The Members of the Board of Directors of the “Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies”(DIKAM) of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Joint Steering Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and the Municipality of Aristotle, met the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos. The meeting was held on Monday June 24, 2019, at the Presidential Mansion, with the purpose of informing the President about the foundation of the “International Cultural Centre of Ancient Stageira: Aristotle.”
The President of the Republic followed with great interest the presentation of the objectives, the architectural proposal and the viability study of the “International Cultural Centre.” He expressed his enthusiasm and his unwavering support for the realization of this ambitious project, which has set as its goal to promote the work of the great Macedonian philosopher on a global scale and at the same time to contribute to the development of the region of Chalkidiki.
Additionally, there was a special mention of the need to include the archaeological site of ancient Stageira in the Register of Monuments of National Heritage, so that the necessary steps can be made for its inclusion in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The President of the Republic further expressed his wish to visit the area and the archaeological site of ancient Stageira, as well as to be informed about the progress of the implementation of the project.
The President of the “Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies,” AUTh, Professor Emerita of Philosophy of Science, Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou,presented the activities of DIKAM and offered to the President of the Republic the volume Aristotle – Contemporary Perspectives on his Thought: On the 2400th Anniversary of Aristotle’s Birth(edited by Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou), which was recently published by the prestigious Publishing House De Gruyter, and includes the essays of the Invited Speakers at the World Congress “Aristotle 2400 Years”, organized by the “Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies,” in 2016, under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos.
The former Mayor of the Municipality of Aristotle and Coordinator of the Joint Steering Committee, Ioannis Michos, presented in detail the business plan as well as the study of the viability of the project.
In the meeting also participated the Members of the Joint Steering Committee: Ioannis Seiradakis, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, AUTh, and Vice-President of DIKAM, Zacharias Skouras, Professor of Biology, AUTh, and Secretary General of DIKAM, Stavros Avgoloupis, former Professor of Astronomy, AUTh, and Member of the Board of DIKAM, Konstantinos Katsampalos, Professor of Rural and Surveying Engineering, AUTh, and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, AUTh, and Nikolaos Tsinikas, Professor Emeritus of the School of Architecture, AUTh, and consultant of the Joint Steering Committee for architectural issues.
The decision for the establishment of the “International Cultural Centre of Ancient Stageira: Aristotle” is part of the Agreement of Cooperationsigned by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Municipality of Aristotle, in July 2018. In the context of this agreement the Municipality of Aristotle intends to build the Centre on its own land of 30 hectares near the archeological site of ancient Stagira, whereas the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki will contribute to the establishment of the Centre with its scientific potential; in particular the contribution of the “Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies,” AUTh, the members of which have worked hard to shape the scientific, educational and cultural identity of the Center, is of crucial importance for the operation of the Centre and its development strategy, the central idea of which is to promote on a global scale the work of Aristotle, the philosopher who had an impact on the intellectual life of Europe and of the Western world more than any other thinker.
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