We came back to set up a robotics lab

The persistent exceptions in a society that has developed a culture of escape

By Margarita Pournara

Panagiotis Theocharis from Greece and Vasiliki Pantoula from Agrinio are a couple of scientists in their 40s who, while living in Belgium, decided to return to the city and create a successful research institute for educational robotics and technology for children, called MakerLab. [NIKOS KOKKALIAS]

Panagiotis Theocharis and Vasiliki Pantoula are a couple of scientists in their 40s who, while living in Belgium, decided to return to the city where Vasiliki was born. They founded a research institute for educational robotics and technology, called MakerLab.

“Ghent, with its 250,000 residents, helped me appreciate the pace of a small town where you can quickly get things done and get around by bike. During the crisis, Vasiliki got pregnant with our second child, and we wanted our kids to grow up as Greek children. We took the risk of returning, knowing that Agrinio was one of the first cities in Greece to develop a fiber optic network—a key requirement for operating a technology-based business. So, we opened the robotics lab to focus on younger ages, so that children would fall in love with learning through this activity,” says Panagiotis, who grew up in Athens.

“We teach 21st-century skills, such as computational thinking. The goal isn’t technology itself but problem-solving. The local community embraced us. In fact, we now have students who’ve gone on to university—at NTUA, in Patras, at Democritus University, and even at Oxford. When kids come here, it’s like they gain purpose in life.

In recent years, Agrinio has taken steps toward modernization, following the example of European cities. Pedestrian zones, new water supply networks, and smart city applications have improved daily life, creating a more modern and functional environment. However, the biggest challenge the city faces is the mass departure of young people, who often seek opportunities elsewhere. The pressing question is: How can there be growth without a dynamic youth?” they tell Kathimerini, showing us the many awards their students have won in international competitions.