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On December 13th 2022, rectors, Academicians, professors, distinguished personalities and prominent stakeholders from all major Mediterranean institutions and friends from both shores of the region and beyond, gathered physically and virtually to celebrate the 50 years of non-stop, dedicated academic and social work of Michael Scoullos, Chairman of MIO-ECSDE.
The University of Athens, in collaboration with MIO-ECSDE, the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and other important bodies to which Prof. Scoullos has contributed over all these years, organized an honorary event at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).
The NKUA is the most senior Higher Education Institution in Greece and the wider region, where Prof. Scoullos continues to teach as Professor Emeritus of Environmental Chemistry and Oceanography and heads the UNESCO Chair and Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean.
Colleagues and friends of Prof. Scoullos tried to encapsulate in their speeches, each from their post or profession, the tremendous contribution of the honored to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean. In a touching, celebratory evening, through recorded and live messages, more than 50 speakers representing major international institutions and organisations such as the European Commission and the European Environment Agency, the Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP) and the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD), UfM, UNESCO, UNECE and the Global Water Partnership, among many, including his students, expressed their gratitude and appreciation towards the lifetime achievements of Scoullos.
His academic and research work (including more than 500 scientific publications and supervision of a very large number of PhD and Masters programmes), as well as contribution to national and international education for sustainable development, was highlighted by the Rector of the University of Athens, Prof. Demopoulos, the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Katsaniotis, the Chair of the Environment Committee of the Greek Parliament, Dr. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, the Deputy Governor of the Athens Region, the Secretary General of the Academy of Athens, Prof. Zerefos, Head of the Unit of Education for Environment and Sustainable Development, in Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, Dr. Aravella Zachariou and many other professors from the majority of Greek and other universities and institutes. Prominently, the establishment of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Oceanography, the only national laboratory of its kind established since the second World War and the introduction of 3 post-graduate courses in environmental, oceanography and sustainable development, are only few examples that were mentioned as outstanding by many speakers, as only part of his contribution to science, protection of the natural and cultural environment and education for sustainable development.
From the MIO-ECSDE network, Prof. Mohamed Ftouhi, Co-Chairman of MIO-ECSDE, Dr. C. Stamatopoulos, Vice-Chairman of Elliniki Etairia and Prof. Moh Rejdali, Chairman of COMPSUD praised the dedication of Prof. Scoullos in building networks and bridges from South to North and West to East, while Dr. Emad Adly, General Coordinator of RAED, who was physically present, shared memorable moments of his long-standing collaboration with the Professor. Other representatives of civil society including Greenpeace Greece, EcoPeace Middle East and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, all paid tribute to his life-long commitment to environmental sustainability and in strengthening international cooperation for a peaceful Mediterranean.
From the MIO-ECSDE team we would like to congratulate our Chairman and wish for him many more fulfilling years of achievements and new beginnings!
Read in French here
