We are delighted to share the news of the successful completion of the CIVIS Blended Intensive Program, titled "Novel Research and Ethics: From Neuroscience to AI". This inaugural program was organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) Law School under the academic leadership of Associate Professor E. Rethymiotaki. It welcomed 39 students—13 from NKUA and 26 from six other universities within the CIVIS alliance—who participated in sessions hosted across NKUA’s facilities.
The program began with eight online sessions, each lasting four hours, and culminated in a week of in-person mobility in Athens. During their stay, participants attended interdisciplinary courses in the lecture halls and classrooms of the Law, Medicine, and Philosophy Schools. A total of 27 instructors from Greece and Europe, including professors from five NKUA departments, engaged the students in specialized fields while promoting the shared vision of the CIVIS European University.
Beyond academic activities, participants explored significant historical and cultural landmarks in Athens, such as the Acropolis Museum, the Hellenic Parliament, the Inter-Orthodox Center of the Church of Greece, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. They also enjoyed guided tours of NKUA facilities and museums, with the Museum of Criminology at the School of Medicine standing out as a highlight.
The program achieved its core objective of imparting knowledge on bioethics and the ethical application of neuroscience and artificial intelligence in a rapidly changing societal context. Thanks to its interdisciplinary nature, participants collaborated to produce high-quality work, paving the way for deeper exploration and reflection. The shared experience in the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of festive Athens fostered both rigorous study and the creation of enduring friendships. Students left the city with cherished memories and the hope of reuniting in a future edition of the program. International faculty also commended NKUA for its innovative initiative in establishing such a forward-thinking program.
Special recognition is due to Associate Professor E. Rethymiotaki, whose vision and dedication brought the program to life, as well as to the organizing committee members and academic community whose contributions were indispensable: Georgia Vassalou (PhD candidate in Law), Pavlina Louki (undergraduate Law student), and Ilias Lykos (undergraduate Medical student). Their tireless efforts ensured the program’s seamless execution, resolving every challenge that arose.
With heartfelt gratitude to everyone who enriched the program with their participation, we look forward to its continuation and the launch of future innovative endeavors.
On behalf of the organizing committee,
Dimitrios Lygnos
Neurology Resident
