways of being-knowing-doing
Buergelt, P. T. (Speaker), Maypilama, L. (Speaker), Garrawurra, G. R. (Speaker), Garawirrtja, B. J. (Speaker), Gondurra , G. J. (Speaker), Bukulatjpi , D. E. (Speaker), Gurruwiwi, D. G. (Speaker), Munyarryn, Y. D. (Speaker), Munyarryn, N. B. (Speaker), Bukulatjpi, Y. D. (Speaker), Matthews, V. (Speaker), VARDOULAKIS, S. (Speaker) & Paton, D. (Speaker)
2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Researchers from Australian National University Discuss Research in Sustainable Development (Global sustainable development trends reveal widespread inequality and tradeoffs)
17/08/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Health Warnings Issued as Saharan Dust Brings 'Blood Rain' to UK
30/07/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Wildfire Smoke Engulfed Their Cities. Did It Make Their Babies Sick?
20/06/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Mothers fear children's chronic illnesses are linked to bushfire smoke during pregnancy
28/05/26 → 30/05/26
3 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Researchers from University of Canberra Report New Studies and Findings in the Area of Climate Change (Australian Research on Climate Change and Health Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review)
KAZDA, L., OKOKON, E., GOODMAN, N., VARDOULAKIS, S., WANGDI, K. & INDU, G.
3/04/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment