Tag: AIF 2026

When Democracy Reaches Everywhere: Postal Voting and the Opening of a New Era for Our Country by Athanasios Balerbas, Secretary General Hellenic Ministry of Interior

A considerable number of children experience language difficulties, an issue that has become increasingly significant and complex in today’s multilingual societies. In settings where multiple languages and cultural backgrounds coexist, distinguishing between typical language variation associated with bilingualism/multilingualism and a Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) becomes particularly challenging. Within this context, the provision of both educational and clinical services — including speech and language assessment and intervention — is of major importance.

Against this background, the present symposium aims to explore the linguistic and cognitive profiles of bilingual children with developmental language disorders, in comparison with monolingual children with language disorders and bilingual children with typical development. The workshop presents ongoing research conducted within doctoral studies, as well as findings from recent research projects. Particular emphasis is placed on issues of differential diagnosis and assessment, which are discussed through the perspectives and practices developed by primary school educators and teachers of foreign languages.

See more at: Agenda

This symposium presents the open innovation activities of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) living lab “ThessAHALL” (Thessaloniki Action for Health and Well-being Living Lab) in collaboration with the Cast Museum at AUTH and the McGill University Living Lab (McGill-CRIR Living Lab).  ThessAHALL is an interdisciplinary open innovation living laboratory that promotes the integration of research, education, health, and social participation with the aim of improving well-being and quality of life for children and adults. Through participatory and experiential approaches, it operates as a hub for collaboration among the academic community, healthcare professionals, and social organizations.

To begin, the Museum of Casts and its collaborating McGill-CRIR Living Lab highlight the dynamic environment for learning and participatory engagement  as reflected in findings from  focus groups, experiential activities, and technology-supported programs for older adults, individuals with aphasia, and children with language and/or cognitive difficulties. Subsequently, ThessAHALL  presents its activities promoting health, well-being, and educational initiatives, including activities related to cancer research, active and healthy ageing, the promotion of healthy behaviors, collaborative and experiential learning, and environmental health.

Overall, the living lab constitutes a model of applied research and innovation, with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, community participation, and the transfer of knowledge into practice.

 

See more at : Agenda

EUROPE
IN AN UNCERTAIN
ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT

Friday, 22 May 2026
TIF — Emilios Riadis Hall
Time: 19:00–20:30

Speakers

Welcome Address: Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Rector of AUTH

Margaritis Schinas, Minister of Rural Development and Food of Greece

Anna Diamantopoulou, former European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs

Ioannis Sarmas, former Prime Minister and former President of the Hellenic Court of Audit

Ilias Lekkos, Group Chief Economist, Piraeus Bank

Panagiotis Glavinis, Dean of the Faculty of Law, AUTH

Moderator: Georgios Chatzitheofanous, President of the Board of Directors of the AUTH Alumni Association, Lieutenant General ret.

The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Crete 2016): Ten Years Later – Assessment and Prospects
20 May 2026
“Emilios Riadis” Hall, TIF-HELEXPO

Ten years after the convening of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in Crete in 2016, this conference aspires to serve as a meaningful forum for theological dialogue, scholarly assessment, and constructive reflection on a landmark ecclesiastical event in contemporary Orthodoxy. Centred on the theme “The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church: A Historical Event and Its Theological Significance for the Present and the Future,” the presentations will highlight the importance of the Council for the Orthodox Church, as well as its impact on contemporary theological thought, ecclesiastical life, and the wider world.

Particular emphasis will be placed on a ten-year assessment of the Holy and Great Council, examining the theological, pastoral, and ecclesiological issues it brought to the fore, the necessary responses to questions that remain unanswered, and the exploration of still-open matters in a world that is rapidly changing and often marked by violent upheavals. At the same time, the conference will bring into focus the prospects emerging for the future of Orthodoxy and the possibility that this conciliar experience may acquire the character of a recurring institution, capable of continually expressing the unity, witness, and responsibility of the Church in the face of contemporary challenges.

The Holy and Great Council revealed a dynamic Orthodox tradition, open to the concerns and major challenges of humanity, and brought forth the beauty, truth, and love of Orthodoxy. In this light, the conference seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the conciliar event and to foster a fruitful discussion on the witness of the Church amid the constantly changing conditions of the modern world.

The subject of the Round Table is to highlight the importance of establishing a Forum for Interreligious Dialogue in contemporary Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki, as a historic crossroads of peoples, cultures, and religions, has a strong tradition of coexistence among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Its ecumenical heritage, from Alexander the Great and Aristotle to the Apostle Paul, has shaped a culture of openness, outward engagement, and dialogue. Within this context, the establishment of an Interreligious Forum can serve as a contemporary institution for cooperation and mutual understanding.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with its international presence and its commitment to human development, can provide substantial support to this initiative. The Forum will contribute to the prevention of tensions, the strengthening of social cohesion, the education of young people in the values of respect and democracy, and cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges such as bioethics, artificial intelligence, and the environment.

The establishment of a Local Interreligious Forum is not merely the creation of a new institution, but a meaningful investment in peace, social cohesion, and human dignity, positioning Thessaloniki as a living example of a “Local Ecumene.”

The speakers participating in the Round Table are:

Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Stelios Angeloudis, Mayor of Thessaloniki

His Eminence Philotheos, Metropolitan of Thessaloniki

Dr. Yitzchak Dayan, Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki

Representative of the Roman Catholic Church

Fr. Geghia Malhasyan, Parish Priest of the Church of the Holy Mother of God of the Armenian Church of Thessaloniki

Mohamed El Zahabi, Chair of the Religious Committee of the Athens Islamic Mosque

Sotirios Boukis, Pastor of the Evangelical Church of Thessaloniki

The discussion will be moderated by Professor Nikolaos Maggioros, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Georgios Keramidas, Assistant Professor at the School of Informatics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will present the remarkable journey of Think Silicon S.A. and its acquisition by the American technology giant Applied Materials.

Think Silicon stands as a leading example of the successful connection between Greek academic research and international industry. By developing globally competitive innovations in microprocessors and Artificial Intelligence, the company has demonstrated that cutting-edge research produced in Greece can achieve a prominent position on the global stage.

Professor Nikolaos Pleros, from the School of Informatics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will present the success story of the collaboration between the WinPhos Research Group and Celestial AI, the American artificial intelligence technology giant.