Theme: "Life Re-Loading"

Life is like an endless sea: we sometimes sail on high currents of serenity and bliss while at other times we fight against huge wild waves in an attempt to survive. It is at these “low” moments and because we’ve been trying too hard that exhaustion, both physical and psychological, takes over making us weak in spirit, frightened and eventually resigned to fate. However, after every storm the sun rises; it is the time to start all over again, to reload forces and energy and resume our journey, being wiser and conscious this time. Even if our vessel has been wrecked in the rough sea, let’s not brood for too long …… there are always ships passing by, ready to lend us a hand. We just need to be willing to get hold of one and share the voyage of LIFE.

“Life Reloading” is the motto of the first TEDx Kavala. We believe in the journey itself rather than just in the final destination: in the “going” rather than in the Ithaca, as Kavafis would have put it.

The “ship” of the first TEDx Kavala is ready to sail on 5 March 2016. Its voyage will hopefully mark a restarting and a reloading of Life. On board there will be important personalities from the spheres of culture, science, technology and marketing. People who are ready to share with us their “positive” charges and their ideas from their unique individual journeys.

Let’s wish all the best for its first voyage ….

Municipal Tobacco Warehouse , Greece
Kassandrou and Averof
Kavala, Kavala, 65302
Greece

Athanasios Mitropoulos

Born in Athens in 1957. He studied Chemistry at the University of Thessaloniki and Physical Chemistry at the University of Bristol. Professor at the Department of Petroleum Engineering and Chairman of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology. His research interests focus on the characterization of nanoporous materials with x rays and neutrons. Γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα το 1957. Σπούδασε Χημεία στο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης και Φυσικοχημεία στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Bristol. Καθηγητής στο Τμήμα Μηχανικών Πετρελαίου και Πρόεδρος του ΤΕΙ ΑΜΘ. Τα ερευνητικά του ενδιαφέροντα εστιάζονται στον χαρακτηρισμό των νανοϋλικών με ακτίνες-Χ και νετρόνια.

Bakirtzis A, Bakirtzis C, Koutsoupakis C, D.O.K.

Argyris Bakirtzis, singing: self-taught songwriter with many albums and live performances. Actor of theater and cinema. Architect of the Archaeological Service. Bakirtzis Costas, piano: member of the music band “The Dreamers " with one album and several concerts. Koutsoupakis Costas, trumpet : Member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kavala Municipality and the music band "The Dreamers" with one album and several concerts. The Municipal Conservatory of Kavala (D.O.K.) is one of the most historical and vibrant conservatories in Greece. Brilliant musicians have emerged from its music classes marking successful careers both in Greece and abroad. Among the vocal and instrumental ensembles of D.O.K., is a participant ever-present in all events, the Children’s and Mixed Choir (conductor: Katerina Kopsahili).

Dimitris Chatzis

student/innovator

Dimitris Chatzis is only 15 years old and now holds the title of being the youngest creator of robot in the world. Born and raised in Kavala, he was in the fifth grade when he carried out his first project. In 2013, inspired from the movie "Real Steel", he decided to construct a functioning robot. He began by making a 3D printer, for which he was awarded. He then went on to make "inMoov", an open-code robotic humanoid. Ο Δημήτρης Χατζής είναι μόλις 15 ετών και κατέχει πλέον τον τίτλο του νεότερου κατασκευαστή ρομπότ στον κόσμο. Γεννημένος και μεγαλωμένος στην Καβάλα, ήταν μόλις στην Ε΄Δημοτικού, όταν έφτιαξε το πρώτο του project. To 2013, εμπνευσμένος από την ταινία "Real Steel" αποφασίζει να κατασκευάσει ένα λειτουργικό ρομπότ. Αρχικά κατασκεύασε τον δικό του τρισδιάστατο εκτυπωτή, για τον οποίο και βραβεύτηκε και έπειτα προχώρησε στην κατασκευή του “InMoov”, ενός ρομποτικού ανθρωποειδούς ανοικτού κώδικα.

George Xoulogis

Musician

He was born in Athens in 1987 and began his musical career at the age of six. In 2013, he had the honor of participating in the Cannes Film Festival in France, where the films "ONE LINE" and "It's a Good Life", for which he wrote the music, were screened. In 2014, he was nominated with the "Best European Soundtrack Award" at the festival Soundtrack Cologne in Cologne, Germany. Ο Γεώργιος Ξουλόγης γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα το 1987. Από την ηλικία των έξι ετών ξεκίνησε η μουσική του πορεία. To έτος 2013 είχε την τιμή να συμμετέχει στο Φεστιβάλ των Καννών στη Γαλλία όπου προβλήθηκαν οι ταινίες “ONE LINE” και “It’s a good life” για τις οποίες έγραψε τη μουσική. Το 2014 ήταν υποψήφιος για “Best European Soundtrack Award” στο φεστιβάλ Soundtrack Cologne στην Κολωνία της Γερμανίας.

Konstantinos Kotios

Vocational & Educational Counsellor

Με μότο της ζωής του το ότι «δεν μπορείς να αλλάξεις κάτι στη ζωή σου κάνοντας συνεχώς τα ίδια πράγματα», ο Κωνσταντίνος Κότιος αποφάσισε 28 ετών να κάνει τη μεγάλη αλλαγή. Η ενασχόλησή του με ένα επάγγελμα (για πολλούς) δημιουργικό, στον ίδιο δημιουργούσε ένα αίσθημα εγκλωβισμού με δυσάρεστες, ψυχολογικά και συναισθηματικά, συνέπειες. Μετά από 3 χρόνια πήρε ριζικές αποφάσεις και μέσα σε έναν μήνα άλλαξε πόλη διαμονής και έστησε μια νέα επιχείρηση με τον καλύτερό του φίλο. Έκτοτε, η μετάδοση της εμπειρίας αυτής σε άλλους ανθρώπους που νιώθουν εγκλωβισμένοι, αλλά κυρίως σε νέα παιδιά που επιλέγουν επάγγελμα έγινε σκοπός του. Μέχρι σήμερα έχει μεταδώσει αυτήν του τη γνώση με περισσότερες από 650 παρουσιάσεις-ομιλίες σε ολόκληρη την Ελλάδα, καθώς και σε 3 χώρες του εξωτερικού.

Konstantinos Stergiou

Oceanologist /Academic Publisher

He is currently the director of the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Internal Water of the HCMR. He has participated in 26 national and international projects and has coordinated 12 research programs. He was a member of the STECF commission of the European Union (1998-2002), coordinator of Aquatic Resources of the CIESM Committee (2001-2004), chairman of the committee Living Resources and Marine Ecosystems of CIESM (2004-2007) and vice president of the FishBase Consortium (2005/2013, 2006/2014 ). He is a member of the editing committee of six international scientific journals and co-editor of the international journal Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics. He has published more than 150 papers in international journals and made more than 300 other publications (textbooks, chapters in books, special publications, conference papers, articles in magazines, technical reports). Overall he has 4700 references and h-index = 34 (10-2-2016).

Kostas Karakitsos

He was born in Kavala. In 1984-86 he was an apprentice at the workshop of the sculptor and ceramist G. Galinos in Serres. Since 1986 he has been working in his own studio in Kavala and has been a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece since 1996. He has taken part in fourteen international symposiums on ceramics and three on painting; he has also organised four international symposiums on ceramics in the Center of Contemporary Ceramics K. Karakitsios. During the last couple of years, he has been organising seven-day seminars on ceramics, at his studio. All of his works have been published in international books on ceramics.

Maria Christoulia

Co-Founder of Riza3 ARCHITECTS

Maria Christoulia and Stratis Skopelitis are co-founders of the architecture group “Riza3” along with architect Alexander Valsamidis. Last June their proposal idea to create a homeless people community won the first prize in the architectural competition “Tiny Home Community Ideas”, an initiative of the American Institute of Architecture and the Center for Architecture and design which aims to strengthen the social role of architecture. Maria, Stratis and Alexander have known each other for many years – they have previously worked in large architectural offices in Athens for public and private projects. They have designed aquatic centers, museums, train stations and several houses. Eventually they decided to work together since they have similar perception of architecture and generally complement each other. Since 2008, “Riza3” carries common concerns on architecture through the creation of new architectural forms.

Maria Christoulia Stratis Skopelitis

Maria Christoulia and Stratis Skopelitis are co-founders of an architecture group. Last June their proposal idea to create a community for the homeless, won the first prize in the architectural competition "Tiny Home Community Ideas”, an initiative of the American Institute of Architecture and the Center of Architecture and design, aiming to bolster architecture’s role in the society. Maria and Stratis have known each other for many years - they have previously worked in large architectural offices in Athens taking on both public and private projects. They have designed swimming pools, museums, train stations and several homes.

Peter Economides

Brand Strategist

Peter Economides is a brand strategist with a vast experience in the field of branding. His name has been linked to some of the most leading brands internationally, while also having obtained senior managerial positions at world’s top advertising firms in South Africa, Hong-Kong, Greece, Mexico and the U.S. In 2015, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hellenic Council of America. He has received three Recognition Awards from the U.S Congress Ο Πέτρος Οικονομίδης είναι στρατηγικός αναλυτής branding. Το όνομά του έχει συνδεθεί με ορισμένα από τα σημαντικότερα διεθνή brands, ενώ κατείχε ανώτερες διοικητικές θέσεις σε κορυφαίες παγκοσμίως διαφημιστικές εταιρείες στη Νότιο Αφρική, το Χονγκ Κονγκ, την Ελλάδα, το Μεξικό και τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Το 2015 τιμήθηκε με το Βραβείο Ισόβιας Προσφοράς (Lifetime Achievement Award) από το Ελληνικό Συμβούλιο της Αμερικής. Έχει λάβει τρία Βραβεία Αναγνώρισης (Recognition Awards) από το Κογκρέσο των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών

Thanos Kloutsiniotis

Thanos Kloutsiniotis was born and raised in Athens. He studied economics at the Panteion University while also working in advertising. At the age of twenty-two, he returned to his roots, in Melissi of Corinthia, where he and his brother founded a company engaged in the production of high quality olive oil in original handmade ceramic containers. He has been awarded in two international olive oil competitions in New York and Los Angeles, as well as in three international design competitions in Berlin (Red dot), Tokyo (Pentaward) and Los Angeles for innovative design. Ο Θάνος Κλουτσινιώτης γεννήθηκε και μεγάλωσε στην Αθήνα. Σπούδασε οικονομικά στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο και παράλληλα με τις σπουδές του, ασχολήθηκε με τον τομέα της διαφήμισης. Έχει βραβευτεί σε δύο διεθνείς διαγωνισμούς ελαιόλαδου στη Νέα Υόρκη και στο Λος Άντζελες, καθώς και σε τρεις διεθνείς διαγωνισμούς design στο Βερολίνο (Red dot), στο Τόκιο (Pentaward) και στο Λος Άντζελες για καινοτόμο σχεδιασμό.

Thodoris Ampazis

Art Director

Thodoris Ampazis is an Associate Artistic Director of the National Theatre. From 2012 to 2015, he was the Artistic Director of the Municipal Theatre of Patra and from 2010 to 2012, the Artistic Director of the Municipal Theatre of Kavala. From 2004 to 2010, he was the Treasurer, General Secretary and Vice President of the Greek Centre of the International Theatre Institute of UNESCO. Ο Θοδωρής Αμπαζής είναι Αναπληρωτής Καλλιτεχνικός Διευθυντής του Εθνικού Θεάτρου. Από το 2012 έως το 2015 υπήρξε Καλλιτεχνικός Διευθυντής του ΔΗ.ΠΕ.ΘΕ. Πάτρας και από το 2010 έως το 2012 Καλλιτεχνικός Διευθυντής του ΔΗ.ΠΕ.ΘΕ. Καβάλας. Από το 2004 έως το 2010 διετέλεσε Ταμίας, Γενικός Γραμματέας και Αντιπρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Κέντρου του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Θεάτρου της UNESCO.

Thomas Tournavitis

Artist

Thomas Tournavitis studied at the atelier of sculptor Nikos Stefos (1997-1999). He graduated in 2005 from the University of Fine Arts in Derby (UK) with a BA in Fine Arts (DP) and continued his postgraduate studies in Berlin (Germany 2006). He worked as a Semiotics lecturer at the Department of Photography D. IEK Volos and as an Art teacher in Private and Public primary schools in the city of Volos (2008-2010). He became an official member of the Art Society of Sarajevo (Ulubih) in 2013 Ο Θωμάς Τουρναβίτης φοίτησε στο εργαστήρι του γλύπτη Νίκου Στέφου (1997-1999). Αποφοίτησε το 2005 από τη Σχολή Καλών Τεχνών του Ντέρμπι (Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο) με BA in FINE ARTS (DP) και με μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές σε αντίστοιχη σχολή Philharmonie στο Βερολίνο (2006). Εργάστηκε ως καθηγητής σημειολογίας στο Τμήμα Φωτογραφίας του Δ. ΙΕΚ Βόλου και ως δάσκαλος καλλιτεχνικών σε ιδιωτικά και δημόσια δημοτικά στο Βόλο (2008-2010). Το 2013 έγινε επίσημο μέλος της καλλιτεχνικής κοινότητας του Σαράγεβο (Ulubih)

Vassilis Vassilikos

Writer

Vassilis Vassilikos was Born in Kavala. He studied at the Law School of Aristotle University, Television at Yale and the School of Radio and Television in New York. Ambassador for our country’s individuals at UNESCO (1996-2004). Awarded in 1962 with the “Costas Ouranis 12-prize” for his trilogy “The Plant-The Well-The Angel” and also with the international Mediterraneo award in 1971. Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres of the French Democracy, an honorary Dr. at the universities of Patra, Thessaly and the Kapodistrian University of Athens in the Literature department. He has published a total of 120 books and is the most translated Greek writer following Nikos Kazantzakis.Among the thousands of books that were proposed to the readers of the english newspaper The Guardian (“1000 novels everyone must read”, 21/1/2009) only two Greek were included: the Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas of Nikos Kazantzakis and “Z” of Vassilis Vassilikos.

Veta Georgiadou

Educationalist

Veta Georgiadou was born and raised in Tetralofo, Kozani, surrounded by her village’s scents, friends’ voices and the care of the neighborhood. Having received such background, she moved on to study pedagogy, eventually becoming a wife and mother of three children. She had been working as a kindergarten teacher in public schools until nine years ago when she decided to fulfill her personal pedagogical dream, a school in the nature, which evolves man as an entirety. A constant self-searching voyage for students, parents, teachers and herself, who never stops learning and reforming.