Participation in the 42nd UNESCO General Conference

PIRAEUS, November 27, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Participation in the 42^nd General Conference of UNESCO

The UNESCO Chair in “Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources”, of “Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies & Services” Laboratory of University of Piraeus, with UNESCO Chair Holder Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados and the Coordination & Support team, Dr. Emmanouil Skondras, Ms. Elena Tsigka, Ms. Christina Nika and Ms. A-Natassa Malliri, participated as part of the Greek Delegation in the 42^nd UNESCO General Conference held on November 7-22, 2023, at the UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France.

The General Conference was comprised of delegates from UNESCO's Member States, convening biennially. Associate Members, along with representatives from non-Member States, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also participated to the conference.

Indicatively, the UNESCO Chair Holder and the coordination & support team participated in sessions where the interchange of perspectives and expertise among experts and delegates centered on global equal education, safeguarding cultural heritage, and advancements in scientific innovation.

Among the events, it stood out the 4^th Intergovernmental Conference for the safeguarding and development of Angkor, culminating the prestigious Award Ceremony for the UNESCO-Greece Melina MERKOURI International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes in 2023.

Furthermore, interesting part of the Conference was the UNESCO Youth Forum, organized by the Social and Human Sciences Sector, which delved into the Social Impacts of Climate Change and emphasized the imperative of achieving an equitable climate transition.

We would like to thank the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO to be members of the Greek Delegation. Being present at the General Conference presented a distinctive chance for the Chair, fostering knowledge growth and the establishment of fresh collaboration networks.

#UNESCOGENERALCONFERENCE | #42GENERALCONFERENCEUNESCO | #SHARINGHUMANITY | #CREATIVECITIESINMOTIONCHAIR | #PEOPLECENTEREDSMARTCITIES

Professor Dimitrios D. VERGADOS, Holder of the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources" at the University of Piraeus, GR, attending the 42^nd General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, Tuesday 14, 2023.

From right to left

Dr. Emmanouil SKONDRAS, Postdoctoral Researcher, Unipi, Chair’s Research Associate, Member of the Technical Support (IT Experts) Team,

Ms. Elena TSIGKA, Philologist, MSc cand. Unipi, Research Associate, Senior Member of the Chair’s Research Team,

Ms. Christina NIKA, PhD Candidate Unipi, Research Associate, Senior Member of the Chair’s Writing & Research Team,

Ms. A-Natassa MALLIRI, Archaeologist, MSc cand. Unipi, Research Associate, Senior Member of the Chair’s Research Team

They all participated in the Sessions and relevant Commissions as well as Major Side Events and the YOUTH Forum, of the 42^nd General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, from 13 to 17 November 2023.