The American College of Greece (ACG) and the Center of Excellence in Sustainability (CoES) had a strong presence at the 9th Our Ocean Conference, which was held in Athens from April 15-17, 2024, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. The Our Ocean – An Ocean of Potential Conference aimed to foster collaboration among nations, NGOs, private entities, academia, professional groups, civil society organizations, and more, with the goal of identifying and implementing effective solutions, fostering sustainable practices, and safeguarding the delicate balance of our oceans.
Dr. Stella Apostolaki, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies Program, Department of Science and Mathematics at Deree – ACG and Executive Director of the CoES, participated in the Side Event titled “Round Table: Ocean Literacy – Blue Skills – Youth Engagement and Empowerment.” During this session, Dr. Apostolaki presented views on the role of education and research in efforts to protect the oceans, as well as the importance of public marine literacy, which is enriched by scientific findings and knowledge. The round table discussion was facilitated by Professor Michael Scoullos, Chair of MIO-ECSDE, UNESCO Chair & Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean at the University of Athens, and member of the external Advisory Board of the CoES.
In conjunction with the conference, the Our Ocean Film Festival was held at the Megaron of Athens Concert Hall, featuring the poignant 16mm short film “Untitled Disaster.” This cinematic piece, directed by Dimitri Kotsaras and Dr. Jennifer Nelson, Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, School of Fine and Performing Arts, ACG and member of the Academic Advisory Board of the CoES-ACG, produced by the State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki and Museo MADRE, Naples. The film highlights a man’s struggle to find bare ground in order to bury a fish.
The participation of ACG and CoES at the conference underscores their commitment to fostering sustainable practices and addressing the pressing challenges facing our oceans.
