Professor, Department of Primary Education
Director of the Institute for Research in Education and Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Crete
Eleni Katsarou
- 1 Με τι ασχολείται η έρευνά σας;
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I am interested in how we learn, how we understand the world around us, how we communicate, how we learn to think critically, and how we participate actively in society. We call this “literacy” – and it means much more than simply knowing how to read and write. My research explores how schools and other educational institutions can help children, young people, and adults develop the knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking they need to live and participate meaningfully in today’s world.
- 2 Γιατί είναι σημαντική;
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Because education does not only prepare us for a job; it prepares us for life. A person who can think critically, understand others, express their views, and participate in decisions that affect their life can become a more active and democratic citizen. I believe that by improving education, we can gradually improve our society as well.
- 3 Tι σας ενέπνευσε να ακολουθήσετε αυτό το δρόμο;
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I started my career as a secondary school teacher of language and literature. In the classroom, I saw first-hand that children are often bored or disengaged, not because they do not want to learn, but because the way we ask them to learn does not connect with them or their lives. This made me start asking questions: Can school be different? Can we make learning more interesting, more meaningful, and more connected to children’s lives? This is how my research journey began.
- 4 Τι σας αρέσει περισσότερο στην έρευνα;
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What I like most is that my research is directly connected to people and society. We do not conduct research simply to produce new knowledge; we can use that knowledge to improve education. And better education can mean more creative and free-thinking people and, ultimately, a more democratic and humane society.
- 5 Τι συμβουλή θα δίνατε σε ένα παιδί που αγαπά την επιστήμη;
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Follow what truly excites you and do not be afraid to pursue your dreams. Do not choose a path simply because someone tells you, “That is where the jobs are,” and do not give up something you love because you hear that “there are no career opportunities in that field.” When you truly love something, you work hard at it, you become good at it, and eventually you find your own professional path.
- 6 Fun fact: Πείτε μας κάτι που δεν γνωρίζουν πολλοί για εσάς
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I love travelling! That is why scientific conferences are twice the fun for me: I meet people from all over the world and exchange ideas with them, while at the same time discovering new places, people, food, and ways of life. So perhaps my little secret is that behind every conference I choose to attend, there is also a bit of a traveller’s curiosity!
