Our oceans are changing. The next generation will need more than awareness to protect them. They will need knowledge, experience, collaboration, and the confidence to act.
That idea is at the heart of Blue Frontiers, a new international program officially launched at ACS Athens through a partnership between ACS Athens, Roger Williams University, the International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, and the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation.
The signing ceremony brought together leaders from education, government, marine conservation, and the maritime industry, all with one shared goal: to give students meaningful opportunities to engage with the future of our oceans.
ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis opened the event by highlighting the power of education to move students beyond the classroom and into real-world learning, where knowledge can become purpose and action.
Dr. Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, Greek Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Ocean and Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection, underscored the urgency of protecting marine ecosystems and the importance of preparing young people to take an active role in that effort.
From the maritime industry, Mr. Costis Frangoulis, President of the International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, spoke about the vision behind Blue Frontiers and the value of opening doors for young people to explore environmental challenges firsthand.
That commitment is also reflected in the Propeller Club’s generous scholarship support, helping make the Blue Frontiers experience accessible to more students.
The conversation continued with Ms. Carla Tanas, Dean of the Institute, and Ms. Beatriz Tintoré of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, who brought research, sustainability, and field experience into focus. Their message was clear: understanding the ocean means getting closer to it, studying it, questioning it, and learning directly from the environments we are working to protect.
Through the Blue Frontiers summer program, students will do exactly that.
They will explore marine conservation through hands-on learning, scientific inquiry, collaboration, and direct engagement with experts and the marine environment. Instead of simply learning about sustainability, they will experience what it means to investigate a challenge, work with others, and contribute to solutions.
For ACS Athens, this is where Conscious Global Citizenship comes to life.
