President Şeker Attended the KOINON Opening Symposium in Athens
Hosted by the Athens Academy, the Opening Symposium organized by the International Community of Academies (KOINON) brought leading representatives of academies and scientists from around the world together.
The symposium, which symbolized the official launch of KOINON's activities and aimed to lay the foundations for a new international institution based on intellectual cooperation, was held at the Neoclassical Building of the Academy of Athens. The thematic framework of the symposium spanned a broad interdisciplinary range, covering the natural sciences, theoretical sciences, social and human sciences, and the arts and literature. Over the course of two days, a total of seven international sessions were held on a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, human health and intelligence, economics and social transformation, archaeology and history, climate change, the preservation of cultural heritage, and quantum science. The sessions, attended by world-renowned scientists in their fields, addressed interdisciplinary approaches and opportunities for inter-academic cooperation.
Following speeches by Prof. Dr. Christos Zerefos, Chairman of the KOINON Board of Directors, and Prof. Dr. Nikiforos Diamantouros, President of the Academy of Athens, at the symposium's opening session, Greece's former President Prof. Dr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos delivered the opening lecture titled “Myth and Truth in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
In the program, which was attended by internationally renowned scientists and academics from the world's leading academies, TÜBA President Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Şeker emphasized the importance of TÜBA's representation on the international scientific platform and stated that it contributes to strengthening Türkiye's academic accumulation and visibility in the field of science diplomacy. Turkish Young Academy President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mürsel Doğrul also attended the symposium. Columbia University TÜBA Honorary Member Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs gave a speech titled “Sustainability in the Anthropocene: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.” President Şeker presented Prof. Dr. Christos Zerefos with a copy of the book “Science Diplomacy for Global Challenges,” recently published by TÜBA as part of its Science and Thought Series.
The International Community of Academies (KOINON) is a new initiative launched by the Academy of Athens to strengthen the institution's international visibility and intellectual cooperation. Inspired by the fundamental values of Plato's Academy, this international platform aims to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and joint thought production among academies worldwide and distinguished representatives of science, literature, and the arts. With member academies from 38 countries, KOINON aims to create a lasting foundation for intellectual cooperation that brings together scientific knowledge and culture and humanism on global issues of our time.