2026 MDT PRO

19th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies
Program (Athens Local Time)

30-31 March & 1-3 April 2026
9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece

(Note 1: the program is organized along time slots and not according to common theme)
(Note 2: at the end of each session questions and discussions will follow)

Monday 30 March 2026

09:30-10:15
Registration

10:15-11:00
Opening Speech and Welcoming Remarks
Speaker: Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute & Professor (Adjunct), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
Title of Speech: Dynamics of Regional Security in the Mediterranean Basin (Paper) – (PowerPoint Presentation)

11:00-12:30 Session 1
Moderator: Hemmat Safwat, Deputy Director, Engineering Division, Athens Institute.
  1. Helena Pericic Herenda, Full Professor, University of Zadar, Croatia.
    Ema Jakovljevic, MS Oec., Austria.
    Title: Branding and Advertising in the Mediterranean Area.
  2. Pinar Akinci Acar, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Human Resources Management, Istanbul Medipol University, Türkiye.
    Ahmed Affes, MBA Student, Istanbul Medipol University, Türkiye.
    Title: Exploring Operational Excellence through Lean Tools: An Evaluation within a BPO Company.
  3. Domenico Emiliano, PhD Candidate, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
    Title: Youth Policies as Drivers for Urban Regeneration and Social Innovation in the Mediterranean Context: The Case of “Galattica” in Puglia, Italy.
  4. Jose Manuel Castillo Lopez, Full Professor, University of Granada, Spain.
    Title: Socioeconomic Impact of Metallic Mining in Mediterranean Europe: The Case of Andalusia.

 

12:30-14:00 Session 2
Moderator: Pinar Akinci Acar, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Human Resources Management, Istanbul Medipol University, Türkiye.
  1. Merce Viladrich, Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain.
    Anass Benmokhtar, Researcher, University of Barcelona, Spain.
    Title: The Letter of the Hafsid Chancellery of Tunis to Peter the Ceremonious (1350): An Example of the Autographic ʽalama of the Hajib Ibn Tafrajin and of the Handwriting of the Historian Ibn Khaldun.
  2. Tanja Sakota, Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
    Title: Echoes from Stone: Engaging with Autoethnography, Active Embodiment and Mythical Residue in the Cave of the Nympholept near Vari, Greece.
  3. Luis Sousa, Researcher, CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, Portugal.
    Title: A European Military City in Late Sixteenth Century Morocco.
  4. Firas Alawneh, Professor, The Hashemite University, Jordan.
    Title: Physical Deterioration Mechanisms of Limestone Masonry at Qusair Amra, Jordan: Causes, Impacts, and Toward Sustainable Conservation.

14:00-14:30 Lunch 

14:30-15:30 Session 3
Moderator: Elina Gugliuzzo, Associate Professor, Pegaso Telematic University, Italy.
  1. Elvia Giudice, Associate Professor, University of Catania, Italy.
    Giada Giudice, Fellow, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany.
    Title: The Myth of Io and Argos between Society and Tragedy.
  2. Kathleen Ann O’Donnell, Independent Researcher, British School at Athens, Greece.
    Title: An Obsession with Ossian. The Trials and Tribulations of Research 1992-2022.

 

15:30-17:00 Session 4
Moderator: Tanja Sakota, Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
  1. Yoshihiko Ito, Associate Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan.
    Title: Between Continuity and Pause: Late Antique and Early Medieval Churches in Sardinia.
  2. Kazu Tsukamoto, Graduate Student, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan.
    Title: Diversity of Mediterranean Architectural Culture in the High Middle Ages – Crossing Towers in the Romanesque Architecture of the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula.

 

17:00-18:30 Session 5
Moderator: Domenico Emiliano, PhD Candidate, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
  1. Angela Busacca, Professor, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
    Title: AI for Fisheries and Aquaculture Competitiveness and Sustainability.
  2. Roberto Saija, Associate Professor, San Raffaele University of Rome, Italy.
    Salvatore Lopreiato, Assistant Professor, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
    Title: Governing the Sea: EU Fisheries Law, Corporate due Diligence and the Future of Sustainable Enterprises.
  3. Elena Siclari, Research Fellow, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
    Title: Environmental Philosophy, Fishing and the Ethics of Resource Exploitation.

 

18:30-20:30 Session 6 – A Special Event on “Revolutions of National Independence and the Birth of the Nation-State during the 18th and 19th Centuries”
Moderator: Lampros Ap. Pyrgiotis, Editor-in-Chief, Athenian Academic Periodical.
  1. Obrillant Damus, Professor, State University of Haiti, Haiti & Visiting Professor, University of Sherbrooke, Canada.
    Title: Towards an Analysis of Haiti’s Contribution to Greek Independence in Terms of Regenerative and Restorative Pedagogy, as well as Global Citizenship Education.
  2. Pedro Ricardo Fonseca, Professor, Guarda Polytechnic University & Researcher, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
    Title: From Reconquista to Revolution: The Long Path of Portugal’s Nation-State.
  3. Raquel de Caria Patrício, Associate Professor, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
    Title: The Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil, Independence, and the Construction of the Brazilian Nation-State.
  4. Stefano Maggi, Professor and Chairman, University of Siena, Italy.
    Title: Italian National Unification and the Railways (1848–1861).
  5. Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute & Professor (Adjunct), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
    Title: The Long Run Trend in Sovereign State Proliferation: Evidence from 1820 to 2020. (Paper)

20:30-22:30 An Ancient Athenian Symposium: Continuous Dialogues, Timeless Flavors (featuring authentic ancient Athenian dishes, local wine, and sweet delicacies from ancient Athens)

 

Tuesday 31 March 2026

09:00-11:00 Session 7
Moderator: Gabriele Gien, President, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany.
  1. Daniel Marinho, Professor, University of Beira Interior/CIDESD, Portugal.
    Diogo Marques, Assistant Professor, University of Beira Interior/CIDESD, Portugal.
    Henrique Neiva, Associate Professor, University of Beira Interior/CIDESD, Portugal.
    Mário Marques, Professor, University of Beira Interior/CIDESD, Portugal.
    Title: The Impact of Different Resistance Training Volumes on Physical Frailty in Institutionalized Older Adults – Preliminary Findings of the TrackFrailty Project.
  2. Giada Cascino, Researcher, Kore University of Enna, Italy.
    Sergio Severino, Full Professor, Kore University of Enna, Italy.
    Title: Multi-Ethnic Social Integration: A Nominal and Operational Definition.
  3. Carla Podda, PhD Student, University of Palermo/University of Cagliari, Italy.
    Title: Working for Citizenship and Inclusion in Secondary School. Practices of Active Learning and Methodological Innovation.

 

11:00-12:30 Session 8
Moderator: Olga Gkounta, Researcher, Athens Institute.
  1. ‪Stamatina Kousidi, Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
    Title: Landscapes of the Intimate: A Critical Reconstruction of the Greek Pavilion at the XIX Triennale di Milano.
  2. Elina Gugliuzzo, Associate Professor, Pegaso Telematic University, Italy.
    Title: Climate, Epidemics and Culture in Mediterranean Modern World.
  3. Essica Marks, Professor, Zefat Academic College, Israel.
    Title: Cultural Identity and Byzantine Chant in a Small Choir of a Greek Orthodox Church.

 

12:30-14:00 Session 9
Moderator: Luis Sousa, Researcher, CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, Portugal.
  1. Ciro Settecasi, PhD Student, MED.E.A – International University, Malta.
    Title: The International Relations between Malta and Europe.
  2. Rawan Althunyan, Assistant Professor, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia.
    Title: Beyond Private and Public: Gendered Spaces and the Reimagining of Community in Contemporary Saudi Fiction.
  3. Pranvera Kraja, Head, Department of Teaching, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Albania.
    Elda Pashuku, Master’s Student, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Albania.
    Denada Marku, Master’s Student, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Albania.
    Fabjola Bushi, Master’s Student, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Albania.
    Title: Financial Education of Children in Primary and Lower Secondary Education: Parents’ Perceptions and Students’ Experiences in the Albanian Context.

14:00-14:30 Lunch 

14:30-17:30 Session 10
Old and New-An Educational Urban Walk
The urban walk ticket is not included as part of your registration fee. It includes transportation costs and the cost to enter the Parthenon and the other monuments on the Acropolis Hill. The urban walk tour includes the broader area of Athens. Among other sites, it includes: Zappion, Syntagma Square, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Roman Agora and on Acropolis Hill: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. The program of the tour may be adjusted, if there is a need beyond our control. This is a private event organized by ATINER exclusively for the conference participants.

20:30-22:30
Athenian Early Evening Symposium (Sequence of Events: Ongoing Academic Discussions, Dinner, Wine and Water, Music, Dance)

Wednesday 1 April 2026
An Educational Visit to Selected Islands
Nafplio & Mycenae Visit

Thursday 2 April 2026
Visiting the Oracle of Delphi

Friday 3 April 2026
Cape Sounion Visit







Conference Venue: 9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece