The series of Open University Lectures jointly organized by the Famagusta Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) continued with great success with the lecture entitled "The digital recording of cultural heritage: Challenges and risks" on Thursday 19 September 2024 at the Social Benefits Center of the Sotiras Municipal Apartment of the Municipality of Agia Napa.
The lecture was prefaced by the Secretary/Director of the Famagusta Chamber, Mrs. Elena Michaelidis, and the TEPAK official from the Rector's office and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Mrs. Constantia Koussoulou. The organizers praised the excellent cooperation between the two organizations and pointed out the necessity to preserve the cultural heritage of our country and educate the new generations in these matters.
Dr. Marinos Ioannidis, Assistant Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Informatics of TEPAK and Director of the UNESCO Chair, in his in-depth presentation, analyzed the possibilities and challenges arising from the digital dimension and recording of cultural heritage, the risks which are included as well as the needs for holistic digital recording, particularly for the case of Cyprus, given its overdeveloped rich and multifaceted history.
During the lecture, Dr. Ioannidis, as a token of thanks for the hospitality and cooperation, donated on behalf of TEPAK to the Chamber of Famagusta a faithful copy of a vase dating from 1050 – 850 BC, which was found in excavations by the Swedish Archaeological Expedition in 1930 in Amathus and exhibited at the Medelhavsmuseet in Sweden. The vase in question was digitized as part of the pioneering initiative of TE.PA.K. for digitization of the largest collection of Cypriot antiquities outside Cyprus. The gift was received from the Chamber by the Secretary/Director of Mrs. Elena Michaelidis.
After the end of the lecture, a reception followed, during which the attendees had the opportunity to discuss the topic of the presentation and also to network with each other.
The said Open University Lectures are held in the context of the renewal of the Cooperation Protocol between TEPAK and the Famagusta Chamber, which was signed in 2023 with the aim of cultivating relations between the two parties and the joint effort for mutual understanding and promotion of a multi-level cooperation.
Participants of each lecture receive a certificate of attendance.