Saving the Mediterranean

The event "SAVING THE MEDITERRANEAN" took place with great success in the crowded auditorium of the Science & Technology Museum (STM) of the University of Patras on Sunday, March 23, 2014.

The event was co-organized by the STM, the Department of Geology of the University of Patras and the French Institute of Patras in the context of the Celebration of the International Francophonie and Water Day, as the main event of the exhibition "Waste in the Mediterranean" & "The portrait of marine plankton".

The event was opened by the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Prof. C. Kordoulis, while the Director of the STM, Prof. E. Vitoratos, the Director of the French Institute of Patras, Mrs. G. Petropoulou-Conan and the President of the Municipal Council of Patras, Mr. K. Bourdoulis also gave a welcoming address. Faculty members, teachers, pupils, students and many people with an interest in the problems of the Mediterranean and the actions of active citizens to save the Mediterranean participated. The event began festively with the Choir of the French Institute of Patras, children full of enthusiasm and fun, who presented, in impeccable French, the song "C 'EST DE L' EAU", of the French choir, "ENFANTASTIQUES" to emphasize the value of water!

Expert scientists that spoke at the event were Prof. G. Papatheodorou, President of the Department of Geology of the University of Patras & S.Kordella, Environmental Oceanographer MSC, Doctorate candidate in the Department of Geology of the University of Patras "Marine waste in the Mediterranean and the Greek seas. A panorama.", H. Karapanagioti, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry "Microplastics in the marine and coastal environment.", N. Roumelioti, Head of Coastal Management of the Mediterranean SOS Network "Actions to reduce pollution of the Greek coast from marine waste", C. Ioakimidis, Doctorate candidate, UP, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), "Marine waste in the context of the PERSEUS European Research Program: The case of the Eastern Mediterranean", while the speech of Ms. I. Papaioannou, responsible for Environmental Education - Secondary Education of Achaia "Waste in the seas through the eyes of secondary school students", due to her absence, was read by Ms. Kordella.

The event ended with music, songs and dances of the Mediterranean by a Musical Ensemble of students under the direction of Musician Ioanna Mintiloglitis. The students sang in a professional way, with fun and rhythm, songs such as Mediterranean, Wide Sea, Paper the moon, Caresse l’océan, Sea Gull, etc. The culmination of the event was with Metoikos, where the Music Ensemble of Students collaborated with the Choir of the French Institute and aroused the audience as the event came to its end.