Distinction for the Agricultural University of Athens in the 3rd EU-CONEXUS International Competition: "Think smart, Create green" with Athens College in Psychiko being awarded for the second consecutive year
On Thursday, May 4 2023, the European Final of the 3rd International School Contest of the European University EU-CONEXUS “Think smart, Create green” was completed, into which a total number of 700 students participated from the 9 countries of EU-CONEXUS with more than 140 projects. The purpose of the contest has been raising the male and female students’ awareness on issues of environmental sustainability.
Pupils aged 12-14 and 14-16 respectively, along with their teachers have been invited to create groups and transform their school into a sustainable green building, making a 3D model using sustainable and biodegradable materials, or even turn a current area in their town into a smart and sustainable one, creating a computer-designed model.
The evaluation of the projects elaborated had been composed of 3 individual stages. In the first stage, the five (5) best works have been pre-selected per age group, as far as every University partner of EU-CONEXUS on a national level is concerned. Throughout the next stage, the pre-selected works have been presented to a national jury, in addition to making the choice of the groups that would represent every University partner in the International Final. The Agricultural University of Athens has been represented as for the 12-14 age group, by the group of the 4th High School of Korydallos with the project: “Imagining our smart-eco friendly School”, composed of the students Kyvetou Stavroula, Kyriakou Ioanna and Samothrakiti Korina, having Mr. Nikolaos Katsoulis as their leading teacher. With respect to the age group 14-16, the group of Athens College in Psychico with the project “Portland”, has represented Greece through the Agricultural University of Athens, consisting of the students Monika Beracha, Helen Marinaki, Fainareti Chasapi and Argyro Tsilika with Ms. Aggeliki Zoupa as the responsible teacher. At the third and final stage the concluding choice has been made. Indeed, there has been an online presentation of the national winning projects before the international jury composed of 9 members-representatives of Universities partners.
It is worth mentioning that the level and innovation of the projects have made an impression on the members of the evaluation committee, wherein the work entitled “Portland” of Athens College in Psychico has won first prize in the 14-16 age group. It is actually the second consecutive year that Athens College in Psychico has distinguished itself in the first place in the International School Contest of EU-CONEXUS “Think smart, Create green”. On top of that, the 3rd International School Contest of EU-CONEXUS ““Think smart, Create green” highlights in the best possible way that the combination of effort, creativity and team spirit shall contribute to the creation of a smarter and greener world.
EU-CONEXUS forms a part of the initiative “European Universities”, being actually one of the most flagship initiatives of the European Unions with the aim of fulfilling the ambitious vision of constructing a European Education and Research Area. The specific network focuses on the Smart Urban Coastal Zone Sustainability with the intention of developing innovative educational methods and interdisciplinary approaches in the sector of “blue development”, of circular economy and sustainability. Within that network, La Rochelle Université in France, the Agricultural University of Athens, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest in Romania, Klaipeda University in Lithouania, Universidad Católica de Valencia “San Vicente Mártir” in Spain, University of Zadar in Croatia, Frederick University in Cyprus, South East Technological University in Ireland and University of Rostock in Germany have been participating as partners.
The School Contest of EU-CONEXUS ‘Think Smart, Create Green’ that has been already developed into an institution, is going to continue the organization of such events for the 4th consecutive year, giving shortly the opportunity to students and their teachers of being creative for one more time and implementing their vision towards a green future. For getting further information about the forthcoming actions organised by EU-CONEXUS about schools, all interested parties may attend the activity performed by EU-CONEXUS on social media, like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin και Twitter at @EUCONEXUS. All in all, for receiving more information about the 3rd International School Contest, click here.
