Panayota (Yolanda) Koulouri

Organization of educational programs, indicative programs/projects below:

• Scientific support of teachers and students of primary and secondary schools in order to become members of the EU Blue Schools Network by developing "blue" projects in the classroom and outside of it also within the framework of the european-funded BlueLightS project (https://blue-lights.eu/)
• Field work on marine biodiversity on the beach in collaboration with Greek teachers and students of primary and secondary schools in Crete (since 2015)
• Collaboration with teachers of Greek secondary and primary schools in the framework of CONNECT EU funded project (Horizon 2020) in order to support them for scenarios concerning marine pollution with plastics, marine protected areas, loss of marine biodiversity, trophic webs in the sea, coastal and marine ecosystem management (2021-2023)
• Collaboration with teachers of Mediterranean secondary and primary schools in the framework of ERASMUS+ project in order to develop innovative science-based and ocean related educational material addressing ocean/marine issues building on previous experiences from schools and school partners, using benchmarking exercise as a reference, co-building with children, teachers and school partners (2021-2023)
• Scientific support of teachers and students of the primary school of Gournes Pediados (Crete) in order to organize a symposium focusing on marine biodiversity at the Cretaquarium (2015)
• Training courses for marine pollution monitoring of the outfalls of the Power Plants & Desalination Facilities held in Crete and Athens for 5 trainees of the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL). A site visit in Libya aiming at environmental inspection of 8 Power Plants & Desalination Facilities of GECOL including sampling and analyses of certain physicochemical parameters in order to investigate problems related to marine pollution to and from the facilities. A financial-technical report was elaborated aiming at the establishment of an environmental monitoring system in Libya and the development of an Environmental Laboratory infrastructure (2003-2004).

Participation in citizen science projects or projects relevant to Ocean Literacy activities:

• Citizens’ Network for the Observation of Marine BiodivERsity (COMBER, http:/www.comber.hcmr.gr) was initiated under the European funded FP7 project ViBRANT (2010-2013), aimed at engaging citizens in a coastal marine biodiversity observation network. Each participant was equipped with a fish identification card (bio-watch.com) used both to identify fish species and note down observations during the dive or snorkeling. A website has also been developed and functioned for communication and promotion of the network, offering data-entry tools for collecting information (http://comber.hcmr.gr). (Citizen_science_project_photos)
• “Watching for jellyfish blooms”, a program of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM, 2014 to date). Crete is one of the focal points of the program.(http://www.ciesm.org/marine/programs/jellywatch.htm)
• On the occasion of the WORLD OCEAN DAY 2020 an international initiative entitled “Walking on the sea traces” is launched starting June 8th. HCMR in collaboration with other research and educational institutes/initiatives/networks asks to help collect new data in order to better understand what is happening during this unique period of pandemic COVID-19 in the marine environment. Questionnaires at the following website ot fill in for discovering traces of the sea in our home https://sites.google.com/view/camminandosulletraccedelmare/home/english

Maidanou Maria (2019), Supervisor of the PhD student's thesis entitled "Trophodynamics of a fish community associated with a Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) meadow in a shallow semi-enclosed embayment", Univeristy of the Aegean

Skouradakis Grigoris (2021), Supervisor of the PhD student's thesis entitled "A study of Arca noae (Linnaeus, 1758) in Elounda bay, Crete, Eastern Mediterranean", University of Crete

Xeni Symeonidou (2025), Supervisor of the MSc's student thesis entitled "Conservation Strategies for Elounda Bay: Integrating Marine Ecology and Community Engagement", University of Ghent, Belgium

Eleni Koumpaki (2025), Supervisor of the MSc's student thesis entitled "Study of soft-bottom macrobenthic polychaets of the continental shelf of Heraklion Bay", University of Crete, Greece

Maidanou Maria (2006), Supervisor of the MSc student's thesis entitled "Patterns of benthic biodiversity in the salt marshes of Kalloni Gulf, Lesvos Island", University of the Aegean, Greece

Efi Balasi (2023), Supervisor of the BSc student's thesis entitled  "Assessment of the ecological status of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of the Municipal Enterprise of Water and Water Discharges of Chania, Crete, Greece" University of the Aegean, Greece

Mara Paraskevi (2002), Supervisor of the BSc student's thesis entitled "Stomach content analysis of benthic and benthopelagic fishes of Heraklion Bay", Technical University of Preveza

Granados Martínez P. (2024), supervision of a 2-months practical, University of Seville, Spain

Andriotis Mintzas N. (2024), supervision of 15 days practical, 2e classe générale du Lycée, Paris, France

Premici A. (2022), supervision of a 3-months practical, Universita Politecnica Delle Marche, Italy 

Valavani D. (2016), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Geology, University of Patras

Vlassiou A. (2012), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus

Artemiou S. (2012), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus

Kolaxidi M. (2012), supervision of a 2-months practical, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

Kober N. (2012), supervision of a 6-months practical, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Germany 

Vasilaki F. (2011), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean

Markoglou E. (2010), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly

Zambouka V. (2010), supervision of a 2-months summer practical, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean

Pirounaki M. (2007), supervision of a 3-months rotation for MSc, Department of Biology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki

Chryssou E. (2006), supervision of a 6-months practical, Department of Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering, TEI Crete

Fontaine C. (2005), supervision of a 2-months practical, University of Marseille, France

Mara P. (2005), supervision of a 6-months practical, Faculty of Agricutural Technology, Food technology and Nutrition, TEI Ipirou

The last 5 years:

• 11th European Marine Science Educators Association, Ostend, Belgium, 17-19 September 2025 
• European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) Conference 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25-29 August, 2025 
• One Ocean Science Congress, Nice, France, 3-6 June 2025 
•  10th European Marine Science Educators Association, Zadar, Croatia, 23-26 September 2024
• Congresso congiunto SGI-SIMP “Geology for a Sustainable Management of our Planet”, Bari - Italy, 3-5 September 2024
• 4th ESERA SIG4 Science, Environment, Health 2024 Mini Conference, Valencia, Spain, 23-25 May 2024
• 8th European Conference on Scientific Diving ECSD8, 22-26 April 2024, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
• 10th EuroGOOS International Conference, Galway, Ireland, 3-5 October 2023
• 9th European Marine Science Educators Association, 25-28 September 2022, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• Marine and Inland Waters Research Symposium 2022, 16-20 September 2022, Porto Heli, Argolida, Greece
•  International Conference on Tourism (ICOT2022), 22-25 June 2022, Rethymnon, Crete
• 8th London School of Management Education International Research Conference on 'Sustainable Development and Education', 26-27 August 2021
•  4th International Congress on Applied Ichthyology, Oceanography & Aquatic Environment, 4-6 November 2021
•  8th European Marine Science Educators Association Conference, 7-8 October 2021
•  9th EuroGOOS International Conference, Advances in Operational Oceanography: Expanding Europe’s Ocean Observing and Forecasting Capacity, 3-5 May 2021

• Marine pollution monitoring and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), indicative studies:
• Monitoring study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Chania city (northwestern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Chania (Crete Island)
• Monitoring study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Heraklion city (Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Heraklion (Crete Island) 
• Monitoring study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Platanias (Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of northern Crete (Crete Island)
• Investigation of the environmental impacts from the installation of the disposal of cooling water in the marine area of the Power Station of Chania city (northwestern Crete, Greece). Funding: Power Corporation of Chania (Crete Island)
• Current capacity assessment and seasonal monitoring study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Heraklion city (northern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Heraklion (Crete Island)
• Development of a Watershed Management Plan for the District of Crete under the EU Water Framework Directive. Funding: Greek General Secretariat for Water
• Environemntal study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Rethymnon city (northwestern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Rethymnon (Crete Island)
• Monitoring study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plant of Chania city (northwestern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Chania (Crete Island)
• Environemntal study of the marine areas of the wastewater treatment plants of Georgioupolis and Kalyves (northwestern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipality of Apokoronas (Crete Island)
• Environmental impact assessment and techno-economic pre-feasibility study for the development of an underwater diving park for recreational purposes by using artificial reefs in Bay of Sitia (northeastern Crete, Greece). Funding: Municipality of Sitia (Crete Island)
• Investigation of the environmental impacts from the disposal of cooling water and wastewater treatment plant in the marine area of the Power Station in Atherinolakos (southeastern Crete, Greece). Funding: Public Power Corporation (Greece)
• Feasibility Study for the development of two marine protected zones with artificial reefs in Messara Bay (southern Crete, Greece). Funding: Heraklion Prefecture (Crete Island)
• Environmental study of the marine area of the wastewater treatment plants of Santorini Island (south Aegean Sea, Greece). Funding: Water Board Authority of Santorini Island
• Development of marine protected zones with artificial reefs in the marine areas of Kasteli Kissamos and Elafonisi (western Crete, Greece). Funding: Chania Prefecture (Crete Island)
• Ecosystem-based management of coastal habitats for fish of commercial value (eastern Crete, Greece). Funding: Lasithi Prefecture (Crete Island)
• Underwater Recreation Park with Artificial reefs in Ag. Nikolaos (northeastern Crete, Greece). Funding: Lasithi Prefecture (Crete Island)
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management for Elounda Bay (northeastern Crete, Greece). Funding: Lasithi Prefecture (Crete Island)
• Environmental and Economical Marine Pollution Project for Power and Desalination Plants of Libya. Funding: General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL)

Organization of special sessions at Conferences such as:

«Scientists for Ocean Literacy», 10th EuroGOOS International Conference, 3-5 October 2023, Galway, Ireland

«Mediterranean Sea (and Fresh Water) Literacy in the Era of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)», HCMR Symposium- Marine and Inland Waters Research Symposium, 16-20 September 2022, Porto Heli, Argolida, Greece

In the framework of ERASMUS+ project entitled “Supporting the development of socially inclusive Blue Challenges in schools in the Mediterranean sea-basin” (BlueS_Med), a training event for 45 teachers and pupils of elementary and high schools from four Mediterranean countries (France, Italy, Malta, Greece) took place in the premises of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research in Crete between 5 and 8 May 2022. The aim of the project is to develop innovative science-based and ocean related educational material addressing ocean/marine issues building on previous experiences from schools and school partners, using benchmarking exercise as a reference, co-building with children, teachers and school partners. The training event included workshops, labs and field work organized by the Educational Teams of HCMR and Cretaquarium for the students and the teachers that participate in the project, a tour at the Cretaquarium, and a tour at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with emphasis on exhibits related to marine life of Minoans.