Thematic Units
- Geopolitical Importance of Small Outlying Islands
- Insularity and Transport Accessibility
- Sustainable and Alternative Tourism
- Energy Autonomy, Green Transition and Climate Resilience
- Water Resources Management on Arid Islands
- Digital Transition
- Social Support, Welfare and Quality of Life
Theme 1: Geopolitical Importance of Small Outlying Islands
Yiannis Maniatis, Professor, Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group – Foreign Affairs, Security & Defence, International Energy Security and Cooperation, European Parliament
Stella Kyvelou, Professor, Maritime Spatial Planning
Koutoulakis Manolis, Secretary General of the Ministry of Shipping
Topic 2: Insularity and Transport Accessibility
Ilias Gianniris – AUTH[a] Specialization in transport, accessibility and spatial analysis of infrastructure.
Connects technical and social dimensions of insularity.
Ioannis Kaldellis – University of West Attica, Specialist in Renewable Energy Sources (RES), in Energy Efficiency, Environmental Protection, Electric Vehicles Systems, Sustainable Energy Transition[b]
Evangelos Kaisar
Topic 3: Sustainable and Alternative Tourism
Stella Kostopoulou – AUTH
Kyriakos Kotsoglou, Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Region of Crete
Maria Konstantoglou, Asst. Prof.
Topic 4: Energy Autonomy, Green Transition and Climate Resilience
George Arabatzis, Associate Professor, Professor Technical University of Crete, School of Production and Management Engineering.
Nikos Voutetakis – Technical University of Crete
Specialist in renewable energy sources, hybrid systems, energy autonomy of isolated areas.
Ideal for small islands aiming for energy self-sufficiency.
Dimitris Alexakis – Technical University of Crete
Specialization in hydrological models, climate change, water resources management on arid islands.
Connecting energy-water-climate resilience.
(Lia Nikolaou) Spyros Papaefthimiou, Professor Technical University of Crete, School of Production and Management Engineering. Specialization: Energy Management and Saving Systems and Technologies. Energy saving devices, Environmental analysis of systems: Life Cycle Analysis – Ecological Performance Study.
(Lia Nikolaou) Theocharis Tsoutsos, Professor, Technical University of Crete, School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering
Laboratory of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems
Department of Environmental and Energy Management, Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Theodoros Kizos – University of the Aegean
Socio-ecological systems, land use changes, agro-food resilience.
Links climate change with productive restructuring.
Thodoris Tsimpidis – Archipelagos Institute
Ecological restoration of small islands, marine protection, biodiversity.
Ideal for environmental modules and applied projects.
Nikos Karageorgiou – Technical University of Crete
Specialization in environmental engineering, waste management, circular economy.
Related to “green infrastructure” and “island sustainability”
Topic 5: Water Resources Management on Arid Islands
Nikolaos Nikolaidis, Professor, Technical University of Crete, School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering.
Specialist in hydrogeology, salinization, desalination and water supply systems of small islands.
Kondyli Emilia, professor, PADA
Dimitris Tsesmelis[c] – University of the Aegean
Focuses on water resources, climate change and management models in island environments.
Topic 6: Digital Transition
Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos – Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Governance[d]
Antonis Symvoulakis –[e]Technical University of Crete
Expert in smart cities, IoT, sensors and digital infrastructures.
Great relevance to “Smart Islands” technologies.
Georgios Arabatzis (may also participate in this module)
Zafirakis Dimitrios[f], associate professor, PADA
Anyone from the University of the Aegean?
Andreopoulou Zacharoula, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Stella’s proposal)
Topic 7: Social support, Welfare and Quality of Life
Anastasia Mitropoulou[g] – University of the Aegean
Social cohesion, demographics, participatory governance, island identity.
Excellent for sections “social resilience” and “island everyday life”.
Yiannis Roussos [h] – Chamber of Cyclades
Practical know-how in island entrepreneurship, digital services, local development. Connects science-market-island everyday life.
Ioannis Katsounis – University of the Aegean
Minister of Social Cohesion and Family??
Liodakis (psychiatrist, Gavdos)
Specialization in blue and social cohesion of island regions.
The above list fully covers the sections:
• Energy – Green Transition: Voutetakis, Kizos
• Water – Infrastructure: Alexakis, Nikolaidis, Tsesmelis
• Digital Services – Health – Education: Anagnostopoulos, Symvoulakis
• Transport – Accessibility: Gianniris
• Demographics – Social Cohesion: Mitropoulou
• Abandonment – Land Reuse: Kostaki
• Environment – Biodiversity: Tsimpidis, Karageorgiou
• Economy – Development: Ioannis Katsounis
• Alternative Tourism: Stella Kostopoulou