Theme: Opportunities

"Opportunity (singular): A favorable or advantageous situation for goal attainment. A chance for progress or advancement.
Opportunities (plural): The theme of TEDxPatras 2016!

Opportunities that were born, created, leveraged or were wasted. Opportunities that someone witnessed, was offered or just discovered along the way. Opportunities for individuals, for many, or for everyone. Opportunities that led to experiences, changes, discoveries, progress or to... new opportunities!

Opportunities do exist and always did. In life, in history, in science, in art. Even in times of hardship, in a crisis, in absence, in failure. Even when you lose an opportunity, another one is probably born. Are “Opportunities” inextricably interwoven with each and every fold of human life, evolution and activity?"

Patras
Nikou Kazantzaki street University Campus of Patras 265 04 Rion
Patras, Achaïa, 26221
Greece

Maria Roussi and Theodore Dounias

Maria Roussi is studying Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In collaboration with her teammate, Theodore Dounias, they won the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) category. Theodore Dounias is a sophomore in Electrical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. In cooperation with Maria Roussi, they emerged champions in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) category.

Perfomance

Golden Opportunity The Cinderellas, as far as I know, were all beautiful, nice and polite. They successfully cleaned the fireplace, and had the chance to wear a slipper! The slipper, that was the golden opportunity! The opportunity to lose it and then to be sought and found. The opportunity to live happily ever after! Over the years, the Cinderellas have maintained all the above, except the fireplace, and that they have entered a very difficult race in which they have to succeed. The major twist though lies in the slipper turning into a sandal, and there’s no way for them to lose it, since it is bound with straps. The opportunity is thus dancing with those who are already on stage.

Science Reactors

Can we redefine the label “seriousness” when it is attributed to science? Do scientists have a sense of humor? Who would expect that science can actuallybe “hilarious”? The group”Science Reactors” has been created to answer just those questions. . The group consists of young scientists who participated and excelled in the Famelab Competition (an international competition organized by the British Council for the emergence of new talent in science communication), and has progressively been developed over the last three years in order to get knowledge out of the classrooms and laboratories, and develop the interest of young people for science and technology. The group also includes professionals from the field of Stand-up Comedy, who are in fact scientists. The idea is down to Helen Grammatikopoulou, who has been in charge of the “Science Society” program of the National Research Foundation since 1993.

Tragoudistades tsi Zakynthos

The Singers of Zakynthos are a group of friends whose point of reference is their love for their hometown’s rich cultural heritage, their passion for tradition as well as their natural talent. Peter Vithoulkas, Dionysis Diafingelis, George Mouzakis, Dimitris Varthalis, Andreas Chionis and Andrianna Lykouressi are a collective of amateurs who create soulful music. They have participated in various concerts in Greece and abroad in some of the most famous concert halls! Consisting of several permanent members, who are divided into four singers and traditional instrument players, the Singers of Zakythos constitute one of the most significant participants of the traditional music scene in the Ionian Islands and the Mediterranean over the last 20 years!

Aggeliki Pappa

Αggeliki Pappa is an EFL-SEN Educator with postgraduate studies in inclusion for SEN. She is the founder of “i love dyslexia” (ILD), the first and only highly specialized, innovative edu-organization internationally, focusing on holistic EFL teaching to students with dyslexia and learning differences. She is a researcher and teacher trainer in international projects funded by the EU in association with Folkuniversitetet, Uppsala-Sweden. She has been collaborating with Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies, University of Athens, State School Counselors and other institutions. Her achievements have been recognized by the Greek Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Development, the Hellenic-National-Commission for UNESCO, the 3rd Competition “Greece Innovates!” (ILD in the top 10 innovative institutions in Greece). Finally, Aggeliki found herself listed amongst the Top 50 finalists of the Global Teacher Prize 2016.

Angelos Vourlidas

Dr. Vourlidas graduated from the University of Thessaloniki in 1989 and obtained his PhD in solar radioastronomy in 1996 in the USA. After a year at Caltech, he moved to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to work on the analysis of solar activity via space observation and on the design of space telescopes. Since November 2014, Angelos has been leading the Solar Section of John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory. Angelos specializes in science management of space projects and is Project Scientist of two rocket (VAULT, VERIS) and four space exploration projects (LASCO, SECCHI, SOLOHI, and WISPR). His research focuses on Coronal Mass Ejections and their influence on the terrestrial environment (Space Weather). Angelos has published over 183 papers in peer-reviewed journals with more than 6000 citations. He participates in many annual international meetings either as guest speaker or organizer and is frequently called on NASA panels.

Babis Koulouras

Composer, Performer, Lyricist, President of Ano Syros Cultural Association, Director of the "Gatsos", "Cavvadias" and "Cavafy" Music & Poetry teams

Babis Koulouras was born in Syros. Since childhood, he has been interested in song, theatre, athletics and in rowing. He has participated in various national athletics championships as well as in the Balkan Veterans Athletics Games, where he excelled in shot-put and discus. What is more, he was awarded a prize at the show “Here is the chance” and at the national contest for young composers, while he earned a remarkable distinction at the Thessaloniki Song Festival. It is worth mentioning that Babis Koulouras has adapted music to various poems of Rita Boumi-Pappa, a prominent poet of Syros, and he is also due to publish 16 original compositions based on Cavafy’s poetry. For the last 20 years, Babis Koulouras has been working voluntarily as a program manager and show host for the Municipal TV and Radio-Broadcasting Company of the Aegean. Moreover, he is chairman of the Cultural Association of Ano Syros and the director of the “Gatsos”, “Cavvadias” and “Cavafy” Music & Poetry teams. He ha

Dimitris Glezos

Dimitris Glezos is the founder and CEO of Transifex, a cloud-based translation management software company. Transifex helps companies such as Coursera, Vodafone, Trello, and Orbitz launch products globally in multiple languages and offers a localized experience to the end user. Over 100 million people around the world have used products whose end user experience is governed by Transifex. Dimitris studied Computer Engineering at the University of Patras, where he created my.ceid, one of the most advanced student portals in Europe at that time. He then went on to study for a PhD in the UK, during which he wrote the first version of Transifex. After his initial success in the open-source community, he returned to Patras to further build both the product and the company. Dimitris travels back and forth between the company’s Athens and Silicon Valley offices. In his spare time, he likes to rock climb, windsurf, sail and cook for friends and family.

Dionisis Kolokotsas

As Public Policy and Government Relations manager of Google, Dionisis’ mission is to work with policy-makers and other stakeholders so as to utilize both the internet and technology to achieve economic, social and cultural progress. Before joining Google, he was the General Manager of the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association (HSIA), where he helped build the brand and increase visibility towards target markets and audiences. Prior to entering the world of Internet and high-tech, Dionisis spent ten years with Procter & Gamble (Brussels) traveling around the world designing and launching communication campaigns. He also co-authored the P&G sustainability report in 2003 and 2004. In his early career, he worked on energy, environmental and economic policy scenario analyses for the European Commission. He holds a Master’s in integrating sustainability to business management and a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Elias Mamalakis

Gastronome

Elias was born in Athens. He studied economics and worked as a successful corporate manager for a number of years. In his mid-forties, Elias decided that it was time to pursue his passion for cooking on a professional level. This decision would ultimately establish him as one of Greece’s most popular TV and media personalities. To date, Elias has authored several books on cooking and his signature “bon viveur” credo. In April 2007, he became the editor in chief of “Olive” magazine’s Greek edition. He has also designed products for leading food corporations. For three years, Elias hosted the “Stin Kouzina Olotachos” (“Race to the Kitchen”) television game show on Mega Channel, while for four years, he had been hosting Mega Channel’s “Boukia kai Sychorio” (“So Delicious”). In 2007, after a nationwide vote by the leading lifestyle magazine in Greece, Elias was awarded the most popular TV persona in Greece.

Katerina Angelaki-Rooke

Katerina Angelaki-Rooke was born in Athens in February, 1939. She had a strong affinity for Nikos Kazantzakis, who was a friend of her father. At the age of 17, she published her poem “Loneliness” in the journal “New Era” after her mentor, Nikos Kazantzakis, encouraged her to do so. He himself wrote to John Goudelis, the director of the “New Era” the following words: “Please, publish this poem! It has been written by a girl, who has not yet finished high school. It is the most beautiful poem I have ever read!”. Since then, she has been involved in poetry and in translation. This was a great entry into the realm of poetry, as she herself has stated. Articles of hers on poetry and on translation of poetry have been published in magazines and newspapers. Her work has been translated into more than ten languages ​​and many of her poems are included in literary anthologies. C.P. Cavafy’s poetry constitutes both the beginning and the end of her work.

Maria Hatzinikolaki

Maria was born in Athens and grew up in Hydra and Crete. She was no older than a ten-year-old girl, when she first saw a documentary devoted to the children of Biafra. Thereafter, she decided to become involved in something which would enable her to support people in need. Maria has studied French Philology in Greece and done her masters on Social Policy and Administration in England. Today, she is working as Director of Programs and Fundraising at “Together for Children”, and she has learned that, if you want to see the world changing for the better, you are expected not only to offer your help, but also to try to change your mindset.

Menelaos Myrillas

Born in Patras, Menelaos was attracted to photography at a young age. He traveled the world and was initiated in photography by some of the best in the field. He cooperated with the most important Greek Magazine titles and quite a few international ones. He is known for the storytelling character of his work that derives from his need to add both past and future references in present moments. Inspired by the masters of photography, Menelaos more than often finds himself using modern techniques in order to achieve a contemporary result. As the co-founder of SOOC photo agency he enjoys working together with some of the most creative and open-minded photographers in the country.

Stathis Kalyvas

Stathis N. Kalyvas is Arnold Wolfers Professor of Political Science and Director of the Program on Order, Conflict, and Violence in Yale University. He conducted his doctoral studies in Chicago University and worked as a professor and researcher in various universities and scientific institutes in Europe and in the U.S.A. He is the author of The Logic of Violence in Civil War (Cambridge University Press, 2006), The Rise of Christian Democracy in Europe (Cornell University Press, 1996), and Modern Greece (Oxford University Press, 2015), as well as the co-editor of Order, Conflict & Violence (Cambridge University Press, 2008). He has received several awards, including the Woodrow Wilson Award for best book on government, politics, or international affairs (2007), the Luebbert Award for best book in comparative politics (2008), the European Academy of Sociology Book Award (2008), the J. David Greenstone Award for best book in politics and history (1997), and etc.

Vasilis Tsakiroglou

Vasilis Tsakiroglou is a journalist and the writer of the biography “Ayrton Senna” (Intro Books). He studied Philosophy and Psycology. He lives and works in Athens, where he was born in 1967. About TEDxPatras TEDxPatras is the first local, self-organized standard TEDx event organized in Western Greece. It aims to highlight and promote the idea of TED to the regions’ audience, by transmitting, through the speakers, inspiration and motivation for exploring alternative and innovative ideologies. More about TEDxPatras: www.tedxpatras.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/tedxpatras Twitter: www.twitter.com/tedx_patras Instagram: www.instagram.com/tedxpatras Music by: Victor