STEM Stars Greece: The winners

SciCo and the U.S. Embassy in Athens are proud to announce the winners of the 2021 STEM Stars Greece Competition.

First Place
Project: “Feel Write,” an app that provides emotional support for users
Students: Myrto-Vassiliki Alexopoulou, Pavlina Refene, and Amalia-Christina Toytziaridi
Advisor: Mr. Andreas Karampelas
School: Athens College

Second Place
Project: “An Investigation into the Relationship between Sensory Physiology and Operant Learning in Pantherophis Gutattus and Python Regius Snakes,” a study about the correlation between the reptilian nervous system and the ability to display operant learning
Student: Melina Operer
Advisor: Dr. Elina Prodromidi
School: American Community Schools

Third Place
Project: “Solar Park with 3D-Printed Photovoltaic Trees,” a forest of 3D-printed trees that generates electricity from solar energy
Students: Maria-Eleni Batatoudi and Charikleia Moraitaki
Advisor: Mr. Euaggelos Kotronis
School: Psychiko College

Fourth Place
Project: “Searching for Exoplanets,” a study about the discovery of exoplanets via data from the TESS space telescope
Students: Stefanos Alexiou, Konstantinos Tseros, and Georgia Fragkioudaki
Advisor: Mr. Sotirios Tsantilas
School: Zanneio Model High School

Fifth Place
Project: “Santopedia,” an app that catalogues and promotes Santorini’s local products
Students: Stavroula Pitsikali and Zoe-Antonia Tsaousai
Advisor: Mr. Kostas Theodoropoulos
School: Junior High School of Emporeio Thiras-Santorinis

The STEM Stars Greece final competition took place on March 27, 2021, during the Athens Science Festival.  Twenty-seven teams, representing public and private schools from across Greece, competed in the event.  Each team virtually presented their project to an expert judging committee during a digital panel review and responded to panel questions.  The panels then evaluated the idea, scientific methodology, results, and presentation for each project.

 The winning teams were announced in a virtual Awards Ceremony on March 28.  The Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameus, and the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, jointly announced the top award.  Microsoft Hellas Industry Sector Lead for Education, Ploutarhos Rigas, announced the second-place award.  All five winning teams will receive Arduino educational kits.

Additionally, two teams will represent Greece in the 2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which will take place virtually from May 3-6 and May 16-21, 2021.  This is the first time that Greece will participate in this international student competition, held annually in the United States.  Based on the 2021 ISEF guidelines and participant requirements, the following two projects will represent Greece in the event: "Feel Write” and “Solar Park with 3D-Printed Photovoltaic Trees.”

 The U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt said, “I’m really impressed to see the quality and creativity of the projects that the students have put forward, and all the different fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that they cover.  By working together, you’ve demonstrated innovation, intelligence, and remarkable resilience.  I want to underline the United States has been Greece’s friend and ally for 200 years now, and we will continue to support organizations like SciCo that work with the Greek government to harness the skills and talents of Greek young people like yourselves and open pathways to your success.”

For more information about the STEM Stars Greece competition, and to learn more about the winning projects, please visit https://stemstarsgreece.athens-science-festival.gr/.

STEM Stars Greece is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Athens and organized by the nonprofit organization SciCo.  It took place under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and sponsored by Microsoft Hellas.  The prize sponsor is Eduk8.