STEM Stars Greece Winners Prepare for International Student Competition

STEM Stars Greece, the competition aimed at supporting, highlighting and rewarding teenage students with a special talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, announced the winners selected through its final event that took place on March 27, 2021, during the Athens Science Festival.

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Athens and organized by the nonprofit organization SciCo, the competition ran under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.

Twenty-seven teams, representing public and private schools from across Greece, competed in the event.

Each of those 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 projects included an app that provides emotional support for users; a study about the correlation between the reptilian nervous system and the ability to display operant learning; and a forest of 3D-printed trees that generates electricity from solar energy.

There was also a study about the discovery of exoplanets via data from the TESS space telescope and an app that catalogues and promotes local products from the island of Santorini.

The Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameus, and the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, jointly announced the top award of STEM Stars Greece in the virtual Awards Ceremony on March 28.

Microsoft Hellas Industry Sector Lead for Education, Ploutarhos Rigas, announced the second-place award. All five winning teams will receive Arduino educational kits.

STEM Stars Greece Represented at International Competition

Two teams among the STEM Stars Greece winners 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 two projects to represent Greece in the event are “Feel Write,” which was the first prize winner, and “Solar Park with 3D-Printed Photovoltaic Trees,” which won the third prize.

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.”

STEM Stars Greece is sponsored by Microsoft Hellas and Eduk8 is the prize sponsor.