Would you like to discover pioneering applications of the science of Geology? See up close the impressive replica of the largest creature that ever lived in Crete? Have you ever wondered how we can recreate the appearance of people or animals that lived thousands of years ago?
In the unique interactive exhibitions of the Athens Science Festival, students of all ages will discover how modern technology allows us to bring worlds so distant from our own closer to us.
The Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is actively participating in this year’s festival, presenting 8 exciting activities. Amazing interactive exhibits from various laboratories within the Department will immerse you in the fascinating world of Geology and Paleontology!
In the exhibition “Paleoscope” by the Laboratory of Geoscience Teaching and Learning, we will have the opportunity to take a journey through the geological and historical past of Athens. Using 3D virtual reality glasses, we will be able to visit Athens during the time of Pericles, see what the city looked like during the era of dinosaurs, and even encounter the largest creature that ever lived in Attica!
The Remote Sensing Laboratory will present “Geology in Three Dimensions“. We will discover how using state-of-the-art equipment, it’s now possible to recreate mountains, caves, cliffs, and other geological features in three-dimensional models in virtual reality.
Did you know that new technologies allow us to admire geological phenomena from… a distance – without the need to travel to where they are located? In the interactive exhibition “Photorealistic View of Geological Monuments“, organized by the Research Center of Museum Studies, we will see how it is currently feasible to accurately represent geological formations.
The Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment will present the activity “Capturing the Climate of My City”. Through specialized equipment, such as thermal cameras on drones and meteorological stations, we will illustrate how the materials in the city shape its microclimate, considering the current conditions of climate change.
Would you like to examine the resume of an earthquake? To travel from Falasarna to Chile, where the strongest earthquakes have been recorded? The Laboratories of Seismology and Geophysics will present the interactive exhibition “Living with Earthquakes – The Secrets of the Earth“.
Have you ever wondered how we locate and extract valuable materials? How do we acquire useful elements and where do they end up after their useful life? In the experimental interactive demonstration “Earth’s Materials“, organized by the Laboratory of Economic Geology and Geochemistry, we will explore real minerals and rocks, copper extraction processes from ores, and much more!
The Paleontology and Geology Museum will provide us with the opportunity to get up close to unique fossils from Greece and around the world in the exhibition “Virtual Museum of Paleontology“. We’ll get to know the “V-PalM” project, which allows us to virtually explore stunning exhibits through an innovative digital platform.
In the activity “The Wonderful Marine Microcosm” by the Laboratory of Historical Geology and Paleontology, we will observe, under a microscope, marine microorganisms that have been shaping the world around us for millions of years. Come and discover how this “invisible” world contributes to the formation of geological rocks and actively participates in regulating the climate system of the planet.
Numerous other exceptional exhibitions will be in the Machine-works to take us on a journey into the underground layers of the Earth and the distant historical past!
The Industrial and Technological Educational Museum invites us to ponder how materials, that have been deep within the Earth for millions of years, end up in our hands to facilitate our daily lives. Join us for the activity “From the Depths of the Earth to Our Neighborhood” to discover the world of mineral resources.
Would you like to meet the prehistoric relative of the elephant – the largest animal that ever lived in Crete! At the exhibition “Hanging Out with the Giant Dinosaur!“, presented by the Natural History Museum of Crete at the University of Crete, children will have their first encounter with Paleontology and Geology and they will even have the chance to take photos with the impressive, colorful replica of the giant creature!
Michael-Socrates Kafousias, with his participation titled “Skull Reconstruction in Archaeology and Paleontology“, will explain all the secrets of reconstructing the skulls of humans or animals that lived thousands of years ago. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to see a three-dimensional reconstruction of a Viking’s head, as well as a two-dimensional depiction of the famous dinosaur, Dippy. Additionally, through an educational comic, visitors will understand step-by-step the entire process and discover how it is connected to Forensic Art!
Come to the Athens Science Festival to discover how fascinating the sciences of Geology and Paleontology can be!
Tuesday, October 10th – Thursday, October 12th | Venue: Machine-works | 09:00 – 14:00