14/07/2005

Thirty-five research institutions, universities and businesses presented innovative products and services in an interactive and intuitive way, during the first "Science and Technology Week" which was held in Athens at the Zappeion Megaron, from 30th June to 7th July 2005. The event, organised by the Ministry of Development' s General Secretariat for Research and Technology, was aimed at familiarising the public with new technologies and their significance for our daily life.

The Exhibition was visited by the Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, who said that "The achievements presented here confirm our country's great research and business potential. And they also prove that, provided they are co-ordinated correctly, we can ensure a better future, with a very high developmental and social benefit for us all. We are working hard in this direction. The new institutional framework on Research and Technology is ready, while new Research Centres are being founded."

The Week's events were launched by the Minister of Development, Mr. D. Sioufas, who announced that the Ministry intends to establish the Science and Technology Week as an annual event in Greece, so that it may serve as a point of reference for the country's technological achievements, and also to let the Exhibition travel to other Greek cities, starting with Thessaloniki. The event included speeches by the Minister of Education Mrs. M. Giannakou, the General Secretary for Research and Technology, Prof. I. Tsoukalas, and the president of the National Research and Technology Council, Prof. D. Nanopoulos.

The Minister of Development pointed out that many of the exhibits will be put into production in the near future. He stressed that 'Of particular importance is the fact that the research centre of the Academy of Athens is working towards equipping the country's hospitals (starting this coming October) with the model system "Hippokrates - mst", which allows improved early diagnosis of breast cancer".

While speaking about the achievements of Greek scientists, Mr. Sioufas pointed out a significant international distinction earned by two Greek researchers during the Global 100 Eco-Tech Awards (EXPO 2005, Japan), which were awarded to the 100 best environmental technologies that will contribute to the solution of environmental problems. These researchers were Mr. Theophilos Ioannides (FORTH Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes), who submitted a documented proposal on the use of air as an insulator, and Mr. Athanassios Konstantopoulos, director of the CERTH Laboratory of Aerosol & Particle Technology, who submitted a proposal for the use of water as a fuel.

In his speech, the General Secretary of Research and Technology Prof. Ioannis Tsoukalas mentioned that "We wish to improve the general public's familiarity with the achievements of science and technology, because our society is too often distrustful of the scientists' work and does not realise the improvements brought about by such performance by the people of science. We also wish to bring out the true potential of our scientists, in universities and research centres, as well as the potential of the private sector and of innovation".

A Tour in the World of Science and Technology

During the Science and Technology Week, young and older visitors had a chance to understand "how" and "why" such wonderful things take place around us, for example through a presentation of the importance of Physics in football or a demonstration of the rescue of survivors after an earthquake. Furthermore, visitors had the opportunity to watch a connection of the Zappeion grounds with a distant school through the Internet, using the capabilities of the Greek Hellas Satellite. Applications of renewable energy sources were also presented, in order to clearly demonstrate that, through the use of simple technological and technical practices, we can conserve energy and save money from the household budget.

The National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) also participated in the Week's events, with a stand where visitors could learn about the basic activities of the NHRF's institutes, as well as the activities and the services of the National Documentation Centre (EKT). Young and old visitors alike were impressed by the interactive Physics experiments which were conducted at the stand, the interesting publications by the NHRF, as well as the collection of Greek scientific instruments from the 19th-20th century.

In addition to the exhibition and throughout the Science and Technology Week, other events included congresses, round table discussions and documentary screenings on scientific, historical and social issues. The events covered almost all human and scientific activities: from health and nutrition to history and education, from nanotechnology, biotechnology, ecology, marine research to telecommunications and technological achievements all at the service of citizens.

The public's attendance at the round table discussion "Biotechnology and Society", organised by the Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology/NHRF, as well as at the screening of the historical documentary "My Mytilene 1925-1927", produced by the Institute of Neohellenic Research/NHRF, was impressive.

The weekend of July 2-3 was dedicated to young visitors, who had the opportunity to express their ingenuity and ecological sensitivity by participating in various activities such as word games, racing solar-powered model cars or expressing their opinion, through drawings, on wind, solar and thermal power. Experiments and knowledge were supplemented by dancing and charades, to make them more attractive and understandable to the visitors.

Source: Ministry for Development, GSRT

Editor: Margaritis Proedrou