NCSR “Demokritos” joins ALPHA MISSION – DELOS 2026: The Pulse of Life: Reconnecting Personal and Planetary Health – Mykonos & Delos, May 16 & 17, 2026

National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos - Friday, May 22, 2026

What knowledge does ancient healing wisdom offer us today?

Can humanity prosper beyond Earth?

Is it possible to restore the balance between our lives and the health of the planet?

The visionary initiative ALPHA MISSION – DELOS returned for its sixth International Meeting in the heart of the Cyclades, on May 16 and 17, 2026. Under the theme “The Pulse of Life: Reconnecting Personal and Planetary Health”, academics, scientists and artists explored the vibrant relationships between human well-being and the health of our planet, in a two-day period of fruitful dialogue, substantive discussions, exchange of ideas and deep human connection.

Reinforcing the goal of the pioneering initiative to encourage awareness and mobilization of citizens around the great challenges for life on Earth, this year the event’s renowned speakers also met with the residents of Mykonos. On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the local community warmly embraced the open event held at the Manto Cinema with keynote speakers: Vassilis Lambrinoudakis (Professor Emeritus of Archaeology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Dr. Stamatios Krimizis (Director Emeritus, Space Exploration Division, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; former President of the Academy of Athens) and Demosthenes Sarigiannis (Director and Chairman of the Board, National Research Foundation; Professor of Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). The speakers were introduced by Dimitris Athanasoulis (Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades), Nikos Sergis (CEO, Hellenic Space Center) and Vangelis Karkaletsis (President, NCSR “Demokritos”). The evening was opened by Alexandra Mitsotaki (President & Co-Founder, World Human Forum), Dimitris Papastergiou (Minister of Digital Governance) and Christos Veronis (Mayor of Mykonos), while the event closed melodiously with the screening of the award-winning film/concert “The [Uncertain] Four Seasons”.

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the meeting continued at the ancient theater of Delos with the participation of prominent scientists, researchers and artists. This year’s speakers include: Daniel A. Barber (Professor of Architecture and Chair of the Working Group on the History of Architecture and Decarbonization, Eindhoven University of Technology), Alexander Choukér (Academic Director, Senior Physician, Head of Research Laboratory I “Translational Research of Stress and Immunity”, University Hospital Munich), Adrianos Golemis (Astronaut in Training; Associate, Hellenic Space Center; Chief Mission Physician, MEDES – European Space Agency), Niki Evelpidou (Professor, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, NKUA), Athena Kousteni (Research Director, National Center for Scientific Research / CNRS, France), Yadvinder Malhi (Professor of Ecosystem Science, University of Oxford), Jacob Moe (Founder & Director, Archipelagos Network), Dr Alexis Paterson (Senior Music Programme Producer, Schwarzman Centre, University of Oxford) and Jochen Sandig (Co-Founder & Vice President, World Human Forum).

The day began with a presentation/tour on board by Professor Vasilis Lambrinoudakis on the Asclepius of Delos and the holistic approach of the ancient Greeks to healing. As the afternoon light spread over the Aegean, the participants sent their own collective message-distillation through an interactive artistic workshop. In fact, they also gave their own note to the concert “The 5th Era ” with Socrates Sinopoulos (lyra) and Diana Tishchenko (violin), with which the meeting closed.

Let’s hold their thoughts: ” The Earth is not silent. It speaks — can you hear it? / A small lifeboat, floating silently in the universe, blue, with its breath alive in the darkness / Planet Earth is blue and we can still do something about it / If we could carry our values inside this fragile spaceship, let them be these: love, respect, hope, compassion, roots and time / For in the universe we are nothing, but in this nothingness, we are everything.”

A few words about ALPHA MISSION – DELOS

The goal of ALPHA MISSION – DELOS is to raise awareness about the climate crisis. At this defining moment for our planet, Delos – one of the most important cosmopolitan centers of antiquity, a meeting place of cultures, languages and religious traditions – is already facing the impacts of rising sea levels . The initiative invites us to reflect on the roots that gave us wings: science and technology, but also ancestral intelligence, the humanities, the arts and spirituality – and to imagine a civilization that respects and protects life in all its forms.

ALPHA MISSION – DELOS is an initiative of the World Human Forum . It is carried out in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades and with the support of the National Center for Natural Sciences Research “Demokritos” , the Hellenic Space Center and Europa Nostra.

The 6th International Meeting of ALPHA MISSION – DELOS was held with the support of:

Strategic partners: HELMEPA-Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment, IEEE SA

Sponsors: Alpha Bank, Qualco Foundation
Donor: COSMOTE TELEKOM
Official airline sponsor: Aegean Airlines
Travel partners: Blue Star Ferries, Autohellas Hertz
Supporters – partners: Rtdeco Event Services, View Master Events, Delos Tours
Special partner: ELTA / Hellenic Post

Special thanks to the Municipality of Mykonos and Manto Cinema

More information: https://delos.worldhumanforum.earth/

The videotaped actions of the 6th International Meeting of ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS will be available soon on the World Human Forum YouTube channel.