The NTUA Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (MIRC)
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (MIRC) for the protection and development of mountain environment and local European cultures was founded in 1993 by decision of the NTUA Senate, and was set up in 1998. MIRC's aim is to support NTUA at the scientific, cultural, and research levels in connecting its activities with Metsovo, hometown of the NTUA founders, and to promote the effective contribution of NTUA to integrated development in the area. To this end, MIRC cooperates closely with educational, research, and cultural organizations in the region of Epirus, with the Municipality of Metsovo, the University of Ioannina, the Cultural Association of Metsovites in Athens, the Epirus Egnatia Foundation, etc.
Past NTUA and NTUA MIRC Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity conferences
The NTUA and NTUA MIRC conferences are held every 3 years in Metsovo. They feature:
Scientific, research, and technical/technological contributions addressing broader issues of technology, development, environment, and culture, as well as specific issues of Metsovo, Metsovo Province, and the region of Epirus by scientists, graduate engineers, and members of the teaching and research staff of the NTUA, the universities of Ioannina and Thessaly, and other Greek universities.
The best graduate and postgraduate projects/theses on integrated development by students of the NTUA and the universities of Ioannina and Thessaly.
Interdisciplinary and integrated research into multidimensional modern global issues relevant to monitoring and protection of mountain environment and local cultures, and the contribution of education, research and technology to the integrated development of mountain areas.
The NTUA MIRC has already successfully organized:
The 1st NTUA Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity Conference, “NTUA for Metsovo. Paying Back a Part of the Debt,” Metsovo, 5–7 May 1995. Conference proceedings were published by NTUA Press, Athens 1998, and contain 39 research papers and studies in Greek, with abstracts in English.
The 2nd NTUA Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity Conference, “Technology, Culture and Decentralization,” Metsovo, 3–6 June 1998. Conference proceedings were published by Alternative Editions, Athens 2001, and contain 50 research papers and studies in Greek, with abstracts in English.
The 3rd NTUA Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity Conference, “The Integrated Development of Mountain Areas. Theory and Practice,” Metsovo, 7–10 June 2001. Conference proceedings were published by Alternative Editions, Athens 2004, and contain 55 research papers and studies in Greek, with abstracts in English.
The 4th NTUA and NTUA MIRC Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity Conference
The subject of the 4th Conference was the integrated development of Epirus. Epirus is one of the poorest European Union regions in economic terms, but one of the richest in terms of natural environment, biodiversity, local cultures, traditional knowledge, and intellectual and artistic development.
Integrated development has been defined as development that is simultaneously economic, social, political, cultural, and technical/technological—in space and time—and is pursued with respect for, and in dialectical harmony with, human beings and the particular natural and cultural environments of which they are a part, and not masters, owners, or exploiters. In the philosophy of the Conference approach, the integrated development of Epirus presupposes valid, accurate, and integrated inventory, recording, mapping, systematic monitoring and, most importantly, an understanding of the elements, characteristics, trends, and interactions that make up Epirus's natural and socioeconomic reality—particularly issues, possibilities and constraints in a world that is becoming more and more complex and interdependent.
Similar to the previous NTUA and NTUA MIRC conferences, the 4th Conference upheld the tradition of dialectically integrating the theoretical and experimental contributions of mature and young researchers, as well as interdisciplinary research contributions relevant to the conference topic, with proposals for actions necessary for the integrated development of Epirus. 63 interdisciplinary research papers and studies by members of the academic communities of the NTUA, the University of Ioannina, other universities in Greece, researchers in the public, social, and private sectors, addressing the objectively multidimensional development and environment issues affecting Epirus, were presented. They included critical reviews of relevant European and national policies, action programs, and projects in the framework of the needs, views, and demands of the inhabitants of Epirus, and the real possibilities and limitations of the physical and socioeconomic reality of Epirus.
Conference participants (scientists, educators, government ministers, local government representatives, and members of the local population) agreed that the establishment of a School of Environment and Development of Mountain Areas at MIRC's main branch in Metsovo, under the aegis of the NTUA, could contribute to the integrated development of Epirus and Greek mountain areas in general. This will be an immediate objective of MIRC's Scientific Committee.
Once conference proceedings are published, there will be an announcement on MIRC's web site ( http://www.ntua.gr/MIRC/). The next NTUA and NTUA MIRC Interdisciplinary–Interuniversity Conference will be held in Metsovo in 2007.
