The Fotos Photiades Public Benefit Scientific and Cultural Foundation recently celebrated the 30 years of continuous service provided by the Cyprus Museum of Natural History, by organizing a special festival at the Photos Photiades Breweries facility, attracting over 2,000 visitors. With the central theme “NATURE • KNOWLEDGE • EXPLORATION,” the event offered young and old alike the opportunity to get closer to Cyprus’s natural wealth through a day filled with discovery, creativity, play, and experiential learning.
The Festival highlighted nature through many different approaches, transforming knowledge into a lively experience for the whole family. The children had the opportunity to learn about Cyprus’s biodiversity, discover microorganisms, fossils, and archaeological finds, explore the water cycle, and learn about the protection of endangered species and natural ecosystems. At the same time, through art workshops using clay, natural pigments, printing techniques, and recycled materials, observation of the natural environment was linked to imagination and creative expression. The activities encouraged active participation, critical thinking, collaboration, and the development of a meaningful relationship with nature, highlighting that environmental awareness is most effectively cultivated through hands-on experience.
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A special focus of the Festival was the use of modern technology as a tool for exploring and understanding the natural and cultural environment. Through virtual reality (VR) technologies, visitors explored modern shipwrecks and underwater landscapes, while digital applications, satellite images, QR codes, and 3D digital models brought underwater archaeology, archaeological sites, and Earth observation closer to the public. In addition, interactive games and educational apps enabled children to explore issues such as climate change, air quality, and the protection of ecosystems. The interplay of science, technology, art, and environmental education highlighted new, accessible, and engaging ways to convey knowledge, giving visitors the opportunity not merely to observe but to actively participate in the discovery process.
For the Fotis Fotiadis Public Benefit Scientific and Cultural Foundation, the 30th anniversary of the Cyprus Museum of Natural History marks a significant milestone in a long-standing commitment to knowledge, education, and society. The anniversary festival reaffirmed the importance of creating experiences that inspire children to ask questions, seek answers, and discover the world around them. Because investing in the knowledge and environmental awareness of younger generations is an investment in a future with greater respect for nature and the precious heritage of our land.
