From introducing students to marine research to a special movie night dedicated to the ocean.
European Researchers’ Night 2026 is coming to Rhodes through a series of events that bring science, research, and researchers closer to the local community.
As part of the pre-events for European Researchers’ Night 2026, the STEPS – Science for Growth: Empowering Minds, in collaboration with the Hydrobiological Station – Rhodes Aquarium (ELKETHE), the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF), and Revive Our Ocean Greece, is organizing a special day on September 18, 2026, dedicated to the sea and marine research.
Research Meets Students
On the morning of September 18, school groups from Rhodes will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the world of marine and aquatic research, through a program of educational and hands-on activities hosted at the Rhodes Hydrobiological Station – Aquarium.
Through games, experiments, observation, and interactive activities, students will explore different aspects of life and changes in marine and aquatic ecosystems.
In the activity “A Dive into the Seagrass Meadows – The Forests of the Mediterranean,” they will learn about seagrass meadows and the important ecological role of Posidonia through images, quizzes, games, and hands-on activities designed as part of the Greek Seagrass Alliance (GISA).
Through the activity “Tropicalized – Is the Mediterranean Getting Warmer?”, students will learn about the phenomenon of the “tropicalization” of the Mediterranean and the spread of invasive species in the Aegean Sea, exploring their connection to climate change and human activities.
At the same time, chemistry experiments focused on seawater will give students the opportunity to explore the properties of the marine environment in a different and fun way.
Finally, in the activity “Benthic Macroinvertebrates—River Detectives,” students will explore the organisms that inhabit the riverbed and discover how they serve as bioindicators of water quality and the state of the aquatic ecosystem.
Through these activities, students won’t just be spectators—they’ll become young researchers: they’ll observe, experiment, ask questions, and seek answers, gaining firsthand insight into how scientific research helps us understand and protect the aquatic environment.
Because science isn’t just something we observe. It’s something we can all ask questions about, explore, and discover.
A Special Evening Dedicated to the Ocean
The events continue in the evening with a special screening of the award-winning documentary “Ocean with David Attenborough” at the Municipal Summer Cinema “The Rodon,” at 8:00 p.m., with free admission for the public.
The film takes viewers on a journey through the planet’s marine ecosystems, highlighting the richness and beauty of the oceans, as well as the significant challenges they face. The screening offers the people of Rhodes an opportunity to explore, through cinematic storytelling, one of the most important areas of contemporary scientific research: the study, understanding, and protection of the seas and oceans.
The event is part of the pre-events for European Researchers’ Night 2026 and invites everyone to learn about research, engage with science, and discover its importance for the future of the planet.
The screening is organized by the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) and Revive Our Ocean Greece, with the support of the Municipality of Rhodes, the Cine Education Group, and Lychnari Radio as the communications sponsor.
The Revive Our Ocean Greece initiative, coordinated by the CPF, is under the auspices of the Organization for the Natural Environment and Climate Change (OFYPEKA) and National Geographic Pristine Seas. For 2026, it is supported by the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, the A.G. Leventis Foundation, and the Costas M. Lemos Foundation, as well as by the Hellenic Center for Cinema, Audiovisual Media, and Creativity (EKKOMED). The communications sponsor of the
“Revive Our Ocean Greece” campaign is ERT. Organize Your Own Screening
You can find more information about the events taking place as part of the European Researchers’ Night 2026 here: https://steps.uoc.gr/drastiriotites/vradia-erevnitrias-kai-erevniti/