The results of a research project on the seagrass meadows, financed by Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HEFI), will be presented through a number of interactive workshops by prof. Theodoros Kevrekidis and Paraskevi Malea.
Exploring the seagrass meadows
Democritus University of Thrace is classified among the biggest Greek Universities in terms of the number of its active student population. Geographically dispersed throughout Thrace, with 10 Faculties, 28 Departments and a wide variety of Postgraduate Programs, with a student population that reaches approximately 42,000 (undergraduate, graduate students and candidate PhD students) and with a research and teaching staff that exceeds 700 people, the university still is the only academic institution in the Administrative Region of East Macedonia & Thrace. The outline of the course curricula on offer covers the majority of modern scientific subjects starting from the School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences in Orestiada, the Schools of Health Sciences and Education Studies in Alexandoupolis, the Schools of Law, Classical and Humanity Studies, Social, Political and Economic Studies and the School of Physical Education and Sports in Komotini to the Polytechnic School in Xanthi and the Schools of Exact Sciences and the School of Administration Science and Accounting in Kavala. Obviously, the education provided and the research undertaken at the university are both highly multi-faceted.
Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI)
The Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI), since its establishment in 2016, has significantly contributed to the promotion of Research and Innovation in Greece, having published twenty-six (26) Calls, until now. Throughout these years, its role has proven to be crucial for the development and strengthening of basic research in the country. What makes the HFRI stand out is the fact that for the first time, the scientific and academic community itself is actively involved in shaping the country’s research and innovation policy, without setting thematic and geographical restrictions.
The HFRI supports unrestricted research (the systematic inquiry resulting from scientific curiosity), as well as new researchers aiming to reverse the outflow of outstanding scientists abroad.
To achieve its purpose and objectives, the HFRI grants scholarships for PhD candidates, funds Research Projects for the support of Postdoctoral Researchers, Faculty Members, and Researchers, Actions whose aim is to connect Science with Society and Emblematic Actions, as well as funds the procurement of high-value research equipment, having as its sole criterion scientific quality and excellence.
Theodoros Kevrekidis is a Professor at the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece with a BSc in Biology and a PhD in Marine Biology. At present, Prof. Kevrekidis is the Head of the Laboratory of Environmental Research and Education of the Democritus University of Thrace.
His current research focus areas are the ecology and ecophysiology of seagrasses and marine macroalgae, the biology of marine macroinvertebrates, the structure and dynamics of marine macrozoobenthos, and the estimation of the ecological status of coastal and transitional waters using biotic indices.
His research also focuses on ocean literacy. This work has led to the publication of more than 70 ISI-listed, peer-reviewed papers.
Paraskevi Malea is a Professor at the School of Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece with a PhD in Marine Biology and a BSc in Biology.
At present, Dr Malea is the Head of the Institute of Botany of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her specialist research field is the ecology and ecophysiology of seagrasses and seaweeds. Current research focuses on the assessment of the ecological status of coastal and transitional waters using biotic indices based on seagrasses (e.g., Posidonia oceanica).
Her research also focuses on metal accumulation and bioindication in seagrasses and seaweeds, as well as on morphological, physiological and cellular responses of these organisms to stress induced by anthropogenic chemicals and the detection of biomarkers for the evaluation of environmental quality.
This work has led to the publication of more than 70 ISI-listed, peer-reviewed papers.
