The UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" at the European Heritage Days 2026
On Friday, September 25, 2025, the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources" of the Laboratory of "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, Internet of Things (IoT) & Advanced Digital Technologies and Services" (DigiLab) of the University of Piraeus, held a round table discussion entitled: "HERITAGE NEXT GEN: The new generation facing the climate challenge" in collaboration with the Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works (YNMTE) of Attica, Eastern Central Greece, and Cyclades of the Ministry of Culture, in the framework of the European Heritage Days (EHD) events organized by the Ministry.
This special session took place at the Museum of Political Exiles of Ai Stratis (31 Agion Asomaton, Thissio - Athens), with free admission for the public. It was integrated into the European Heritage Days 2026 (Heritage at Risk: Revive · Resist · Reimagine) and formed part of the broader workshop "Historic buildings facing the risk of climate change: Revival & Resilience".
With the central question "What remains when everything changes?", the panel brought a crucial issue to the fore: "What does it mean for the new generation to receive and protect cultural heritage in a changing world, and what role does it seek to play in co-shaping the future?"
The round table brought together young individuals with multifaceted academic backgrounds and active involvement in climate policy and awareness, museology, sustainability, and advanced smart city technologies:
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Rania Papadopoulou, PhD(c), President of the Youth Climate Diplomacy Forum
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Eirini Mytikioti, PhD(c), Librarian – Museologist, Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica (UniWA)
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Symeon (Simos) Moschidis, Postgraduate student in Political Marketing (NKUA), Member of the “Ecosphere” team (3rd place, CIVIS Sustainability Challenge 2026)
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Paraskevi Zacharia, Historian, Postgraduate student of the MSc program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT & Advanced Digital Technologies" (UniPi), Research Team of the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion", Young Energy Ambassador (POWERYOUTH)
The discussion was moderated by Ms. Anastasia Malliri, Archaeologist, Scientific Associate of the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" and Representative of the Youth Committee of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO at the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum 2025.
The panel raised significant concerns as the climate crisis drastically alters places, communities, social cohesion, and our relationship with cultural heritage. During the discussion, a meaningful, inclusive space for dialogue was created, where the young scientists and professionals highlighted their intentions and capabilities to be active co-shapers of developments. The round table brought to the forefront the voice, energy, and decisive role of the new generation in shaping a sustainable future. The speakers focused on the following questions:
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What does it mean for the new generation to inherit a rapidly changing place?
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How do we safeguard monuments and simultaneously preserve memory, identity, and cultural heritage under conditions of climate crisis?
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What synergies, tools, and knowledge can enhance the resilience of places and communities?
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What role does the new generation claim in climate and future decision-making?
Snapshot from the round table discussion. Pictured are the speakers and the moderator.
A constructive discussion followed with the audience, which followed the panellists' interventions with keen interest, focusing on the issues of social preventive conservation, intergenerational collaboration, participatory engagement, and the importance of extroversion in science.
Snapshot from the discussion that followed. Pictured are the panel participants with the Director of the YNMTE of Attica, Eastern Central Greece, and Cyclades, Dr. Konstantina Siountri.
We would like to express our warm thanks to the Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Attica, Eastern Central Greece, and Cyclades, and especially to its Director, Dr. Konstantina Siountri, and to Mr. Vasileios Panagiotopoulos, for the invitation to participate in this exceptionally interesting and significant workshop they organized, as well as for the fruitful cooperation.
Fig. 3: The Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" and Director of the MSc "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies", Prof. Dimitrios D. Vergados, with speaker Ms. Paraskevi Zacharia and panel moderator Ms. Anastasia Malliri, members of the Chair and graduates/final-year students of the MSc.
The UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources" continues to build partnerships highlighting the connection between cultural heritage, sustainable development, and contemporary environmental challenges, placing particular emphasis on the participation of the younger generation.
Postgraduate Program (MSc) "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies", University of Piraeus http://www.cs.unipi.gr/dcsciot Email: dcsciot@unipi.gr
08 Oct 2026
