At the 10th anniversary festival of the Athens Science Festival 2024 titled “Tales of Change,” the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation is present with four research projects, which have been supported under the 3rd Call of the Action “Science and Society” under the title “Research, Innovation and Dissemination Hubs.”

The Athens Science Festival 2024 will take place from Tuesday, 16 to Sunday, April 21, at Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, and the following research projects will be presented:

In the section “INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION”

μCosmics: an educational telescope

An in-classroom station for detecting cosmic particles arriving on Earth from all directions of outer space. Middle and High School students construct cosmic ray detectors (μCosmics), learn their characteristics through experimental measurements, and then detect the invisible rain of particles caused by high-energy cosmic rays! The Principal Investigator of the Project is Associate Professor Antonios Leisos, and the Host Institution is the Hellenic Open University.

When: Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 11:00 – 19:00

Where: MICHANOURGEIO

Mystique STEM-Quake: unraveling the mysteries of earthquakes.

Earthquakes are complex natural phenomena that occur within the Earth’s interior, with the processes by which they are generated not being directly observable. Innovative, cutting-edge technologies are making science tangible: Festival visitors will be able to hold 3D models in their hands, which are 3D representations of geology and earthquakes, experience the simulation of real earthquakes on a Shake Table, and construct their own buildings using simple materials and testing their resistance on the seismic table. Finally, the public will take part in an educational quiz on earthquakes and protective measures. The Principal Investigator of the Project is Associate Researcher Katerina Orfanogiannaki, and the Host Institution is the Athens University of Economics and Business.

When: Weekend 20-21 April 2024 at 11:00 – 19:00

Where: MICHANOURGEIO

Smart energy management (APEX)

APEX is an educational program for secondary education on renewable energy resources and energy saving, which are measures to combat the climate crisis. Schools can visit the hubs stationed at Cibitanideos Public School of Arts and Professions and the 1st Vocational High School of Mytilene and get in touch with technological equipment leading to the energy transition.

What solutions does the scientific community propose to tackle the climate crisis?

What are the students’ answers, as the generation that will be asked to respond to unprecedented questions?

APEX aims to foster an open dialogue between science and the next generation.

The Principal Investigator of the Project is Emeritus Professor Nikolaos Hatziargyriou, and the Host Institution is the U.R.I. of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) – NTUA.

When: Wednesday, April 17 and Friday, April 19, 2024, at 09:00 – 14:00

Where: MICHANOURGEIO

In the section “CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP”

Digital Elements

According to an ancient story, King Ptolemy once asked Euclid if there was a path to geometry shorter than that of the Elements. And, so the story goes, Euclid answered that “there is no royal road in geometry.” In fact, for centuries, mankind followed this rule: Geometry, the only ancient science still practiced today, was taught through a book, Euclid’s Elements. The Action “Digital Elements” offers secondary education students digital interactive applications through which they can reproduce ancient geometrical proofs in a modern, stimulating manner. The Principal Investigator of the Project is Assistant Professor Michalis Sialaros, and the Host Institution is the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.

When: Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 09:30-10:15

Where: INNOVATHENS (Ground floor)