The HPDST Programme

The History, Philosophy and Didactics of Science Programme (HPDST) is a Programme of the Institute for Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation in collaboration with the Laboratory of Science Education, Epistemology and Educational Technology (ASEL) of the University of Athens, Greece.

HPDST originates from two initially complementary teams, the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology team and the team for the Didactics of Science, merged into one single team. The merge was brought through the acknowledgement that there is a strong need for science to be reestablished in society and engage its stakeholders. This goal is to be accomplished through state of the art research using an interdisciplinary approach. Since 2000, HPDST has developed into one of the most promising research teams in Southeastern Europe, as can be certified by the following achievements:

The team has published two peer reviewed scientific Journals (an international and a Greek), a regional Newsletter, more than 30 books (in Greek, English, French and Chinese), has co-edited four special issues of international Journals and has published about 250 articles. It has completed 13 research projects with Greek and European partners, has created a prominent scientific exhibition, has organised the collections of a Science Museum, has organized 14 Symposia and Conferences, organizes a summer seminar, has created a state-of-the-art website and a has established an important international network.

The HPDST team submitted the project proposal Hephaestus (Hellenic Philosophy, History and Environmental Science Teaching Under Scrutiny) which was granted funding from FP7 for a three year period. Subsequently, the project proposals Dacalbo (Digital archive concerning alchemy in Byzantium and in Greek-speaking communities of the Ottoman Empire) and NARSES (Nature and Religion in South Eastern European Space) were co‐financed by the European Union and Greek national funds for a three year period.Nike Air Penny 1