The Small & the Random
A Day Conference of Science & Culture 
Saturday, 18th of October, 2025
National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos"

As part of the global celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science, the National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos",  the University of Patras and the University of West Attica are organising a one-day symposium to mark Greece’s contribution to this milestone. The event is dedicated to exploring and understanding the world of quantum mechanics—from its historical foundations to its contemporary applications in technology, art and beyond. Through talks and discussions, the symposium will illuminate the many dimensions of “the small & the random.”
Program
--------------------
10:00 Welcome Remarks
Introduction by the Organizing Committee:
Dimitris Alexandropoulos, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras
Eleni Makarona, Research Director, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR “Demokritos”
Vangelis Karkaletsis, President of Demokritos
Giorgos Fakorellis, Dean, School of Applied Arts and Culture, University of West Attica
Manos Paspalakis, Dean, University of Patras
--------------------
10:30 Historical Overview
Dr. Kostas Gavroglou, Emeritus Professor of History of Science, Department of History and Philosophy of Science – University of Athens
Q&A
--------------------
11:15 Coffee Break
--------------------
11:30 Quantum Mechanics as a Tool
Moderator: Eleni Makarona, Research Director, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR “Demokritos”
Orlagh Neary, SteerCo Member, UNESCO International Year of Quantum &
General Manager, Quantum and AI Ecosystem Engagement & GTM, Microsoft
Eleni Diamanti, CNRS Research Director at Sorbonne Université
- Fireside Chat -
--------------------
13:00 Lunch Break
--------------------
13:45 Quantum Mechanics & Art
Moderator: Dr. Aimilia Smyrli, Head of Education, NCSR “Demokritos”
Stamatis Bogiatzis, Department of Antiquities and Works of Art Conservation, University of West Attica
"Color’s Microcosm: Quantum Paths to Art Masterpieces"
Maria Chatzidaki, Department of Antiquities and Works of Art Conservation, University of West Attica
Olga Alexopoulou, Painter & CEO of Quantum Light
“Towards a New Theory of Color”
- Fireside Chat -
--------------------
14:45 Coffee Break
--------------------
15:00 Quantum Future
Moderator: Dimitris Alexandropoulos, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras
Simos Tsinzos, Chief Technical Officer, QUbitech
Antonis Argyros, Chief Executive Officer, Innovade, Quantum Gate
Panagiotis Barkoutsos, Senior Staff, Quantum Solutions, IonQ
- Fireside Chat -
--------------------
16:00 Closing remarks
Stefanos Trachanas, Foundation for Research and Technology and University of Crete
“The Quantum Universe: A Home for Life — Thoughts with a View of the Night Sky”
Q&A

Organizing Committee

Dimitris Alexandropoulos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science at the University of Patras. He received his degree in Physics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1998), and his MSc (1999) and PhD (2003) in Physics from the University of Essex (United Kingdom). His research focuses on nanophotonics and its applications.
Olga Alexopoulou is a painter and her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums from Tokyo to New York. She was born in Athens and studied at the Ruskin School of Art at Oxford University. In 2018, she invented Quantum Blue and now she is the CEO at Quantum Light, the only company in the world that specializes in quantum pigments.
Maria Chatzidakis is a lecturer in the conservation of wall paintings, street art, graffiti, and public murals at the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica. She was also part of the research team that contributed to the invention of Quantum Blue by artist Olga Alexopoulou, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Eleni Makarona, a physicist, is a Research Director at the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at NCSR "Demokritos." She received her degree from the Department of Physics at the University of Athens and continued with postgraduate studies (MSc and PhD) at the Department of Physics at Brown University in the USA. Her research interests focus on the development of optical sensors for applications in biodiagnostics, food safety, and environmental analysis, as well as on the design of advanced nanomaterials and nanoarchitectures for a more sustainable and lower-energy-footprint semiconductor industry. Alongside her research work, she is deeply committed to science communication and to inspiring the next generation of scientists through public lectures, educational initiatives, and personal mentorship of young researchers.
Aimilia Smyrli is the Head of Education at NCSR “Demokritos,” where she leads transformative education initiatives. With a PhD in solar physics, she has excelled as a Lecturer and Outreach Officer in the UK, bringing a passion for science communication to all her work. At NCSR “Demokritos,” she designs interdisciplinary projects that empower students in remote and underrepresented communities across Greece. From combining dance and physics to connecting thousands of students in remote islands with researchers, her outreach inspires curiosity and broadens access to science. She is committed to breaking barriers, promoting diversity, and building Greece’s Science Capital.
↑Back to Top