Amalia Foka is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science Applications for the Arts at the Department of Fine Arts & Art Sciences , School of Fine Arts , University of Ioannina , Greece. She has held academic positions at the University of Patras (2005-2013), University of Ioannina (2005-2008), and Computer Technology Institute & Press "Diophantus" (2014-2015). Her research bridges Artificial Intelligence with Digital Art , focusing on Generative AI , Social Media Mining , and Human-Computer Interaction within artistic contexts. Education: BEng in Computer Systems Engineering (1998) from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST) , UK MSc in Advanced Control (1999) from UMIST PhD in Robotics (2005) from the Department of Computer Science , University of Crete Her artistic research includes projects like Bushwalking (StyleGAN2 landscape generation), Breaking the Silence (NLP analysis of taboo topics), and The Invisible Structures of the Artworld (social media-driven network visualization). She leads the Multimedia Lab at the University of Ioannina, focusing on AI in Creative Processes and Digital Interaction methodologies.
Stavros Demetriadis is a Full Professor at the School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. His research focuses on Learning Technologies, including Conversational Agents in Education, Learning Analytics, Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Computational Thinking, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). He has led EU-funded projects like colMOOC and developed educational tools such as 'pytolearn' for Python instruction and 'Cubes Coding' (winner of Open Education Challenge 2014 and NUMA Competition 2014). He has supervised 5 completed PhD theses, 4 ongoing PhDs, and over 60 Master’s theses. Academic Appointments: Full Professor (2020–present), Associate Professor (2015–2020), Assistant Professor (2012–2015), Lecturer (2002–2008), Informatics Teacher (1989–2002) Education: PhD in Multimedia Technology in Education (2000), MSc in Electronic Physics (1986), BSc in Physics (1983) His work bridges AI and education, with over 161 publications and an h-index of 27. Recent research explores ChatGPT integration, ethics in Learning Analytics, and AI-driven assessment tools. He has delivered invited talks at institutions like the University of Valladolid (2024) and coordinates the 'Teachers' Fast-paced Distance Training on Tele-education' project. Awards include three international best paper awards and recognition for his 'Cubes Coding' project. Key Research Contributions: Developed frameworks for Conversational Agents in CSCL Innovated Computational Thinking pedagogy through robotics Explored ethics and culture in Learning Analytics adoption Created Python-based MOOCs for non-programmers He has taught courses like Human-Computer Interaction and Learning Analytics, and led short programs on Conversational AI. His collaborations span institutions in Spain, Denmark, and Greece. ORCID: 0000-0002-1561-6372; Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Scopus profiles list his extensive output.
Georgios Lappas is a Professor of Information Technology with emphases on Social and Political Informatics at the Department of Communication and Digital Media, University of Western Macedonia. He serves as Head of the Department, Director of the Digital Media and Strategic Communication Laboratory, and Vice-Director of the MSc Programs "Public Discourse and Digital Media" and "Digital Games and Multimedia Development". He is also a member of the Regional Council for Research and Innovation of the Region of Western Macedonia. Professor Lappas holds a PhD in Computer Science and an MSc in Applied Artificial Intelligence. His academic career spans numerous research contributions and leadership roles within the university and research community. His primary research interests focus on Social Informatics, E-Government, E-Democracy, Online Politics, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Marketing, Online Reputation Management, Web Mining, Opinion Mining, Artificial Intelligence, Web Intelligence, and Social Network Analysis. His work bridges computer science with social and political sciences, particularly examining how digital technologies impact governance, political communication, and social interactions. Professor Lappas has published extensively, with over 100 papers in international journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters. His recent work examines social media campaigns in political contexts, citizen engagement with digital government services, and the application of emerging technologies like augmented reality in various sectors. His publications appear in prestigious journals such as New Media and Society, Journal of Information Technology and Politics, Local Government Studies, and International Journal of Electronic Governance. He has served as Program Committee member in more than 130 international conferences and on editorial boards of journals including Journal of Information Technology and Politics, International Journal of Entertainment Technology and Management, and Journal of E-Government. Professor Lappas has chaired or co-chaired four international conferences, served on organizing committees for seven conferences, acted as publicity chair for two conferences, and chaired sessions at over 20 international conferences. Professor Lappas has participated in numerous national and EU-funded projects. Currently, he coordinates the "Wine Live Label Innovative Augmented Reality Applications in Wine Product Labeling" project under the "Research-Create-Innovate" program, and leads work package 5 of the "AGRO-TOUR" project focused on mixed reality applications for promoting mountain trails in Western Macedonia. He teaches courses including Human-Machine Communication, Digital Marketing and Online Entrepreneurship, Online Reputational Management, E-Government, E-Democracy and Political Campaigns on the Internet, Special Issues on Social Informatics, and Big Data and Web Intelligence.
Tsitskari Efi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace. She specializes in Sport Marketing and Communication Technologies, focusing on service quality in sports facilities and the application of new technologies in physical education. Her office is located in Β2-1 and she holds office hours on Tuesdays 11:00-13:00. Her research explores intersections of technology, marketing, and ethics within sports contexts. Key themes include corporate social responsibility in sports clubs, ethical decision-making by fitness managers, and the adaptation of service quality models to Greek cultural contexts. Recent work examines stroke patient needs assessment and loyalty mechanisms in fitness centers. Publications span over 20 years, with notable contributions to journals like International Journal of Sport Management , Education & Information Technologies , and Total Quality Management . Though no explicit awards are listed, her sustained academic output reflects significant scholarly contribution. No formal student advisees or grant details are documented. She maintains an active publication schedule addressing emerging trends in sport management and leisure studies.
Charalampos Karagiannidis is a Professor at the University of Thessaly (UTH) in the School of Educational Design (SED), Department of Information and Communication Technologies in Learning and Special Education. He has been affiliated with UTH since 2005 and previously worked at the University of the Aegean, ITI-CERTH, and ICS-FORTH. His academic roles include chairing the TeDISABLE Special Interest Group (SIG) of the IEEE TCLT. Education: BSc in Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki MSc in Information Technology, University of London PhD in Electronics Engineering, University of Kent, UK Research Focus: Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Accessibility & Universal Design Assistive Technologies for Special Needs Augmented Reality (AR) and Gamification in Education Educational Robotics for Inclusion Cognitive Assessment Technologies for Aging Populations Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes ICT applications for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), inclusive robotics, MOOC design for K-12 education, and digital tools to address mild cognitive impairment. His research often bridges theoretical learning models with practical software development, particularly for marginalized populations. Awards & Recognition: No explicit awards listed, but active participation in 150+ publications, editorial roles, and international conference committees demonstrates peer recognition. Grants & Labs: Involved in projects like the TeDISABLE SIG and development of tools such as the Virtual Learning and Social Stories for Autism (VLSS) system . Collaborates on EU-funded initiatives addressing aging populations and cognitive assessment via digital tools.
Panagiotis Kyriakoulakos is an Assistant Professor in Computer Animation at the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean. He previously served as Lecturer at the same department (2010-2018) and Adjunct Lecturer at Paris 1 University (1987-1992). His academic career spans over 35 years with expertise in digital arts, animation, and new media. Education: Electrical Engineering (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), DEA in Cinema/Television (Paris I), PhD in Art Sciences (Paris X). Professional Experience: Managing Director at Post Reality (1994-2006), New Media Director at PLD Production (2006-2010), awarded SCAM (1991) and Chevalier des Palmes Academiques (2014). Research Focus: Creative processes in animation, digital aesthetics, interactive systems, and cultural heritage projects like ARCHEOGUIDE and HIST3D. His research explores intersections between technology and artistic expression, emphasizing entrepreneurship in creative industries. Key contributions include the first Greek 30-minute computer-animated TV special Alexandra Meets the Space Toons (2003) and the Homeweb VOD platform pilot (2010). Dr. Kyriakoulakos coordinates the XARTS International Conference/School since 2013 and leads the Interactive Systems Design Lab. His work bridges academic research with practical applications through projects like the HIST3D framework and Paris-based research grants (2013). Awards: SCAM Video Magazine Editor Award (1991), Paris Research Grant (2013), French Academic Palms (2014). Labs/Teams: Interactive Systems Design Lab (since 2000), XARTS Conference Leadership. Publications: Over 30 articles, 3 books including 70 Years of Greek Animation (2016) and foundational texts on animation techniques.
Georgios Styliaras serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics at the University of Patras, where he teaches Informatics I and II courses. His office is located in the Old Building on the 1st floor at G. Seferi 2, with regular office hours Tuesday-Wednesday from 12:00-14:00. His research focuses on Multimedia Systems , Cultural Technology , and Spatial Hypermedia , with particular emphasis on applications in cultural heritage environments. His work bridges computer science with cultural preservation, creating innovative solutions for museums and educational contexts. Analysis of his publication record from 2009-2013 reveals a strong trajectory toward mobile applications for cultural heritage sites, with increasing focus on smartphone-based multimedia services. His research consistently addresses security, trustworthiness, and user experience in digital cultural environments, demonstrating both technical expertise and cultural sensitivity. His scientific contributions include collaborations with researchers like Dimitrios Koukopoulos across multiple publications in journals such as Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, Journal of Cultural Heritage, and Electronic Commerce Research.
John Paparrizos is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University's College of Engineering, where he directs The DATUM Lab (Data Analytics, Understanding, Mining, and Management Lab). He maintains an adjunct affiliation with the School of Informatics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His research spans databases, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence , with focus areas including: Time-series analysis (clustering, anomaly detection) Scalable data mining for structured/unstructured data Adaptive algorithms for resource-constrained environments Foundational technologies for data-intensive applications His work addresses real-world challenges across relational, time-series, multimedia, text, graph, web, and IoT data domains. Notable recognition includes: 2025 ACM SIGMOD Test-of-Time Award for k-Shape time-series clustering 2023 IEEE TCDE Rising Star Award ACM SIGMOD Research Highlight Award NetApp Faculty Award His research has been featured in New York Times (front page), Washington Post , Forbes , and adopted by Fortune 500 companies (Exelon, Nokia) and the European Space Agency. He actively serves on program committees for premier conferences including ACM SIGMOD, VLDB, IEEE ICDE, ACM SIGKDD, and NeurIPS. His open-source tools have exceeded 100,000 downloads and are integrated into academic curricula at Brown, Columbia, Purdue, and University of Chicago.
Giannis Kokkalis is an Assistant Professor at the School of Fine Arts , University of Ioannina , specializing in sculpture and digital arts. He holds a master’s diploma in digital arts from the Athens School of Fine Arts and has extensive experience in both academic teaching and contemporary art creation. Education : Sculpture studies at Athens School of Fine Arts, master’s in digital arts from the same institution, and professional photography training at IEK Focus. His research focuses on sculpture , interactive installations , and kinetic art , using materials like nylon, plexiglass, and LED lights to create immersive experiences. Recent exhibitions (2023-2024) include solo works at 3Portes Gallery and group shows exploring ecological themes and digital media. Scientific awards and grants are not explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Kokkalis has no listed formal advisees.
Professor Vasileios Vlastaras is an artist and educator at the Athens School of Fine Arts, serving as Director of the 11th Laboratory and co-founder of the ViZ Laboratory for Visual Culture. His practice spans large-scale installations, video, sound art, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He leads the annual Utopia Project research initiative in Crete and directs the asfaBBQ performance festival. Trained in Athens, his work explores societal themes through experimental media, public engagement, and cross-cultural dialogue. Education: Academic background not explicitly stated Research focuses on expanding artistic identity through dynamic archives, real-time media experiments, and critical engagement with public spaces. Collaborates with institutions like Goethe Institut and conducts transnational artistic research on utopian concepts. Produces site-specific works addressing contemporary socio-political issues through multimedia platforms. Key projects include 'Do You Like My Paintings? YES/NO' (2022), an interactive installation, and 'Super Super Super State' (2019) combining performance with sound/video. His work has been exhibited internationally and engages with themes of urban experience, cultural memory, and participatory aesthetics. Grants/Advising: No specific grants listed; advises through academic and curatorial roles in festivals/labs. Leads educational initiatives merging art production with public sphere experimentation. Labs/Teams: ViZ Laboratory for Visual Culture (co-founder) and 11th Laboratory (director), focusing on fluid boundaries between art, education, and urban contexts.
Dionysios Politis is an Assistant Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the Department of Informatics. He holds multiple degrees including a PhD in Informatics from Aristotle University (1998), a Master's in Computer Science from RMIT Australia (1991), and a Master's in Electronic Physics from Aristotle University (1990). His professional experience spans roles as Lecturer (2002), Special Educational Staff (1993-2002), and EU Expert in Legal Informatics. Research Interests: Politis leads research in interdisciplinary domains including Music Information Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, Mobile Device Interfaces, Legal Informatics, and E-Learning Methodologies. His work integrates computational approaches with cultural heritage preservation and accessibility technologies. Publications: Recent articles focus on computational musicology, biomedical interfaces, digital forensics in media distribution, and cross-cultural music analysis. Key themes include chromaticism modeling, ancient music reconstruction, cochlear implant technologies, and e-justice systems. Laboratory: Affiliated with the Multimedia & Human-Computer Interaction Computer Music Lab, where he explores audio-visual interfaces and digital sound applications.
Spyros Syrmakesis is a Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Peloponnese (Patras). He directs the E-Entrepreneurship and Interaction Design Laboratory and participates in StartUp Europe initiatives, focusing on research, innovation, and IT development. Director, E-Entrepreneurship and Interaction Design Laboratory Member, StartUp Europe Research Areas: IT Innovation, Social Web, Start-Up Ecosystems Research Interests : Information Systems, Databases, e-Government, Human-Computer Interaction, Data Mining, Personalized Services, and STEAM Education. His work bridges entrepreneurship with technology, emphasizing start-up creation and adaptive design. Recent Article Trends : Focus on STEAM education (2024), Blue Economy skill development (2024), PBL pedagogy (2024), and assistive technologies for aging populations (2018–2019). Earlier work (2002–2018) explores web personalization, e-commerce, and educational technology frameworks. Labs & Projects : Leads the E-Entrepreneurship and Interaction Design Laboratory. Involved in initiatives like the TRACCE project (2021) for cultural route personalization and RADIO (2019) for robotic assisted living.
Arapatzis Avgerinos is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science & Information Technology within the Polytechnic School of the University of Thessaloniki , where he has been a faculty member since November 2009. His work bridges theoretical and applied research in information retrieval and data science. Education: BSc in Computer Engineering & Informatics, University of Patras (1996) PhD, Radboud University, Netherlands (2001) Research Interests: A specialist in Information Retrieval , Data Mining , and Natural Language Processing , his work spans Databases , Search Engine Privacy , Sentiment Analysis , and Contextual Suggestion Systems . His research integrates machine learning with domain-specific challenges in environmental science, cybersecurity, and business intelligence. Scientific Contributions: His publications (over 85 as of 2020) focus on hybrid retrieval methods, social media analysis, and privacy-enhanced systems. Recent work includes advancements in federated learning, climate change discourse analysis, and keystroke dynamics applications. Projects: He has participated in EU Horizon 2020 projects like ODYSSEA and FP7 initiatives such as CARRE, contributing to interdisciplinary research in medical informatics and environmental monitoring.
Phivos Mylonas is an Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics and Computer Engineering within the School of Engineering at the University of West Attica. He also maintains academic appointments at Ionian University where he previously served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics. His academic journey includes adjunct professor positions at several Greek institutions including University of Central Greece, University of the Aegean, and University of Crete. Dr. Mylonas holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, a Master's Degree in Advanced Information Systems from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. His research spans Artificial Intelligence applications, data science, user modeling, personalization technologies, and semantic frameworks. His scholarly output shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated AI applications, with recent publications focusing on ChatGPT integration, fuzzy logic systems, and multimodal interaction. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between computer science, education, and cultural heritage preservation. Thomaidio Grant for Science and Art Progress (2005, 2006) ICCS-NTUA Short Term Research Grant (2005-2006) As an academic leader, Dr. Mylonas has served as Director of the Humanistic and Social Informatics Laboratory at Ionian University (2013-2022) and as a Senior Researcher at the Image, Video and Multimedia Laboratory at National Technical University of Athens. He has been instrumental in organizing numerous international conferences and has served on over 200 conference program committees. His laboratory work spans multiple institutions including collaborations with University of Patras and Ionian University.
Markos Konstantakis is a PhD candidate at the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean, focusing on Augmented Reality (ACUX thesis). He holds a Master’s in Information Systems from the Hellenic Open University and degrees in Marine Mechanical Engineering from NTUA. As a Research Fellow-Lecturer at the University of Athens, he teaches courses like Network Engineering, MATLAB, and Digital Culture under the e-learning program. He also works as a Research Assistant at Panteion University under the ELKE research fund. His research spans Virtual/Augmented Reality, Digital Culture, Cultural Heritage Management, and Human-Computer Interaction. Key research interests include: Development of digital twins for cultural spaces using photogrammetry and laser scanning Augmented Reality applications for cultural tourism and education Personalized visitor experiences through frameworks like ACUX and AI-driven recommendation systems Integration of IoT and serious games in cultural heritage preservation His recent work emphasizes: Smart Glasses for cultural heritage navigation OpenLab initiatives for archaeological conservation (e.g., Ancient Tiryns) Recommender systems leveraging LLMs like ChatGPT for museums Design of mobile interfaces for cultural tourism optimization Collaborations include projects like TRACCE (content personalization), CHATS (tangible interfaces), and TRIPMENTOR (gamification in tourism). His contributions bridge technological innovation with cultural preservation, emphasizing user-centric design approaches.
