Academy of Athens inaugurates the International Community (Koinon) of Academies

The Academy of Athens held on February 9-10 the inaugural Symposium of its new organization, the International Community (Koinon) of Academies. The ‘Koinon’ includes members from 37 Academies around the world and was held at the historic neoclassical building of the Academy on Panepistimiou Street. This year also happens to be the centennial of the Academy, adding a special historical and symbolic character to the event. (Cover photo ©Theodoros Anagnostopoulos, Source: kathimerini.gr)

To be held every four years, the Symposium will serve a place for meeting and exchanging ideas on the major issues of the era, bridging scientific knowledge with culture and humanism. Its theme will cover a broad interdisciplinary spectrum in the fields of natural, theoretical, social, and human sciences, arts and letters, with an emphasis on contemporary global challenges, such as artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, the protection of cultural heritage, and the resilience of societies in the Anthropocene. “Internationally recognized scientists, academics, and intellectuals, members of leading Academies around the world will participate in the proceedings of the Symposium, thus confirming the international character and high scientific level of the event”. The event will culminate with a World Intellect Olympiad, with a view to highlighting Athens – and in particular the site of Plato’s Academy – and the values of the School of Athens, as timeless points of reference for the international dialogue of knowledge, science and culture in a difficult era for humanity.

(Source: amna.gr)

The International Community (Koinon) of Academiesstands as a modern echo of Plato’s ancient Academy, where wisdom once walked beneath the shade of the olive trees. Rooted in the sacred soil of Plato’s Academy (Akademia Platonos), on land entrusted for the union of minds and cultures, the Koinon seeks to rekindle a timeless dialogue among the world’s great modern Academies.

The Koinon is a nonprofit association, following the will of Panagiotis Aristophron, a renowned architect and philanthropist, deeply inspired by Plato’s vision, who donated 50,000 square meters at the archaeological site of Plato’s Academy in Athens. Its mission is to foster international cooperation among Academies and collaboration with leading scientists, artists, and institutions. It will operate from its current offices at the Academy of Athens, with plans for a new bioclimatic facility near the New Museum of the City of Athens. Governed by a Board of Directors, the Koinon includes regular, honorary, and meritorious members. Accredited Academies participate through the Committee of Honorary Members, its plenary body. Christos Zerefos, is the President of the Board of Directors of the International Community (Koinon) of Academies.

The Koinon aims to promote the principles of Plato’s Academy through international symposia, scientific and cultural events, global awards, and joint activities with academic institutions worldwide. It is a gathering place for scholars, artists, and thinkers—honoring the pursuit of truth, the beauty of knowledge, and the harmony of global collaboration. The Koinon will serve as a lasting hub for elite events of human minds and souls in the Anthropocene.

The photorealistic rendering and the architectural study of the New Museum of the City of Athens were carried out by the architect Georgios Tsolakis at the area of Plato’s Academy in downtown Athens. In June 2022, the Greek Ministry of Culture, the Academy of Athens, and the Municipality of Athens signed a cooperation agreement to continue excavations at Akademia Platonos. The plan includes the construction of the New Museum of the City of Athens and establishing offices and conference facilities for the International Community (Koinon) of Academies on a 26,000 square meter plot owned by the Academy, as per Aristophron’s will. This initiative envisions an environmentally sustainable, bioclimatic complex that serves both as a museum and a hub for the Koinon’s global activities. (Photo: tsolakisarchitects.gr)

Inaugural Symposium of the International Community (Koinon) of Academies (Photo ©Theodoros Anagnostopoulos, Source: kathimerini.gr)

The theme of the Symposium spanned a broad range reflecting the concerns of our time. Artificial Intelligence, the climate crisis, the protection of cultural heritage, and societal resilience in the Anthropocene were central pillars of discussion, highlighting the initiative’s interdisciplinary character. The Distinguished academics, scientists, and intellectuals from Greece and abroad took part in the proceedings. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic, member of the Academy of Athens, and Honorary Professor at the University of Athens, delivered the keynote speech entitled “Myth and Truth in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

The interventions ranged from analyses of innovation and the prospects of the European economy to the ethical dimension of sustainable development on a global scale. Discussions addressed geopolitical developments in the Black Sea, transitions toward sustainability, the use of Artificial Intelligence in archaeological research and across the sciences more broadly, as well as the relationship between technological progress and humanism.

Inaugural Symposium of the International Community (Koinon) of Academies (Photo ©Theodoros Anagnostopoulos, Source: kathimerini.gr)

In particular, within the thematic session “Artificial Intelligence, Human Health and Intelligence,” the presentations focused on the multiple dimensions of artificial intelligence—from its economic and collective implications to its contribution to computer science research, the limits of machine learning in relation to the functioning of the human brain, and the prospects of genomic medicine for the future of healthcare.

The climate crisis was also at the forefront. The President of the Board of Directors of the International Koinon of Academies, Mr. Christos Zerefos, outlined the efforts being undertaken to monitor the impact of the climate crisis on UNESCO World Heritage monuments in the Mediterranean. Issues of natural disasters and crisis management further enriched the agenda.

(Source: ertnews.gr)

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (KOINON) OF ACADEMIES (in English):