“Only global convergence and cooperation, science-based interconnection and action can slow down climate change. The need for unity and cohesion is urgent,” says Fali Vogiatzakis, President of the Goulandris Museum of Natural Historyand the UN Climate Conference in Egypt is coming to an end.

“Following the progress of previous years, 17 UN Global Environment Goals were forgotten. Marine life is disrupted, extreme weather events will intensify, causing natural disasters and waves of environmental refugees. Because it’s destabilizing climate, the more we will be threatened by new infectious diseases,” he emphasizes. “Let’s believe that we have to change. It takes an extremely large effort to change course and thinking. But this is a one-way street,” he notes.

“We already know what will happen with rising temperatures, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, desertification, extinction of species. Seeing that world leaders are unable to make the necessary changes due to political costs and vested interests, there is hope that the world public, informed and properly educated, will demand action. Leadership is sure to follow. Information and education, as well as the contribution of the media, are essential to making awakening universal,” says Ms. Vogiatzaki, a few days before the museum’s interactive exhibition on climate change opens to the public. GAIA Center.

Knowledge Chest

Goulandris Natural History Museum it is a huge fascinating ark of Greek nature and at the same time an organization with a huge educational and research project. By documenting and studying with the most advanced technological tools the wounds of the Greek environment, he is developing innovative solutions and giving a strong impetus to unite all forces in the fight against the climate crisis.

It may be easy to believe in something big, but it is extremely difficult to achieve results. “With the help of environmental education and information, the museum seeks to create an ecological consciousness, change the way we think, redefine our priorities and values, so that moral criteria play the same role as scientific ones. Angelos and Niki have dedicated their lives and property to the protection of nature and life on the planet. This is the biggest investment they could have made.”

Museum President Goulandris emphasizes that the goal of environmental education and information is to create environmental consciousness and change the way of thinking.

What is saved builds one of the foundations of the future. But it takes constant effort, strength to get up again when you are on your knees. We all know the collections of the museum founded in 1964 by Angelos and Niki Goulandris, ten years later it opened the doors of a familiar neoclassical building in Kifisia and nurtured generation after generation with exhibitions, programs and children’s workshops. Thousands of specimens of Greek plants, the fruits of years of expeditions to collect mountain peaks, gorges and rocky islands, as well as mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, minerals, rocks and fossils, make up a world of continuous discovery and discovery. initiation into the mechanisms of nature and at the same time a unique databank.

Scientific laboratories

But it’s not just about collections with relevant laboratories. “These are also scientific laboratories, bioanalytical and soil ecology and biotechnology. At the same time, the GAIA Center for Environmental Research and Education operates a technologically upgraded “Sphere” and “Dome” to display environmental films. Also in preparation is a soon-to-be-launched experiential 360° spectacle titled “The Truth Face to Face,” Ms. Vogiatzaki succinctly describes.

The Greek Habitat and Wetland Center of Thessaloniki, an annex to the museum, functions as a nature reference center. The Paleontological Museum of Rethymnon, the branch of the museum in Crete, reveals the entire geophysical evolution of Crete. “Our goal is to be a factor that will lead the next generation on the path of sustainable development, the only way to real progress,” says Ms. Vogiatzaki.

The museum has a library with tens of thousands of rare editions dating back to 1552, maps, most of which have already been digitized and are available immediately.

The museum complex is being vigorously modernized with innovative interventions to achieve a 70% reduction in energy consumption, which contributes to the improvement of the microclimate of the territory.

Research and innovation in environmental management

The research team of the museum’s Bioanalytical Laboratory, which is researching the relationship between human dietary habits and health under the guidance of Antonis Sharbopoulos, Professor at the EKPA School of Medicine, in collaboration with the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, has discovered EKRA, the beneficial effect of naturally occurring molecules in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, components of the crocus sativus L plant are effective in the prevention and treatment of the disease because they prevent the aggregation of the Aβ peptide, one of the two main neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. “The lab team further investigated the processes that influence the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. The aim of the study was to find substances in the blood that could predict whether someone would develop low or high antibodies after vaccination,” says Ms Wogiatzaki.

The bioanalytical laboratory of the museum is investigating the possibility of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease using the molecules of the plant crocus sativus L.

In addition, the laboratory has developed advanced methods for the analysis and quality control of pharmaceuticals at a very high level, “participating in projects such as mapping the quality components of Cretan olive oil and creating a formulation that will contain mountain tea and be used to treat anxiety and depressive disorders.”

The Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Biotechnology, founded in 1990, monitors the quality of soil, plants and water using special instruments and devices. “Dr. Stamatis Stamatiadis and his team are focused on precision farming using crop remote sensing technologies. They created an innovative robotic system for spot fertilization of annual crops. Fertilizer application is reduced by 30-40%, while water pollution is reduced without affecting productivity,” notes Ms. Vogiatzaki.

Strengthening the museum with new scientific staff and new equipment (devices for measuring the DNA of the environment and crop productivity) will allow the introduction of advanced technologies for monitoring environmental quality and climate change.

Control of 74 lakes

The Hellenic Center for Biotopes and Wetlands (EKBY) is an extension of the Thermi Museum in Thessaloniki and the body that conducts sampling and analysis in the country’s 74 lakes on behalf of the General Directorate of Water Resources of the Ministry of the Environment. .

“EKBY supports the state in the implementation of the European framework directives on water and nature. It is the body that coordinated the recognition of Natura 2000 sites in Greece and the creation of a national database, and supported the first mapping of habitats. She works closely with Natura Forest Service, she even created a web portal for forests (https://forests-ypen.gr) with her, which, together with biodiversity websites (http://www.biodiversity -info .gr/) and Greek Nature Infrastructure (https://visitgreeknature.gr/) are visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year,” explains Ms Vogiatzaki.

For the period 2017-2019 EKBY has identified and mapped over 1,400 natural and artificial wetlands on the mainland. “Today, he is also involved in the protection of small wetlands, as well as their promotion as places of recreation and environmental education. The work carried out by EKBY in conjunction with the Athens Observatory on Inventory of Wetlands using space technology is currently on display at the UN Headquarters,” the president of the museum told us.