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C H R O N I C L E

Hungarian Geographical Bulletin 2009. Vol. 58. No 2. pp. 141–146.

Academician György Enyedi receives Laureat d’Honneur award

Achievements of Hungarian geographical 
science received an exclusive appreciation 
on the 31st Congress of the International 
Geographical Union (IGU) held in Tunis 
between August 12 and 15,. 2008. Laureat 
d’Honneur, the highest recognition by the 
IGU was presented to Professor György 
Enyedi, former Vice-President of the IGU 
at the closing session. It should be consid-
ered a great honour for the Hungarian 
scientist, because from East and Central 
Europe only three prominent geographers 
– I.P. Gerasimov (Russia), J. Kostrowicki 
and S. Leszczycki (Poland) – were hith-
erto honoured with this award. During 
the ceremony two other outstanding 
representatives of the discipline – V.M. 
Kotljakov (Russia) and L.A. Kosinski 
(Canada, former president of the IGU) 
– were conferred the same distinction. 

Words of appreciation of György 
Enyedi’s ouvre and his high internation-
al merits in the fi eld of geography were 
voiced by Ronald F. Abler, President of 
the IGU as follows. 

“For decades, Prof. György Enyedi has been the voice and the face of Hungarian 
geography in the worldwide community of geographers. This position was built fi rst and 
foremost on the quality of his own work, but also on his skills at team building. Secondly, 
because of his untiring eff orts at maintaining international academic contacts, he has 
brought many colleagues from abroad in contact with their Hungarian counterparts and 
this cross-pollination has born rich fruit. During his long and distinguished career, he thus 
made a major contribution to the international standing of Hungarian geography.

He built contacts with many groups across the world, using his positions in 
Hungarian Academy very eff ectively to disseminate knowledge and insights at a global 
scale. At the individual level also, he has, directly and indirectly, stimulated many people to 
make, maintain and expand contacts and to share its benefi ts with others. Both as a person 



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and as a mentor, he has touched the professional lives of numerous colleagues across the 
world of geography.

György Enyedi is a decisive fi gure in the long-term development of regional sci-
ence as an independent and integrative discipline. He has been equally impressive in 
his leadership capacity within science internationally. Vice-President of the International 
Geographical Union (1984-1992), he served as President of the Hungarian committ ee of 
UNESCO (1998-2002). He is a member of Academia Europaea as well as an honorary 
member of seven foreign geographical societies. He is Chief Editor of the journal Hungarian 
Science and still serves on the editorial board of several international journals. He was 
visiting scholar in various leading US and French universities and has received several 
Hungarian and international awards and honors.

Professor Enyedi, you have made gigantic contributions to the discipline of geogra-
phy and have championed its identity among a broad range of other sciences. Please accept 
this Laureat d’Honneur 2008 as the deserved recognition by the International Geographical 
Union of your numerous outstanding achievements.”

Hungarian geographers are proud of the special privilege and congratulate 
Academician Enyedi on this occasion.

Tibor Tiner