Pokemonprofessors are some of the most interesting characters in the series. Their entire lives are dedicated towards understanding the Pokemon world and the various elements that make it unique. This includes doing research on how Pokemom evolve, their relationship to humans, and even naturally occurring phenomena around the region.

So, when handing out awards for science, progress, and discovery, which professor has had the most impact on their regions and other nations? Are there any that have harmed their region by accident? It’s the quest for the best in Pokemon’s scientific community as we weigh the different professors and their accomplishments.

Professor Magnolia in front of a blurred out map of the Galar region.

11Professor Magnolia

The Dynamaxing Professor

Professor Magnolia’s research doesn’t just cause great harm to the Galar region, but also hurts its culture. With Magnolia bringing the wonders of Dynamaxing to the public eye, she dooms the region’s gyms into becoming uniform stadiums meant to capitalize on the energy.

Dynamaxing becomes a spectacle to the public, which gets abused by Chairman Rose. As more people gather to enjoy the fun, they do not realize that towns like Spikemuth are getting trampled and forgotten in the process. Luckily, her successor seems more interested in Galar’s true history.

Professor Sonia in front of a blurred out map of the Galar region.

10Professor Sonia

Rediscovering Galar’s Roots

Sonia becomes a Pokemon professor at the end of Sword and Shield. While Magnolia’s research separated Galar from its roots, Sonia’s research is vital towards understanding the true history of the region, thus fixing the sense of disconnect.

Every region has a special connection to its legendaries in a cultural sense. This can mean creating shrines for fallen beasts or altars for the deities of space and time. Sonia’s findings include the rediscovery of the ancient legendaries, the truth behind the first king of Galar, and records of the darkest day.

Professor Juniper in front of a blurred out map of the Unova region.

9Professor Juniper

The Origin Of All Pokemon

There is plenty of talk across the series as to the origin of Pokemon. Did Pokemon originate from space? Was the planet created by Arceus with both humans and Pokemon already on it? Professor Juniper studies this question in the Unova region.

While not having practical everyday use, Professor Juniper’s research is important towards understanding what Pokemon are and how they relate to humans. She also takes a more active role, leaving her lab to do some hands-on research across the region.

Professor Turo and Professor Sada in front of a blurred out map of the Paldea region.

8Professor Sada And Professor Turo

The Mysteries Of Area Zero

Professor Sada and Turo are two halves of the same coin. They both study the anomalies of Area Zero within the Paldea region. Considering how dangerous Area Zero can be and its location at the very heart of the region, understanding it could be the key to the survival of Paldea.

Outside of Paldea, their research doesn’t see too much significant impact as the anomaly is local. This is similar to the Ultra Wormhole research. Great for Alola but somewhat irrelevant everywhere else.

Professor Rowan In front of a blurred out map of the Sinnoh region.

7Professor Rowan

Knowledge For Knowledge’s Sake

Many branches of science encompass the study of evolution in the Pokemon world. Professor Rowan’s branch consists of researching the philosophical implications of evolution and how it connects different branches of Pokemon in a genetic sense.

Why do some Pokemon evolve and others don’t? Is the process of evolution a way to show a Pokemon maturing, or is it trying to achieve some perfect form? What does that mean for legendary Pokemon without evolutions? It’s fascinating research, but not one that directly impacts the region.

Professor Sycamore in front of a blurred out map of the Kalos region.

6Professor Sycamore

Mega Evolutions

Out of all the branches of study regarding evolution,Mega Evolutionis one of the more interesting ones. This isn’t just another stage that a Pokemon has, but a reaction the creature has with a Mega Stone and a bond with a trainer.

Mega Evolution is one of those phenomena that isn’t tied down to the region it was introduced in. It goes beyond Kalos and reaches places such as Kanto, Alola, and Hoenn. While not everyone uses it, understanding it can bring trainers and Pokemon closer than ever before.

Professor Kukui in front of a blurred out map of Alola.

5Professor Kukui

Pokemon Moves

Pokemon moves are important in every aspect of life, whether they are used for battling, travel, or taking care of day-to-day life. Professor Kukui is the perfect fit for Alola due to the presence of Z-Moves, which can be unleashed when both Pokemon and Trainer are perfectly in sync.

Considering his specialty in Pokemon moves, it makes sense for him to establish a Pokemon League in Alola. What better way to study the most powerful moves being utilized than in a league that attracts all the best trainers?

Professor Birch in front of a blurred out image of the Hoenn region.

4Professor Birch

Living With Pokemon

Professor Birch studies Pokemon habitats, making him a perfect fit for Hoenn. With many unique biomes such as the long grass, deserts, and deep-sea reefs, there are many places where Pokemon can flourish. There also needs to be room for humans who don’t disturb these habitats.

Hoenn as a region is unique, as it harmonizes with nature in terms of its infrastructure. You have cities built on the treetops, floating on the seas, and using volcanic activity to their own benefit. This is a region that perfectly captures the idea of living side by side with nature.

Professor Oak in front of a blurred our map of Kanto.

3Professor Oak

Pokemon Ecology And Collections

Professor Oak’s research modernizedthe Pokedex systemthat we see in every region after. This isn’t your average pen and paper Pokedex from the Hisui era, but a full-fledged device to help identify and keep records of Pokemon.

While Professor Oak fulfills the duty of distributing official starter Pokemon across the Kanto region, his role extends to other regions such as Johto. His knowledge of Pokemon ecology can be put to use on DJ Mary’s radio show, where he reveals the location of mass outbreaks.

Professor Elm in front of a blurred out photo of the Johto region.

2Professor Elm

Building The Perfect Pokemon

Professor Elm is one of the most underrated professors in the series. His research is entirely focused on Pokemon breeding, eggs, and evolutions. While you don’t see the fruits of his research impacting the region on a surface level, it is highly important for competition.

Pokemon breeding is a vital part of the competitive community. If you were to say that every player represents how a Pokemon trainer in the in-game world behaves, then understanding how IVs and egg moves work is an important part of every region with a Pokemon league.