- The Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences published the book titled “History of the National Meteorological Service”, Volume A’ 1931-1950, by Mr. Evangelos Mantis, Brigadier General Retd. Meteorologist of the Hellenic Air Force. The book refers to the events which led to the birth of the National Meteorological Service that stemmed from the Meteorological Department of the National Athens Observatory and it brings to light details about the NMS role as an initially military service. The book also refers to the rest of the services the NMS offers in the context of the World Meteorological Organization and our country’s national needs. (“History of the National Meteorological Service. Volume A’ 1931-1950”, 2015)
- On April 28, 2015 the Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the French Institute and the Conférences Sans Frontières, co-organized an evening of discussion and tasting titled: “The Future of the Olive Tree, the Olive Tree of the Future”. The cultivation of this Legendary tree in Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal covers 95% of the world production of olive oil and is in itself a very important economic sector. However, global climate change and the expected increase in temperature will eventually force olive cultivation to change its practices. Climatologists, agronomists, historians as well as Mediterranean diet experts participated in an evening of discussions in three thematic cycles, where they exchanged views as to what makes the Greek olive tree so special, its future and the prospects of this multiannual cultivation between tradition and innovation. Journalists Pericles Vasilopoulos, Vice President of the Citizens’ Union for Intervention and Sylvie Gruszow of Conférences Sans Frontières coordinated the discussions. The speakers were Mr. André Bervillé former Research Director at the INRA Research Centre, Mrs. Ekaterini Polymerou-Kamilaki former Director at the Greek Folklore Research Centre of AA, Mr. Stéphane Angles Geographer, Assistant Professor at the Paris Diderot University, Professor Christos Zerefos, Academician, MKF Chairman, Prof. Andrew Karamanos former Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Mr. Leandros Skaltsounis, Director of the Pharmacognostics and Chemistry Sector of Natural Products, Athens University, Mrs. Antonia Trichopoulou, Chair of the Hellenic Foundation for Health and Mr. Elias Mamalakis, journalist and author. The event was broadcast on live streaming by Telésavoirs and it went on with an initiation into the tasting of olive oil under the guidance of the expert taster John Karvelas who taught the audience how to distinguish virgin olive oils and their varieties. http://www.ifa.gr/el/livre-idees-savoirs/debat-didees/5918-le-futur-de-lolivier-lolivier-du-futur
From left to right, Prof. Christos Zerefos, Academician, MKF Chairman, Mr. Stéphane Angles Geographer, journalist Pericles Vasilopoulos, Vice President of the Citizens’ Union for Intervention, Mrs. Sylvie Gruszow of Conférences Sans Frontières and Prof. Andrew Karamanos, former Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens (French Institute, Athens, 2015).
The research team of the Schumann’s Resonances Program, which was funded by the Mariolopoulos Foundation, at the cultural center of the University of Ioannina (Ioannina, 2015).
- From May 8 to May 10, 2015 the 3rd Pan-Hellenic Conference on Electronics and Telecommunications, PACET 15, was held at the University of Ioannina. This conference included the announcement of two papers related to the detection and processing of very low frequency waves (ELF), better known as Schumann Resonances. The first of these papers titled “Design and implementation of Schumann resonances sensor platform” referred to the design and construction of an SR detection device, while the second one titled “Preliminary Measurements of Schumann’s Resonances (SR) in the Greek Area” referred to the preliminary processing of the first measurements taken with this device. These papers presented the results of a research program funded by the MKF in the period between 2011 and 2013. This program was carried out by a team of the telecommunications workshop, University of Ioannina, and by Mr. Repapis and Mr. Tritakis on behalf of the Foundation. The abovementioned papers are to be published in the “Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review – JESTR”. (“Preliminary Measurements of Schumann’s Resonances (SR) in the Greek Area”, 2016) http://career.duth.gr/portal/?q=node/3328#.Wml-8GcUncs
- On May 24-27, 2015 the Institute for Chemical Processes and Energy Resources (CPERI), the Institute for Sustainable Mobility and Transport Networks (HIT), the National Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), the Academy of Athens and the Mariolopoulos – Kanaginis Foundation for Environmental Sciences co-organized the International Conference titled “Global Conference on Global Warming – GCGW 2015” which took place at the Academy of Athens and at the Royal Olympic Hotel. The lectures of the interdisciplinary conference dealt with climate change and global warming, providing technical information and research results as well as the presentation of new developments in the fields of General Climate Change issues, Renewable Sources of Energy with an emphasis on Solar Energy and Bioenergy, Biofuel, Sustainable Mobility of New Energy Technologies, Carbon Dioxide Capture, Storage and Re-use Technologies, More Efficient Use of Fossil Fuels and Water and Waste Treatment. https://www.researchgate.net/conference-event/GCGW_Global-Conference-on-Global-Warming_2015/2329
- On June 6, 2015, the Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences, the Climate Change Impacts Study Committee (CCISC) of the Bank of Greece and the University of Athens (MSc) Graduate Program “Environment and Health, Environmental Issues Management with Health Implications” co-organized a public consultation on climate change. The consultation known as “Athens World Wide Views on Climate and Energy” was part of the largest public consultation on the environment on a global level, which was held on the same day in 75 countries around the world with the participation of 10,000 citizens. The Greek consultation took place in Athens, at Caravel Hotel, with the participation of 122 citizens. The main objective of this global effort was to integrate the views of the general public into the activities of the 21st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 21), which was to be held in December 2015 in Paris. The results of the public consultation were presented on June 24, 2015 in the Bank of Greece. The event was addressed by the Deputy Minister for Productive Environment Reconstruction and Energy Mr. John Tsironis, by the French Ambassador to Athens Mr. Jean Loup Kuhn – Delforge and on behalf of the Bank of Greece Mr. Charalambos Stamatopoulos, member of the Monetary Policy Council. The introductory presentations were made by Professor Christos Zerefos, MKF Chairman and CCISC coordinator and by Mrs. Theodora Antonakaki from the Bank of Greece, who presented the details concerning the organization of the consultation, while the results of the consultation were presented by UOA Professor and MKF Board member Mrs. Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati. http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/el/klima/events.aspx
A view of the hall during the public consultation (Athens, 2015).
Standing from the left are: Charalambos Stamatopoulos member of the Monetary Policy Council of the BoG, MKF Chairman Professor Christos Zerefos, Academician, French Ambassador Mr. Jean Loup Kuhn-Delforge, Deputy Minister for Productive Environment Reconstruction and Energy Mr. John Tsironis and Professor of Medicine (UOA) Mrs. Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati. (BoG, Athens, 2015).
- On September 21-25, 2015 the International Environmental Radiation Conference ENVIRA 2015 was held in Thessaloniki. The Conference was co-organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, International Union of Radioecology, Greet Atomic Energy Commission, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Comenius University of Bratislava and the Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences. The conference, which was held in Greece for the first time and was attended by more than 250 scientists from all over the world, included discussions on the study of the impact that nuclear accidents and the transfer of radioactive nuclides have on the environment. http://www.envira2015.gr/
- On October 12, 2015, the President of the Republic was presented with the results of the Public Consultation on climate change and its impact which took place on June 6, 2015 on the initiative of the French Government (through its Embassy and the French Institute), the Climate Change Impact Study Committee (CCISC) of the Bank of Greece, the Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences and the University of Athens (MSc) Graduate Program “Environment and Health, Environmental Issues Management with Health Implications”, UOA Medical School. The President of the Hellenic Republic was updated by the Chairman of the Foundation Professor C. Zerefos, Professor P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati, scientific head of the Program “Environment and Health, Environmental Issues Management with Health Implications”, and Mrs. Theodora Antonakaki, head of the CCISC Office of the BoG. The President of the Republic thanked and congratulated the delegation on their impeccable international and multifaceted cooperation and wished them good luck. Related links: http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/el/klima/events.aspx
- A brief account of the consultation
- World Wide Views on Climate and Energy
- Results of the vote on World Wide Views for Climate and Energy
His Eminence the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos being briefed by the Foundation Chairman, Professor C. Zerefos, Professor P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati scientific head of the Program «Environment and Health, Environmental Issues Management with Health Implications», and Mrs. Theodora Antonakaki, head of the CCISC Office of the BoG (Presidential Palace, 2015).
- The Proceedings of the Conference “Global Conference on Global Warming – GCGW 2015” which was held in Athens from May 24 to 27, 2015 were published by the MKF in collaboration with the National Center for Research and Technological Development and the Academy of Athens.
- The Board of the Foundation decided to accept a proposal put forward by Professor P. Nastos for the indefinite allocation of a Meteorological Station, owned by the Foundation, to the Climatology and Atmospheric Environment Laboratory of the University of Athens for the education of students. The Station was established for educational purposes at a school in Nafpaktos.