Leirion MUN Summer Academy
Zakynthos or Zante is one of the seven main Greek islands of the Ionian Sea, known as Eptanisa (Seven Islands in Modern Greek). The island of Zakynthos is the southernmost of the complex and one of the most famous islands of Greece for summer tourism.
The team of Leirion, decided to create a new educational summer academy for young people and educators from all over the world, choosing Zakynthos as its starting point, having in mind that this unique island lies between the West and the East world. A place of creative co-existence of different cultural elements from Italy, Greece and the Balkans. The perfect place to give birth to something culturally new and innovative.
The students and young people that will decide to join the academy will have the opportunity to meet people of their age from other cultural backgrounds and acquire major life skills (critical thought, collective perspective and right argumentation). Furthermore, they will see in action what it means to live in the time of globalization (shared entertainment media,
common global words, common pop and intellectual idols) and they will enjoy the educational and recreational tourism that Zakynthos has to offer them.
Of course, besides young participants, the academy is open to teachers, social workers, educators of non-profit organizations, tour-guides and in general to anyone that wants to deepen their scientific knowledge and enrich their cultural experience. Participants will have the opportunity to see new teaching methods, learn more about the United Nations and discover the harmonious co-existence and interconnection between different fields of science such as astronomy, philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, digital technology and politics. The participants’ use of this new combined knowledge in their everyday lives and workplaces will be the benchmark for something culturally new on a global scale.
This program is designed for:
- Students (age 14-24)
- Teachers, Educators, Social Workers and Adults.
Important Note:
- For minor students (14-17 years old) the parent/guardian must state that they allow participation in the program and their child must be accompanied by a supervising teacher throughout the program.
- Part of the profits will be given to abused women and unaccompanied children from all over Greece and Europe.
Workshops
A.I. SKILLS
AI systems work by ingesting immense amounts of labeled training data, analyzing the data for correlations and patterns, and using these patterns to make predictions about future states.
From the definition of AI given above one can derive the skills necessary to implement it in real life. The core skills required are mathematics, especially statistics and algebra.
The potential uses of AI, for example Text analytics, video/image processing, healthcare and many others, also require knowledge of the domain experts of the problem we are required to resolve. For example, AI applications in healthcare sector require co-operation between data scientists who have knowledge of statistics, algebra, AI algorithms and medical personnel with knowledge of medical science.
AI is essentially a fine-tuning methodology which can now be used, since the tools currently available allow us to make large scale data processing. The theory of AI as well as the algorithmic part was already there waiting for technology to be ready.
Duration: 3 hours
What is Quantum Physics?
Quantum Information
Most information is stored in relatively large structures--books, text messages, DNA, computers. Quantum information is information stored in very small structures called qubits. Qubits can be made from any quantum system that has two states. In the image in the poster, these states are depicted as electron orbits in an atom.
Because of the principle of superposition, qubits, unlike the “classical bits” in your computer, can be in both their possible states at once. This opens up exciting new possibilities in information technology.
What can we do with Quantum Information?
-teleport information between particles separated in space.
-encrypt messages so they cannot be intercepted without the snooper being detected.
-build powerful new computers to quickly solve problems that take today's computer years. Examples include factoring the large numbers that are used to encrypt data, and searching through vast databases.
Duration: 3 hours
Dr. Athanasios Staveris-Polykalas
Course of Philosophy and Culture
Philosophy, as the Western World perceived it, has its roots in Minor Asia where the Ionian philosophers started to observe and interpret the world. In Ancient Greece, pre-Socratic thinkers developed philosophical thought until the three master minds of ancient philosophy, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle created its basic and unquestionable foundations.
The advent of Christianity, four centuries later, resulted in the fusion of Jewish and Greek morals and traditions, a mixture that gave birth to christian philosophy, whose prominent speakers were Augustine of Hippo in the West and Basil of Caesarea in the East. Their works and contribution to theology had an immense influence on European spirit and culture until the end of the Middle Ages.
Since 17th century, philosophy started to explore new ideas, social norms and theological interpretations, which are well attested in the works of Baruch Spinoza and John Locke.
During the Enlightenment Era (18th - 19th c.) René Descartes, Friedrich Hegel and Immanuel Kant evolved human thinking in such a way that modern western philosophy gained the appropriate intellectual equipment to deal with the historical, social, economic and cultural facts that marked the 20th century (Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus).
Of course, philosophy, cannot be examined separately. Culture is the key factor in understanding the evolution of philosophical thought over the centuries. The three greatest civilizations of the past, China, Egypt and Greece, defined the world and its values as we comprehend them in our days. Different aspects of a civilization, such as language and religion, have the power to create new cultures but most notably war can be the cause of the birth of cultures and at the same time their destroyer.
Today, the world is being shaped by the multicultural global societies and that’s the reason why the seminar will try to introduce the modernEuropean (Greek, German, French, Spanish, Italian, British) and modern Asiatic (China, Japan, Arab World) civilizations with a specific purpose: to questioned whether globalization is the evolutionary or neutralized power of civilizations.
Duration: 7 workshops – 3 hours each
PhD Canditate Dionysis Angelis
Rhetoric Course
Duration: 7 workshops – 3 hours each
Rhetoric Instructor Kalliopi Michopoulou
Model United Nations
Empathy as the key to Equality and Human Rights
Human rights education – learning about, through and for human rights – is essential in preventing human rights violations and in making democracy a sustainable way of life. Empathy has the potential to make people realize that “the other” is a human being just like oneself – worthy of respect. The biggest power of empathy in the context of human rights is that it is a truly universal human capability. It is empathy which achieves equality and therefore any democratic human rights system is in need of an empathic culture.
Through specially designed activities drawn from the Manual on Human Rights of the Council of Europe, participants will cultivate their critical mind, question their personal beliefs and break down social stereotypes, improve their communication skills, learn the art of compromise, develop active citizenship and cultivate empathy.
Activities include impromptu speeches on thought-provoking pictures, group activities that require cooperation in taking fast and important decisions for the common good when facing a life-threatening situation, familiarization with Human Rights issues, Four Corner Debate and Group Discussion using De Bono’s thinking Hats technique, role playing games about tolerance and stereotypes.
Duration: 3 hours
Model United Nations/ Formal Debate
Simulation of a Model United Nations meeting. Participants will be taught the parliamentary rules and procedures, lobbying, points and motions, resolution writing, amendments and voting and based on their respective country policy, they will express their opinion on a current issue as ambassadors of a country to the UN.
Duration: 3 hours
MUN Advisor Mary Marin, MA, PHDc
Education in basic Psychological and Social Skills Development.
The objective of these workshops is the adoption and practical application of the support techniques and the communication skills presented alongside the encouragement of personal growth and development through self-awareness.
The module revolves around empathy and assertiveness as a way of exploring social skills.
More specifically the following areas/aspects will be explored:
- Behavioural problems management (setting boundaries with the use of I-messages, Active Listening);
- Identifying problems in group dynamics;
- Developing communication skills (with an analysis of their impact and effect on personal, family and social relations and connectivity)
- Exploring the term ‘Assertiveness’ (introduction into non-violent communication and applying its basic concepts when dealing with crises)
Duration: 3 workshops, 3 hours each
Niki Panoutsakopoulou
Astronomy
The workshop will be divided into three sections.
The first section will concern the basics of astronomy and astrophysics and some of their differences between the two. After explaining the concepts of the two sciences, there will be an introduction to the celestial bodies and their types according to their astronomical and astrophysical definitions. Finally, there will be a presentation of the types of telescopes, the pros and cons of each type and the different spectra and filters used in each.
The second section will initially be about habitable planets, the criteria for a planet to be considered habitable and relevant examples. Afterwards there will be a retrospective analysis of the creation eras after the big bang and the types of matter and energy, and a few words on the elementary particles.
The third section will focus on our atmosphere, its layers and the properties of each layer, how they affect the communications and transmissions. The main subject will be the greenhouse effect, its causes and consequences, and what we can do about it.
Duration: 2 workshops, 3 hours each
MA Andreas Manoukian
MUN WORKSHOPS
A historical journey from the birth of the organisation to the present day. What is the UN? An acronym, a rather controversial meaning in an era of great demands and intense challenges. Reflecting on these challenges and the role played by this organization through dialogue and various activities, we will first examine the universal concept and role of the UN and then study the process of extracting proper research and cross-referencing information.
Duration: 3 hours
Chairman Skills
Skills, requirements and obligations for those interested in becoming committee chairs at Model UN conferences.
Duration: 3 hours
Ioakeimia Lantavou
REGISTRATIONS BELOW
Terms and conditions of participation
- In case of cancellation 1 month before the start date the money is non refundable.
- In case of cancellation 2 months before the start date, only 30% of the amount is refunded.
- Location: Castello Beach Argasi Zakynthos
The price includes :
- Accommodation
- All meals included
- Educational program
- Insurance (Only for accommodation, excursions, seminar venues)
- Excursions
*Outside the workshops Leirion bears no responsibility for anything that happens.
*For participants only in the workshops:
* In order to receive a certificate of attendance they must attend all seminars.