Dimitris Zafiropoulos Leaves a Legacy of Passion for People, Science, Nature
The dolphin has darted to the surface. It slips through the air, salt water pouring off its body.
In a splash it will be gone.
But not from the photograph taken by Professor Dimitris Zafiropoulos, who passed away unexpectedly on November 6.
Like the rest of the oceanographic and environmental work he carried out over the course of 35 years, the snapshot of the dolphin unassumingly captures life and holds it up for you to see. Like the rest of his work, too, it ensures that Dr. Zafiropoulos will still be there, just beneath the surface, for those who knew him as colleague, mentor, teacher: friend.
“He took pleasure in sharing his experiences and knowledge with others,” mused Dr. Anastasia… Continue reading
Survey Results Will Suggest Ways to Improve Student Experience
Deree’s Student Government surveyed students about college life last month, in the context of efforts to improve students’ experience. It was the first time such a survey has been conducted.
The Student Life Committee started designing the survey last year, by asking students about their concerns. The result was 42 questions that refer to the quality of courses, events and facilities at the Aghia Paraskevi and Downtown campuses. The questions start, “How satisfied are you with…,” and the answers provided include four levels of satisfaction ranging from “very satisfied” to “not satisfied at all,” and the “don’t know” option.
During the month of November more than 600 students filled in the questionnaire, said Gerasimos Papandrikopoulos, president of the Student Government.… Continue reading
Behind a Doctor’s Smile Stands Patients’ Gratitude
Dr. Apostolos Belos stood at the entrance of Sismanoglio hospital. He has dark hair, a mustache, touches of grey, and a sweet smile. We took the elevator to the third floor and, as we walked through a long dark hallway, pale people walked around in their pajamas, some holding their serum in one hand.
Why would someone want to work in such an environment? As one of those pale people approached Dr. Belos, he took his hands and held them tightly.
“Dr. Belos, I would like to thank you for helping me. Thank you for caring for me. You are an incredible person, a very decent and wonderful man. Thank you for everything. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he… Continue reading
Dogtooth Bites into the Traditional Family
An aesthetic masterpiece with seven award nominations in different festivals and three wins, including the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Festival, Dogtooth provided the film world with a unique experience. Dominated by the color white, intentionally provocative and socially aware, it succeeds in delivering multi-dimensionally a forceful message about one of the strongest human values: the family.
The well-known, idiosyncratic film critic Elias Fragoulis suggested that Dogtooth makes a “comment on running away and isolation.” Nikos Danikas, another respected critic, related the film to the “theater of the absurd, black comedy, contemporary tragedy and the ridiculousness of today’s society.”
Taken together, these comments suggest that the basic themes underlying the movie regard the fragmentation and isolation that characterize… Continue reading
International Students at Deree Explore Greece and Learn about Each Other
Standing right at the center of the universe, the omphalos stone, which according to Greek Mythology is the point where the two eagles sent by Zeus met, wasn’t enough to make the Deree trip to Delphi exciting. Being there with three students from other countries was.
There we were: a group of young people with a shared history – Greece – that we were exploring together.
The places we went and the discussions we had made me realize, more than ever, that the diverse student body of Deree makes it an international location where people communicate their ideas and learn from each other.
Our trip began at 7 a.m., so we weren’t into talking much at the outset. But as… Continue reading
Looking for Happiness at Work? That May Be the Problem, Says Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton, the best selling author who breaks through the walls between literary genres, came to Athens to present his new book. Through The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, an overview of ten different professions, de Botton uncovers the beauty and the beast hiding in the contemporary work environment.
Dr. Haris Vlavianos, Deree professor, poet, and director of the journal Poiitiki, introduced de Botton to the audience at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
“De Botton, in my opinion, is the author who dares to record the platitude only to highlight it for what it really is: an element that affects and shapes modern life,” said Vlavianos.
In his book, de Botton crucifies the modern platitude-cum-mentality that a job is… Continue reading
A Documentary about Bees Sets Greek Documentary Festival Buzzing
The Charmer of Grammos, directed by Vaggelis Efthimiou, stood out among the 66 documentaries at the 3rd Greek documentary festival – docfest Halkida. Efthimiou received the Giorgos Kolozis Award introduced this year to honor the memory of the famous Greek documentary director who died suddenly a few weeks before the festival.
To shoot his film, Efthimiou traveled to Grammos in the northwestern corner of Greece, one of the wildest mountains in a country where the human presence harmonizes with nature. The director found the old man Sotiris, who had been living there for almost 80 years in primitive conditions. Sotiris starts a journey in the forest every fall in search of bees, which are becoming fewer and fewer every… Continue reading
Before the Summit in Copenhagen, Greenpeace and WWF Screen the Age of Stupid in Syntagma
Greenpeace estimates the annual cost of environmental catastrophes around the world at $1.25 trillion. This is why the organization considers cutting green house gas emissions a global priority. And, to make its point, its screening of the film Age of Stupid in Syntagma Square on October 22 literally cost the environment nothing, said the organizers of the event.
Directed by Franny Armstrong, Age of Stupid features Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
All needs for energy during the projection were covered through the use of renewable energy sources and recyclable materials. This means… Continue reading
Telomerase Provides Potential Cancer Treatment
Three American scientists were awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine, for discovering how chromosomes are protected against degradation and for preparing the ground for a potential cancer treatment.
Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak found that telomerase, a DNA sequence located at the ends of DNA strands, forms protective caps called telomeres, which seal the ends of chromosomes, preventing them from sticking together. In addition, they act as a molecular clock for the cells, regulating the ageing process.
In every cell division, the ends of chromosomes get shorter and shorter. If telomeres weren’t there, important genetic material would be lost in every division, causing genetic problems. Instead, telomeres get shorter. When they reach a specific… Continue reading
World of Warcraft: Entertainment or Addiction?
World of Warcraft, the online role playing game, has introduced an alternative way for youth to entertain themselves and socialize. According to Blizzard, which own World of Warcraft, the number of users that play this game reached 10 million worldwide the last year.
For three years now, when Nick’s friends want to see him, they must drive to his home, because he spends so much time in front of a computer screen playing World of Warcaft. His obsession with the game is such that when he isn’t playing it, he is talking about it. He even shirks his responsibilities to play. Even when he decides to do something else, he looks forward to returning home and logging in again. This… Continue reading