Photography as a Means of Memory

The Central Event for the celebration of the International Museum Day 2011, with the theme "Museums and Memory", was held with great success on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in the morning, at the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras. The event included a Conference entitled "Photography as a means of memory", as well as the opening of the exhibition on geological Photography "Geoart2". It was co-organized by the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, the Department of Geology of the University of Patras and the Department of Geology & Geoenvironment of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the Departments of Environmental Education and Cultural Affairs of Primary and Secondary Education of the Prefecture of Achaia.

The Conference was opened by the Rector of the University of Patras, Professor George Panagiotakis, who praised the importance of the Science and Technology Museum for the connection of the University of Patras with society, but also of the Department of Geology for the University of Patras and stressed that both he and the Rector's authorities will support in every way their promotion and utilization. The Director of the STM of the University of Patras, Professor Evangelos Vitoratos, also gave a greeting while the Regional Director of Primary and Secondary Education of Western Greece, Mr. George Panagiotopoulos, the Director of Secondary Education of the prefecture of Achaia, Ms. Eugenia Pierri, Director of Primary Education of Achaia, Mr. Vassilis Chondrogiannis sent greetings that were read. The event was attended by many faculty members and Emeritus Professors of the University of Patras and especially from the Department of Geology, teachers, students, and citizens.

Photography as a means of memory from different perspectives was presented in their speeches by Professor Kostis Antoniadis, President of the Department of Photography and Audiovisual Arts of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, entitled "Photography in our wallet", Vassilis Tsikouras, Assistant Professor of the Department of Geology entitled, "Capturing the Earth with the photographic lens" and Ioanna Papaioannou with Giannis Vlachos, Heads of the Department of Environmental Education of the Secondary Education of the Prefecture of Achaia, entitled "Photography as a means of Environmental Education".

In continuation, the President of the Department of Geology, Professor Kimon Christanis and the President of the Department of Geology & Geoenvironment of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Michael Stamatakis inaugurated the exhibition of geological photography "Geoart2". The philosophy of the exhibition was presented by the curator of the exhibition Mrs. Maria Zacharopoulou, Teacher of Secondary Education of Achaia and Member of the Design and Implementation Team of the exhibition, with the speech "Geoart, Patras: geological photography exhibition in the square".

The event closed with a tour of the participants in the geological photography exhibition "Geoart 2" and the permanent exhibition of the Museum "Telecommunications in our lives".