Athena in Xanthi: When Science and Puzzles Unfold Their Magic
07-04-2025
For three days, the vibrant border city of Xanthi was transformed into a hub of imagination, knowledge, and hands-on learning during the 1st Xanthi Puzzle Festival. As a proud co-organizer, the Athena Research Center brought a dynamic presence to the event. From keynote talks by renowned scientists to immersive workshops on artificial intelligence and cryptography, Athena delivered a program that proved one thing: science can be play - and a brilliantly complex one at that.
Science with a Human Touch
With students, educators, parents, and researchers at the heart of the action, the Athena team brought its vision of open science to life.
Vassilis Katsouros, Director of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP), explored how large language models like ChatGPT “think” - or rather, how they solve their own statistical puzzles.
Two distinguished talks also took place during the festival. Professor Yannis Ioannidis, former President of Athena and current President of ACM, delved into the technological, interdisciplinary, and ethical puzzles of informatics. Professor Yannis Emiris, Athena’s current President, invited the audience into the world of hidden geometry in his lecture “Solving Equations with Polygons and Polyhedra.”
Young Scientists in Action
The ILSP team - represented by researchers Giorgos Drosatos, Grigoris Bastas, Thomas Pappas, Anestis Koutsoudis, Fotis Arnaoutoglou, and Spyridoula Stamouli - led workshops that captivated visitors of all ages. From the secret language of cryptography to composing musical patterns using AI, each activity was centered on one principle: knowledge through experience.
A standout moment was the interactive game “Adventures of Mythical Puzzles,” created in collaboration with the 2nd High School of Xanthi. Students combined ancient myths, puzzles, and modern technology to develop an educational board game with guidance from Athena’s team - highlighting the value of cross-disciplinary learning.
When Science Becomes Music, Theater… and an Escape Room
The program also bridged science with the arts and culture. Through the iMuSciCA platform, participants discovered the mathematical structure of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, while the PREMIERE platform introduced them to theatrical performances enhanced by virtual reality. Meanwhile, in Xanthi’s Central Square, the mobile unit “Odysseas” by The Smile of the Child hosted workshops on digital safety and biology, supported by Athena researchers.
Throughout the event, Athena scientists met the public in a spirit of dialogue and enthusiasm. Children and adults alike engaged with technology through interactive applications and creative labs—proving that science can be understandable, fascinating, and part of everyday life.