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On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, the University of Piraeus organized the ceremony for the conferment of the title of Honorary Professor of the School of Information and Communication Technologies of the University of Piraeus upon Constantinos Daskalakis, Professor of Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.).

The ceremony commenced with an address by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, followed by the presentation of the honoree's work (Laudatio) by the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Technologies, Professor Ilias Maglogiannis.

In his opening address, the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, noted that the conferment of an honorary title is an act of the highest honor reserved by the University for personalities whose journey serves as a source of inspiration, and whose work, actions, and values hold guiding significance for us all. Constantinos Daskalakis, a leading global figure in the fields of Computer Science, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, as well as Game Theory, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence—a scientist and researcher driven by integrity, passion, and steadfast dedication to his goals—serves as a role model for researchers and academics worldwide, and most importantly, for our students, our alumni, and the youth of our country.

The presentation of the honoree's work (Laudatio) was delivered by the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Technologies, Professor Ilias Maglogiannis, who outlined the honoree's truly impressive academic career, his awards for his research work, and the overall impact of his contributions to Science.

The conferment ceremony concluded with an address by the honoree, who expressed his gratitude to the University and the School for the honor bestowed upon him. In an inspiring speech, he discussed the developments in artificial intelligence—his current field of research—the difficulties and challenges that science is called upon to manage, as well as the existing limitations in this field, which impacts and will continue to impact the daily lives of us all.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitrios Papastergiou; the Rector of Panteion University, Christina Koulouri; the President of the Single Public Procurement Authority, Androniki Theotokatou; the Vice-Presidents of the Hellenic Court of Audit, Evangelia-Elisavet Kouloubini and Konstantinos Kostopoulos; the President of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, George Karanikas; the Mayor of Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis, Konstantinos Maragakis; the Dean of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, Panagiotis Tsanakas; the President of the Piraeus Chamber of Small and Medium Industries, George Papamanolis-Dozas; the President of the Piraeus Commerce Association, Theodoros Kapralos; members of the Governing Council of the University of Piraeus, as well as numerous professors, students, and alumni.

You can watch the ceremony on our University's YouTube channel by clicking the link below:

https://youtu.be/56iEyQab2iY

On April 29, 2014, our Department had the honor of conferring the title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Professor of Computer Science Joseph Sifakis. Professor Sifakis is the only Greek and one of the few European scientists to have received the Turing Award, which is widely considered the Nobel Prize of Computing.

Joseph Sifakis is a Greek-French computer scientist and researcher who was co-awarded the 2007 Turing Award, alongside Edmund M. Clarke and E. Allen Emerson, for their pioneering work on model checking, a method for the formal verification of computer hardware or software.

Born in Heraklion, Crete, in 1946, he studied Electrical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens and Computer Science at the University of Grenoble under a French scholarship, during which time he also acquired French citizenship. He resides in France and works for the French National Centre for Scientific Research at the VERIMAG laboratory near Grenoble, which he founded.

He is also a collaborator of the Artist2 network (European Network of Excellence for Research on Embedded Systems). (Source: Wikipedia)

From the speech of the Head of the Department of Informatics of the University of Piraeus, Professor Maria Virvou, regarding the conferment of the title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Professor Joseph Sifakis by the Department of Informatics:

“Today is a very important day for the entire University of Piraeus and, more specifically, for the Department of Informatics. The conferment of a Doctor Honoris Causa title is the pinnacle event for a University. This is even more true today, as we welcome into our University’s academic community a scientist of the caliber of Professor Joseph Sifakis, who highly honors us by accepting this title!

Professor Sifakis is a leading international scientist who has been honored numerous times for his work. Among other distinctions, he was awarded the prestigious Turing Award by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). This award is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize, placing his homeland, Greece, on the very short list of just 13 countries worldwide that possess a scientist or scientists who have received this top honor in Computing throughout the 48-year history of the institution. This award, along with the other great scientific achievements of Professor Sifakis, holds a special symbolism for us in Greek Universities in general, and in Informatics in particular. It renews our faith in the values of science and serves as a role model and source of guidance for younger scientists, students, and the youth of Greece.”

Related Links

• Professor Joseph Sifakis' Personal Website
• Professor Joseph Sifakis on Wikipedia (Greek)
• Professor Joseph Sifakis on Wikipedia (English)
• Presentation Slides by Professor Joseph Sifakis
• Full Address by the Chair and Photo Gallery from the Conferment Ceremony
• Announcement regarding Professor Joseph Sifakis' Turing Award
• Professor Joseph Sifakis' Profile on the ACM Turing Award Laureates Directory
• Google's Contribution to the Turing Award

Professor Nikolaos Bourbakis is one of the most internationally recognized researchers in the field of Computer Science, specializing in Artificial and Computational Intelligence, and is of Greek descent. He is a Professor at Wright State University (USA) and serves as the director of research laboratories.

The highlights of the extensive curriculum vitae (CV) of Professor Nikolaos Bourbakis include the following:

• Είναι IEEE Life Fellow
• Είναι IEEE Computer Society Golden Core Member
• He is the Founder and President of the non-profit organization "Biological and Artificial Intelligence Society and Foundation," based in the State of Ohio, USA.
• Distinguished Professor in Information Technology, CSE Dept., Professor (j.a.) of Geriatrics School of Medicine, Wright State University (WSU), Dayton, OH,USA
• Director of the Center of Assistive Research Technologies (CART) at Wright State University (WSU), Dayton, OH, USA
• He has conducted extensive research in Applied Artificial Intelligence, which includes the following recent research projects:
  SE-Expert System, Hermes-Vision Architecture, Kydon-Image Recognition Architecture, BouMer-Learing, DIAS Architecture, OCR-Words, Glossa-NL Understanding, Document Understanding, SKD Body Activity Recognition),
• He has conducted extensive research in Cyber Security, which includes the following recent research projects: SCAN and AMYNA.
• He has conducted extensive research in Bioengineering, which includes the following recent research projects: Tyflos, SPN-Brain, Wireless Capsule Endoscopy, Ultrasound Imaging-Liver-Heart, Nosokoma, and Prognosis.
• He has published more than 450 scientific papers in reputable international journals (including IEEE and others), edited volumes, and international conference proceedings, as well as 10 scientific books.
• He has supervised 30 completed PhD dissertations and numerous Master's theses.
• He is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international scientific journals "International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools" (World Scientific Publishing, 1992 – present) and "International Journal on Monitoring & Surveillance Technologies Research" (IGI Global Publishing, 2013 – present).
• He served as the Editor-in-Chief (Editor-in-Charge) of the "Research Series of Books in AI" (World Scientific Publishing, 1993–2001).
• He is the Founder and Chair of the Steering Committee for three major international conferences sponsored and supported by the IEEE Computer Society: ICTAI, BIBE, and IISA.
• He serves or has served as an Associate Editor for twelve international journals, including those published by the IEEE and others.
• He has served as a Guest Editor for 25 special issues of IEEE journals and other major international journals.
• He has served as an IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Speaker.
• He has been a Keynote Speaker at numerous major international conferences, including those organized by the IEEE and others.
• He has served as a Consultant and Evaluator for US research and funding organizations, as well as for academic institutions worldwide.

Professor Nikolaos Bourbakis has been honored repeatedly for his outstanding contributions to Computer Science, and more specifically to Artificial and Computational Intelligence. Among other distinctions, he has received the following awards:

• IBM Author recognition Award 1991;
• IEEE Computer Society Outstanding Contribution Award 1992;
• IEEE Outstanding Paper Award AUTESTCON 1994;
• IEEE Computer Society Technical Research Achievement Award 1998;
• IEEE I&S Outstanding Leadership Award 1998;
• IEEE ICTAI 10 years Research Contribution Award 1999;
• Pattern Recognition Society Journal best papers selection for 1999;
• IEEE Symposium on BIBE Outstanding Leadership Award, 2003;
• ASC Outstanding Scientists & Engineers Research Award-2005;
• SETN Research Recognition- 2006;
• Degree of Honor and Recognition, University of Patras, Greece 2007;
• IEEE Appreciation Award for organizing ICTAI-08, Dayton OH, 2008;
• IEEE Computer Society Appreciation Award as the BIBE Steering Chair 2009;
• Dr. F. Russ IEEE Biomedical Engineering award, Dayton OH, 2010;
• Pattern Recognition Society Journal “Most Cited Article for 2006-2010”, and “Honorary mention for several years”;
• IJAIT best papers selection for the years 2006-2010;
• IEEE BIBE- Keynote Speaker Recognition Award Mobile-health, Taichung, Taiwan, 2011;
• WSU Outstanding Service Award, 2001-2012;
• IEEE Int. Conference ICTAI-2012 CV Ramammoorthy Best paper Award, Athens, Greece;
• “In honor and recognition for his outstanding scholarly achievements and contributions in the field of Computer Science”, Dept. of Informatics, University of Piraeus, Greece, July 2013;
• IEEE EMBS-GR Award of Achievements for his contribution on Assistive Devices for the Blind, IEEE IC-BIBE, Nov 2013, Chania , Greece;
• IEEE Conference BIBE-2014, Biomedical Engineering Best paper Award FL, USA, Nov. 2014;
• UNESCO-GR Recognition Leadership Award, IEEE Conference IISA, Corfu, Greece, July 2015;
• IEEE Conference on Tools with AI, CV Ramamoorthy Best paper Award, Vietri sul Mare, Italy Nov. 2015;
• IEEE Computer Society 28 years ICTAI Outstanding Service & Leadership Recognition, IEEE ICTAI, S. Jose, CA, 2016;
• IEEE Computer Society Keynote Speaker Recognition Award 2017, Boston MA;
• IEEE ICTAI-2018, 30 years Leadership Recognition, Volos, Nov 2018, Greece.

Due to his Greek descent, outstanding scientific contributions, and the international recognition of his work, Professor Nikolaos Bourbakis serves as a role model for young researchers in our country, particularly during this challenging period of economic crisis and unemployment.

On September 8, 2023, our Department had the honor of conferring the title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lakhmi Chand Jain. Professor Lakhmi Chand Jain, PhD, Dr H.C., ME, BE(Hons), is one of the most internationally recognized researchers in the field of Computer Science, specializing in Artificial and Computational Intelligence. He holds professorships at the University of Canberra (Australia), the University of Technology Sydney (Australia), Bournemouth University (UK), and the University of Arad (Romania). Additionally, Professor Lakhmi C. Jain is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.

The highlights of the extensive curriculum vitae (CV) of Professor Lakhmi C. Jain include the following:

• • He is Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Australia.
  • He is the Founder and Executive Chair of the "Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Engineering Systems International" research organization, a global community of more than 5,000 researchers aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the dissemination of research in Artificial and Computational Intelligence and its applications, such as Complex Systems, Systems Security, Educational Technologies, Healthcare Technologies, Autonomous Systems and Vehicles, and Intelligent Agents.
  • He has served as a Professor and Dean of the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of South Australia.
  • He serves or has served as a Visiting Professor at various academic institutions in Europe and Australia, including the University of Canberra and the University of Technology Sydney (Australia), Bournemouth University (UK), and the University of Arad (Romania).
  • He has conducted extensive research and possesses a comprehensive record of published work in:

— Automated Information System Design using conventional and computational intelligence techniques including artificial neural nets, search techniques, approximate reasoning, machine learning and evolutionary computing paradigms.

— Modelling, Design and Implementation of Knowledge-based Intelligent Information Systems.

— Intelligent agent learning, coordination, collaboration, teaming and web-based agent.

• According to Google Scholar, his publications have received approximately 20,000 citations in total (with more than 7,500 within the last five years), corresponding to an h-index of 60 and an i10-index of 276.
• He has co-authored or edited more than 400 books.
• He is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international scientific journals "International Journal of Knowledge-Based Intelligent Engineering Systems" (IOS Press, 1997 – present) and "Intelligent Decision Technologies" (IOS Press, 2007 – present).
• He is the Founder and/or Editor-in-Chief of a number of scientific book series published by Springer, Elsevier, IOS Press, and others.
• He is the Founder and Chair of the Steering Committee for four (4) major international conferences: International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES), Agents and Multi-Agent Systems-Technologies and Applications (AMSTA), Intelligent Interactive Multimedia Systems and Services (IIMSS), and Intelligent Decision Technologies (IDT).
• He has been a Keynote Speaker at numerous major international conferences across Europe, Asia, and Australia.
• He has collaborated with and promoted researchers of Greek descent, active both within Greece and internationally.