FIRST LIVE SESSION OF THE “OUR HOMELAND IS LANGUAGE” NETWORK
A Journey through Time with the Antikythera Mechanism Astypalaia, July 1 - 2, 2025
The Astypalaia High School and the Hellenic Library of Southern California are organizing the first live Session of the “Our Homeland is Language” Network, which will take place in Astypalaia, on July 1 and 2, 2025, with the following theme:
“A Journey through Time with the Antikythera Mechanism”
The Session, continuing the Network’s international online action, brings together for the first time in person educational, university and cultural institutions participating in the international initiative “Our Homeland is Language”.
EVENT SCHEDULE
The events will take place in the courtyard of the Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes of Astypalaia.
The main event will take place on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 21:00 and will include the following presentations:
Xenophon Moussas, Astronomer, Professor of Space Physics at the University of Athens, protagonist of the modern study of the Antikythera Mechanism -
"The Antikythera Mechanism: The oldest computer in the world" (videotaped speech)
Minas K. Kafatos, Astrophysicist, Professor of Computational Physics (Fletcher Jones Chair), Director of the Institute for Earth, Computers, People and Observations at Chapman University in California, with a long tenure at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center -
"The Harmony of the Universe: Cosmic Order, Music, Numbers and Philosophy"
Fiori - Anastasia Metallinou, Astrophysicist at the National Observatory of Athens, National Coordinator for Astronomy Dissemination of the International Astronomical Union (Greece)
"What the Antikythera Mechanism Teaches Us"
Elena Avramidou, Professor of Philosophy, Executive Director of the Hellenic Center for Sinology, member of the D.E. UNESCO Chair of the Ionian University -
“Why are the Chinese interested in the Antikythera Mechanism?”
Nicoletta Tsitsanoudi - Mallidi, Professor of Linguistics and Dean of the University of Ioannina -
“The language of climate change and the contribution of the International Summer University to the public debate on the crises of our time”
Workshop of the Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Media and Education of the University of Ioannina -
“The linguistic depiction of the climate crisis”
A working replica of the Antikythera Mechanism, donated by the Hellenic Library of Southern California, built by the Kostas Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, will be presented at the same time. The speeches will be followed by an open discussion with the public and a night astronomical observation with a telescope.
On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:00 in the morning, there will be an observation of the Sun with a telescope equipped with a special filter, and exercises in calculating the time with an anelf sundial, in which the role of the gnomon is taken by the shadow of the human body.
Coordination Team
The coordination of the Synod is carried out by the President of the Hellenic Library of Southern California, Philippos Trevezas, the academic speakers of the event, the Director of the Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes of Astypalaia, Ioanna Mindilogliti, as well as the teachers Lambrini Grigori, Antonis Avgerinos and Andreas Alatzakis.
The event is organized under the auspices of:
- the Hellenic Library of Southern California,
- the Institute for Earth, Computation, Humanity and Observations (ECHO) of Chapman University of California,
- the Office of Astronomy Outreach of the International Astronomical Union (Greece),
- the Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Media and Education of the University of Ioannina,
- the UNESCO Chair on Threats to Cultural Heritage of the Ionian University, and
- the Municipality of Astypalaia.
The Conference is addressed to students, teachers, researchers and every friend of science, education and language.
Contact information: patridamasiglossa@gmail.com
A few words about the “Our Homeland is Language” Network
The “Our Homeland is Language” Network is an international form of cooperation between educators, universities, schools and cultural institutions that was founded with the aim of strengthening and promoting the Greek language as a vehicle of culture, science and collective identity. It is organically based at the Hellenic Library of Southern California and was created as a result of the Library’s relationship with the Astypalaia High School. With the collaboration of the Hellenic American Project of Queens College in New York, it has developed members and activities on four continents, in countries such as the USA, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and China. Since 2022, the Network has coordinated online and in-person events, actively participating in the struggle for Hellenism that led to the international recognition of World Greek Language Day by UNESCO, while systematically highlighting the multicultural presence of the Greek diaspora throughout the world.
The Network "Our Homeland is Language" expands every year with new members and constantly plans new events and innovative forms of communication and action.
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