Events

We're proud to showcase the impactful contribution of our Athena Research Center team—led by Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Phoebe Koundouri, with team members Dr. Ebun Akinsete (PhD) and Lydia Papadaki—to the recent events of the Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea (DOORS) project in Bucharest, Romania, this May.

On May 6, during the high-level DOORS Black Sea Final Conference, held at the Intercontinental Athene Palace, Lydia and Ebun co-presented the session:
"Delivering a Vision for the Blue Economy in the Black Sea – Innovation Pathways"
Their insights helped frame how strategic innovation, multi-actor engagement, and systems thinking can support sustainable blue growth across the region.

The conference, held from the 5th to the 6th of May 2025, brought together leading scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in an ambitious drive to co-design a resilient future for the Black Sea.

Their contribution continued at the
5th General Assembly of the DOORS Project (May 7–8), held at Hotel Capitol, where partners reflected on results and next steps for lasting impact of the project.