KMOP – the Centre for Social Action and Innovation – took part in the conference “The Future of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Greece”, held on Tuesday, 3 June at the Argyriadis Amphitheatre of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The event was organised by the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET), in collaboration with NKUA, and aimed to highlight the enduring and contemporary value of classical disciplines — such as history, literature, sociology, and anthropology — in an era increasingly dominated by technocratic approaches to knowledge.
Distinguished academics and researchers from Greece and abroad joined the discussion, exploring the challenges and opportunities for redefining the role of these sciences in today’s world.
During the event, Dr. Vasileios Margaritis – KMOP’s Senior Researcher and Dean of the Research Centre at the Swiss School of Management – presented an innovative interdisciplinary methodology that explores how cultural heritage impacts museum visitors. His approach bridges the fields of neurotechnology and the humanities, offering new ways to understand human experience.
His presentation, titled “Neuro-psycho-social Dimensions of Engagement with Cultural Heritage: Documenting through Innovative Experimental Approaches”, highlighted KMOP’s contribution to developing and validating new tools and interpretive models. These models combine neurometric, psychometric and socio-economic data to capture the emotional and cognitive responses of museum visitors. This methodology provides deeper insight into how cultural experiences shape the human psyche.
Dr. Margaritis, emphasising KMOP’s role in linking the natural and human sciences, stated:
“Cultural heritage is not just about the past; it’s a driving force for the future of the humanities and social sciences. Connecting these fields with neuroscience can offer innovative responses to contemporary challenges. Technology is never neutral — it is the humanities that bring ethical and political awareness into the equation”.
This presentation drew on findings from KMOP’s participation in the European research initiative META-MUSEUM, which supports meaningful engagement with cultural heritage, enhancing empathy, self-confidence, and social inclusion. It uses collaborative work between neurosciences, museology, and the social sciences to investigate how cultural experiences can positively shape emotions, behaviours, and social attitudes. Through digital tools and cultural site-based activities, the project promotes participation, co-creation, and personal connection with culture, especially among groups facing social barriers.
KMOP is collaborating with leading European organisations on the META-MUSEUM project, which is implemented by a consortium of 14 partners from 11 countries, including: Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy – coordinator), Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (Greece), La Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany), Polish Information Processing Centre – National Research Institute (Poland), Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), European Museum Academy (Netherlands), Beia Consult International Srl (Romania), Nordic Centre of Heritage Learning and Creativity (Sweden), MuséoParc Alésia (France), Catalan Agency for Cultural Heritage (Spain), and the Egyptian Museum Foundation of Turin (Italy).
The project is funded by the Horizon Europe program of the European Union.
KMOP remains at the forefront of scientific integration, advancing a more inclusive, democratic, and experiential model of cultural and social development.
For further information, you can contact us at [email protected] or +30-2103637547.