Citizens’ Science Educational Workshop “Youth for Diagnostics” – Students in the role of scientists
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the opening educational workshop of the “Youth for Diagnostics” initiative was held at the Natural History Museum “Youth for Diagnostics”,with the participation of 18 schools, the EKFE Heraklion, and 40 teachers from secondary schools in Heraklion. The aim of this initiative is for students to take on the role of scientists, promoting the active participationof citizens in scientific research.
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The “Youth for Diagnostics” initiative is part of the first organized Citizen Science program, based in Heraklion, Crete. As part of this initiative, citizen scientists are invited to volunteer their time to contribute to the creation of new knowledge through the collection, processing, or analysis of data. More specifically, students, as citizen scientists, are expected to participate in real scientific endeavors, helping scientists answer questions related to the environment and public health, while utilizing their knowledge and creativity by developing their own innovative diagnostic tools.
The action is implemented through the DxHub Program, a European Centre of Excellence coordinated by Professor Electra Gizeli, which is funded by the Horizon Europe programme and aims to develop innovative, easy-to-use and affordable diagnostic devices for use in the field of healthcare. In this way, science, technology, and creativity are linked through the STEAM model, with the aim of equipping students with knowledge and skills in microbiological water analysis, the development and use of innovative diagnostic technologies in the field, and to raise awareness of public health issues. The aim of this program is to create a diagnostic tool for detecting microorganisms in water.
The workshop,which is co-organized by the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), the University of Crete, the KEK Technical Schools of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, the Natural History Museum, the Region of Crete, and the EODY, Ms. Eleni Maraki-Beladaki, Commissioned Advisor for Education and Lifelong Learning of the Region of Crete.
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The workshop began with a speech by the Head of the DxHub Management Team, Dr. Anji Kolokousi, who outlined the objectives of DxHub and the model of collaboration with citizen scientists, followed by presentations by Dr. Iasmi Stathi, Dr. Katerina Tsiliounidaki, Dr. Antonis Papadakis, and Ms. Carolina Mariano from NOVA University in Portugal. The event concluded with presentations by Markella Splinaki and Panagiotis Georgantis.
The “Youth for Diagnostics” initiative is one of the Citizen Science initiatives of the DxHub Center of Excellence. The DxHub center aims to develop rapid, sensitive, and affordable diagnostic solutions for the immediate detection of pathogens in the field (Point-of-Care). Its mission is the early detection of diseases that threaten society, with the aim of effectively shielding it against future pandemics, such as COVID-19. The program focuses on solutions accessible to all, with applications covering the agricultural, livestock, human, and environmental sectors, adopting the “One Health” approach. The project utilizes advanced technologies and covers the fields of human health, veterinary medicine, and agri-food.