September 29, 2025
Stelios Kyriakides, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Engineering from the University of Cyprus.
“Cyprus is honored internationally by scientists who excel abroad and serve as its best ambassadors. Among them, Professor Stelios Kyriakides holds a distinguished position.” With these words, Professor Panos Papanastasiou of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering described the distinguished scientist during the conferment ceremony on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when Professor Kyriakides was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Engineering. This honorary recognition coincided with the opening of the new, state-of-the-art facilities of the faculty, marking a historic moment for the University of Cyprus and the Cypriot scientific community.
Professor Kyriakides was honored for his pioneering work on the propagation of instability phenomena in structures and materials, with applications in structures such as offshore pipelines, and materials that include: propagating necks in polymers; the onset and spreading of crushing in cellular materials including trabecular bone; the propagation of kink bands in fiber composites and woods; the propagation of phase transition fronts in shape memory alloys; the propagation of Lüders bands in metals, and others. He is internationally recognized as a leading figure in the field of mechanics, with major contributions in advancing research and education, bridging academic innovation with practical applications in critical technologies.
The ceremony included an address by the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Professor Tasos Christofides, and a presentation of the honoree’s work, contribution, and character by Professor Panos Papanastasiou. Professor Papanastasiou stated that Cyprus is honored internationally by scientists who excel abroad and serve as its best ambassadors. He emphasized that Professor Stelios Kyriakides holds a prominent place among them, with significant contributions to research, innovation, and science. The conferment of the honorary doctorate, he noted, is a tangible expression of gratitude and recognition of his distinguished work and integrity. The proclamation was read by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neophytou, followed by the ceremonial investiture of the honoree with the University of Cyprus gown by Rector Professor Tasos Christofides.
In his response, Professor Kyriakides thanked the University of Cyprus for awarding him the honorary title of Honorary Doctor, stressing that this distinction holds special meaning due to his Cypriot origin. In his lecture titled “Lessons from My Forty-Five Years in Research,” he shared insights from his journey in research, academic teaching, and life, highlighting the value of learning and knowledge, perseverance, and hard work.
He emphasized that a deep understanding of problems can open new paths in science and encouraged young researchers to cultivate their scientific curiosity, seek the new and original, and invest in collaboration and ethics. Concluding, he expressed pride in his roots and gratitude to both Cyprus and the United States, which welcomed him as a refugee. At the same time, he noted that the University of Cyprus has evolved into an excellent institution worthy of pride, but he conveyed a message to the state: in order for the University to achieve a higher position on the international academic map, it is essential to offer undergraduate programs in English, thus attracting leading academics and students from around the world.
The Conferment Ceremony of Professor Kyriakides is available on the University of Cyprus YouTube channel,
This story was originally published by the University of Cyprus.
About Professor Kyriakides
Professor Kyriakides has published approximately 300 papers, co-authored two books, co-edited five books, and has lectured extensively across the US and around the world.
He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Young Investigator Award of NSF, the Warner T. Koiter Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of both the ASME and American Academy of Mechanics, Docteur Honoris Causa from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, France.
Kyriakides holds the John Webb Jennings Chair in Engineering and is the director of the Center for Mechanics of Solids, Structures and Materials. He has served on the Cockrell School of Engineering faculty since 1980.
