STEAM PROJECTS: “Transforming human nature”
Our human characteristics are the result of evolution over long historical time. Evolution means change in behaviors, body structure, brain, genes, cultural elements, technologies as a result of interactions between abiotic, biotic and social factors. These interactions cause populations to change over time as new traits emerge and therefore shape the evolution and development of our traits and our world. How did man respond to changes over time? What can we learn from the way he lived? How did it develop advanced technology? How is the future shaping up, where man, nature and technology coexist? Since modern man has evolved from prehistoric man, he undertakes space exploration and solves problems and puzzles.
Participants as researchers investigate human and technological evolution through the interdisciplinary tool STEHAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Humanities, Art, Math). Through the workshop, the limits of personal experience will be expanded, scientific thinking will be developed and knowledge of science will be acquired with the contribution of art in all its forms.
For students: 6-12, 13-17 age
Despoina Korentini is a distinguished educator of gifted students of the Hellenic MENSA, a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the goal of identifying and developing human intelligence. She has a Master's Degree in Educational Sciences, specializing in a. Giftedness b. Learning Difficulties c. Utilization of Dramatic Techniques in Education. She is also an Educational Advisor and Researcher. At the same time, she is involved in chess training at the Piraeus Association. She is also a Theater and Art Critic, writing for the online news site: a8inea.com.
Through Hellenic MENSA's gifted education programs - "Gifted & Growth Mindset" - where she works as a gifted educator, as an agent of dialogue and change, and as a researcher, gifted students understand contemporary scientific and social issues with reference to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, clarifying at the same time the concepts that make them up, acquiring critical, synthetic and creative thinking.
Korentini Despoina has successfully participated with an interdisciplinary STEAM project in the three-day Festival of Puzzles and Riddles from Kastellorizo to Athens 2022 (Patra and Athens) and then in the 3rd Kastellorizo Puzzle Festival October 20-22, 2023. 
MENSA is the global, non-profit organization whose purpose is to recognize, support, research and promote human intelligence as a means of expression and as a means of human progress. This international community of people is made up of members whose IQ ranks in the top 2% of the population.
At the same time, Hellenic Mensa is the official representative of Greece in the World Puzzle Federation (World Puzzle Federation www.worldpuzzle.org). Every year, it organizes puzzles and sudoku competitions and championships and participates in respective World Championships. One of its goals is to create a Junior National Team, for children up to the age of 16, who will be able to take part in both National and World Championships.