Draft:Manolis Plionis

Manolis Plionis was born in Athens in 1960. He earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Crete and completed a PhD in Observational Cosmology in 1989 from the University of Sussex, UK. His doctoral research focuses on the formation of galaxy clusters and their statistical distribution in large-scale structures of the universe.{{Cite web |title=Galaxy clustering and filaments |url=https://sussex.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9931840302461&context=L&vid=44SUS_INST:44SUS_VU1&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI_no_BLDS&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=MyInst_and_CI_no_BLDS&query=any,contains,Plionis&offset= |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=sussex.primo.exlibrisgroup.com |language=en}} After completing his PhD studies he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the SISSA International Research Center in Italy for approximately 5 years, 2 of which as a E.C. Marie Curie Fellow under the Human Capital and Mobility program. He also spent 1 year as a postdoctoral researcher at the International Center of Theoretical Physics (ICTP). In 1995, he returned to Greece to join the National Observatory of Athens as a researcher, where he served until 2012, eventually attaining the rank of Research Director, the highest research position in Greece. In 2009, he was elected Full Professor at the Physics Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and in 2012 he officially assumed his role at the university.

In 2017 he was elected Director and President of the Board of Directors of the National Observatory of Athens. He immediately launched a campaign, supported by  NOA’s Board of Directors and NOA’s research staff, that led to the funding and initiation of the “PANhellenic GEophysical observatory of Antikythera (PANGEA)”{{Cite web |title=PANGEA |url=https://www.noa.gr/en/ypodomes/pangea/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=National Observatory of Athens |language=en-US}}, located on the historic island of Antikythera{{Cite web |title=earth.esa.int |url=https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/news/aeolus-enhances-volcanic-ash-forecasts-for-aviation-safety/pangea-observatory-antikythera? |website=earth.esa.int}} widely known as the place of the discovery of the Antikythera mechanism, to the funding of the integrated Science Hub “NOA-AEGIS Centre for Security, Safety and Hazards Risk Resilience”. His proposal that the government fund a National Network for Climate Change was also accepted and, as a result, he has been coordinating the CLIMPACT project {{Cite web |title=CLIMPACT |url=https://climpact.gr/main/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=climpact.gr}}, a collaborating network that unites 27 major Greek academic and research institutions{{Cite web |title=CLIMPACT |url=https://climpact.gr/network/core |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=climpact.gr}} to address issues of climate change related science, on mitigation & adaptation actions and climate change related natural disasters. CLIMPACT has been nominated by the Institute for Sustainable Development of the European Public Law Organization for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 International EarthShot Prize{{Cite web |title=Tο Εθνικό Δίκτυο για την Κλιματική αλλαγή – CLIMPACT υποψήφιο για το βραβείο Earthshot Prize 2022 |url=https://gsri.gov.gr/to-ethniko-diktyo-gia-tin-klimatiki-allagi-climpact-ypopsifio-gia-to-vraveio-earthshot-prize-2022/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=gsri.gov.gr |language=el}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Earthshot Prize 2024 / Το Αστεροσκοπείο και η Τήλος υποψήφιοι για το μεγάλο διεθνές βραβείο |url=https://www.avgi.gr/koinonia/472706_asteroskopeio-kai-i-tilos-ypopsifioi-gia-megalo-diethnes-brabeio?amp |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Αυγή |language=el}}.

He is a member of the Greek National Committee for Astronomy, member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Modern Physics D{{Cite web |title=International Journal of Modern Physics D |url=https://www.worldscientific.com/page/ijmpd/editorial-board |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=World Scientific Publishing |language=en}} and of the [https://astro.theoj.org/ Open Journal of Astrophysics]{{Cite web |title=Editorial Board {{!}} The Open Journal of Astrophysics |url=https://astro.theoj.org/editorial-board |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=astro.theoj.org |language=en}}, former President of the Hellenic Sectorial Scientific Council on the Environment, Energy and Sustainable Mobility, and former member of the European Space Science Committee (ESSC-ESF){{Cite web |title=Manolis Plionis |url=https://www.essc.esf.org/panels-members/manolis-plionis%E2%80%8B/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=European Space Sciences Committee |language=en-US}}.

Plionis’s scientific interests span from observational cosmology to extragalactic astrophysics, while lately his research interests focus on climate change and associated natural disasters as well as on space law. He has published over 250 scientific articles in refereed journals, conference proceedings and databases and many popular science and policy articles, while he has supervised a considerable number of Doctoral dissertations and Master theses.{{Cite web |title=Manolis Plionis - The Mathematics Genealogy Project |url=https://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=124010 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu}} He has over 6400 citations according to ORCID and Google Scholar{{Cite web |title=ORCID |url=https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3597-7615 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=orcid.org}}{{Cite web |title=Manolis Plionis |url=https://scholar.google.be/citations?hl=en&user=CBDbB_IAAAAJ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=scholar.google.be}} and has organized numerous scientific conferences in Astrophysics and Cosmology{{Cite journal |date=2002 |editor-last=Plionis |editor-first=Manolis |editor2-last=Cotsakis |editor2-first=Spiros |title=Modern Theoretical and Observational Cosmology |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-010-0622-4 |journal=Astrophysics and Space Science Library |volume=276 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-010-0622-4 |bibcode=2002ASSL..276.....P |isbn=978-94-010-3931-4 |issn=0067-0057 |last1=Plionis |first1=M. |last2=Cotsakis |first2=S. }}{{Cite journal |date=2004 |editor-last=Plionis |editor-first=Manolis |title=Multiwavelength Cosmology |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/0-306-48570-2 |journal=SpringerLink |language=en |doi=10.1007/0-306-48570-2|bibcode=2004ASSL..301.....P |isbn=978-1-4020-1971-5 |last1=Plionis |first1=M. |volume=301 }}{{Cite book |last1=Plionis |first1=M. |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000lssx.proc.....P |title=Large Scale Structure in the X-ray Universe |last2=Georgantopoulos |first2=I. |date=2000-03-01|bibcode=2000lssx.proc.....P }}{{Cite journal |date=2002 |editor-last=Plionis |editor-first=Manolis |editor2-last=Cotsakis |editor2-first=Spiros |title=Modern Theoretical and Observational Cosmology |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-010-0622-4 |journal=Astrophysics and Space Science Library |volume=276 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-010-0622-4 |bibcode=2002ASSL..276.....P |isbn=978-94-010-3931-4 |issn=0067-0057 |last1=Plionis |first1=M. |last2=Cotsakis |first2=S. }}{{Cite journal |last=Plions |first=Manolis |date=July 2007 |title=X-ray Surveys, Evolution of Accretion, Star-Formation and the Large Scale Structure |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007xsea.confE..48P/abstract |journal=Provided by the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System|page=48 |bibcode=2007xsea.confE..48P }}{{Cite book |date=2008 |editor-last=Plionis |editor-first=Manolis |editor2-last=Hughes |editor2-first=David |editor3-last=López-Cruz |editor3-first=Omar |title=A Pan-Chromatic View of Clusters of Galaxies and the Large-Scale Structure |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4020-6941-3 |series=Lecture Notes in Physics |volume=740 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-6941-3 |isbn=978-1-4020-6940-6 |issn=0075-8450 }}{{Cite journal |last=Georgantopoulos, I., Plionis, M. |date=2012 |title=Half a century of X-ray Astronomy |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012hcxa.confE....G/abstract |journal=Provided by the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System|bibcode=2012hcxa.confE....G }}{{Cite web |title=X-ray Cosmology conference 2016 |url=https://www.astro.auth.gr/~xmmcosmo16/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.astro.auth.gr}}

As one of the leading members in Greece’s national campaign to combat climate change, he is active in campaigning to raise government and public awareness. His efforts include publishing articles, organizing summits, coordinating public talks and engaging in scientific editing of translated (to Greek) books on relevant topics.{{Cite web |title=17TH CYPRUS SUMMIT |url=https://events.economist.com/events-conferences/17th-cyprus-summit/#speakers |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Economist Impact events |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mR0JABIwFNQ |title=ECONOMIST - Natural Disasters Management Summit: Μ.Πλειώνης, πρόεδρος ΕΑΑ |date=2023-09-13 |last=ANA-MPAwebTV |access-date=2025-01-21 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite book |last1=Leichenko |first1=Robin M. |title=Climate and society: transforming the future |last2=O'Brien |first2=Karen L. |date=2019 |publisher=Polity Press |isbn=978-0-7456-8438-3 |editor-last=Παπαζήσης |edition=Greek |location=Cambridge, UK Medford, MA |publication-date=January 2022 |language=Greek |trans-title=ΚΛΙΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ ΜΕΤΑΣΧΗΜΑΤΙΖΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΟ ΜΕΛΛΟΝ}}{{Cite book |last1=Leichenko |first1=Robin |title=Κλίμα και κοινωνία: Μετασχηματίζοντας το μέλλον |last2=O'brien |first2=Karen |collaboration=Νίκος Δεμερτζής, Λυδία Αβράμη, Μανώλης Πλειώνης |publisher=Παπαζήσης |year=2022 |isbn=978-0745684390 |editor-link= |edition=Greek |location=Athens |publication-date=2022 |language=english |trans-title=Climate and Society: Transforming the Future}}{{Cite web |title=Ημερίδα EAA - 29.11.2019 |url=http://www.naturaldisasters.noa.gr/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.naturaldisasters.noa.gr}}. On this respect he has lead the organization of two Hellenic workshops on Natural Disaster Management: in November 2017 on "Environment, Space, Natural Disasters" and in November 2019 on: "The Contribution of Research Centers in Disaster Management", in collaboration with 10{{Clarify|reason=10 what?|date=February 2025}}under the coordination of NOA

During his tenure as the Director of NOA, he undertook initiatives to further expand and intensify the outreach and science communication activities of the research institution, guided by the values of equity and inclusiveness in knowledge and education. Within this framework he initiated and coordinates the following three NOA outreach projects focused on students from socially vulnerable groups, such as students in remote and isolated areas,{{Cite web |title=UniversALL: αστρονομία για μαθητές ακριτικών περιοχών |url=https://www.noa.gr/universall/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών |language=el}} Roma students{{Cite web |title=astROMetria: Πρόγραμμα αστρονομίας για μαθητές/τριες Ρομά |url=https://www.noa.gr/astrometria/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών |language=el}} and visually impaired students{{Cite web |title=Αγγίζοντας τον Ουρανό: αστρονομία για μαθητές/τριες με αναπηρίες όρασης |url=https://www.noa.gr/aggizontas-ton-oyrano/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών |language=el}}

He has also published several articles in newspapers and online concerning the legal aspects of space endeavours and the suggested legal regime for the application of rapidly expanding AI technologies in space exploration{{Cite book |last1=Koskina |first1=Anthi |last2=Sykioti |first2=Olga |last3=Plionis |first3=Manolis |chapter=AI-Driven Innovation and Discoveries in Space Exploration: The Need for an Adapted Regulatory Regime |series=Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Multidisciplinary Applications |date=2024 |editor-last=Farmanbar |editor-first=Mina |editor2-last=Tzamtzi |editor2-first=Maria |editor3-last=Verma |editor3-first=Ajit Kumar |editor4-last=Chakravorty |editor4-first=Antorweep |title=Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Multidisciplinary Applications |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-99-9836-4_28 |language=en |location=Singapore |publisher=Springer Nature |pages=377–390 |doi=10.1007/978-981-99-9836-4_28 |isbn=978-981-99-9836-4}}{{Cite web |last1=Koskina |first1=Anthi |last2=Plionis |first2=Manolis |date=2024-04-02 |title=Private companies are exploiting outer space, but the law is struggling to catch up |url=https://theconversation.com/private-companies-are-exploiting-outer-space-but-the-law-is-struggling-to-catch-up-223994 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}. He was the co-authored “Greek Space Law”, a book that provides an overview of the nomology/legislation that governs all space activity that falls under the jurisdiction of the Greek State.

• ·    British Council [https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/great-scholarships?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqL28BhCrARIsACYJvkfBOK-ygyLyQ3ZmHYJNjIzxuWfzOPh4tk1xljUV-BQULAqId-_Sh0waAqyoEALw_wcB Fellowship] (1988-1989)
• ·    Human Capital & Mobility Fellowship (early Marie Curie) - (1994-1996)
• ·    Coordinator of the National Network for Climate Change-CLIMPACT{{Cite web |title=CLIMPACT |url=https://climpact.gr/about/committee |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=climpact.gr}}
• ·    Former President of the State Thematic Committee on Climate Change, Energy and Sustainable Mobility (2020-2022){{Cite web |title=Sectoral Scientific Councils |url=https://esetek.gov.gr/en/tes/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240624072245/https://esetek.gov.gr/en/tes/ |archive-date=2024-06-24 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=esetek.gov.gr |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Environmental Sciences, Energy & Sustainable Mobility |url=https://esetek.gov.gr/en/tes_post/environmental-sciences-energy-sustainable-mobility/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240908153549/https://esetek.gov.gr/en/tes_post/environmental-sciences-energy-sustainable-mobility/ |archive-date=2024-09-08 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=esetek.gov.gr |language=en-US}}
• ·    Former Member of the European Space Science Committee (ESSC-ESF), (2017-2022)
• ·    Member of the Greek National Committee for Astronomy{{Cite web |title=Greek National Committee for Astronomy |url=https://helas.gr/gnca/members.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=helas.gr}}
• ·    Former Vice-President of the Bοard of Directors of [https://www.noesis.edu.gr/en/ NOHSIS Technology & Science Museum] (2016-2019)

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