EUGENIDES FOUNDATION title= EUGENIDES FOUNDATION title= EUGENIDES FOUNDATION title=

History

A brief review from its creation until today

The history of the UTech Lab begins in 2011. According to research conducted by the Eugenides Foundation Library, there was a great desire by its visitors, for computer specialized programs and other new programs related to technology. As per the research results, the Library proposed the creation of a New Technologies Laboratory within the Eugenides Foundation.

At the same time, the U.S. Embassy in Athens expressed their interest to create a dedicated space where young children could be brought closer to modern technologies. This proposal was based on other existing American programs such as the "You Media Teen Space Project" of the Chicago Public Library and the "Fabrication Lab Project" of the MIT University in the U.S.A. Based on the above ideas, the UTech Lab was created in early 2014.

 During the period 2014-2020, UTech Lab held numerous workshops in its physical space, in areas of new technologies, and in particular, in the fields of electronics, programming, 3D printing and modern audiovisual media. The workshops are targeted to secondary school student groups and individuals aged 12-18. Since April 2020, and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the UTech Lab adapted its activities digitally by implementing online workshops using a specialized platform, with huge success in school units as well as individuals.

In addition to the workshops, the UTech Lab has organized two programming marathons, the Accessibility Hackathon with theme the accessibility in 2017, and the Hack the Lab Hackathon in 2020 with theme the technologically advanced educational spaces of the future with participation from all over Greece. In 2019, the Lab participated in the international conference Fab Learn Europe in Finland. Additionally, the Lab took part in the Research and Technology Week in Cyprus twice in 2018 and 2022. The Lab has hosted the First Lego League Robotics educational competition twice and has actively participated in science and technology events such as Athens Science Festival and the Mini Maker Faire.

UTech Lab has maintained its cooperation with the American Embassy in Athens for nine years. The collaboration ended in January 2023, at which point the two bodies (Foundation and Embassy) decided to explore other ways of working together.

 

 

 

 

 

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