“Underwater Life as Art. Underwater Life as Knowledge” – How Science Can Emerge From Observation, Creativity, and a Personal Perspective on the Natural World | 18 February 2026

The Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences of the University of Cyprus are co-organising an open event entitled “Underwater Life as Art. Underwater Life as Knowledge”, which will take place on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, from 16:30 to 19:30, at the premises of the Faculty of Engineering (Building POL10, Room B101 “Andreas Alexandrou”).

The keynote speaker is the underwater photographer and author, Athanasios (Sakis) Lazaridis, who, through striking images and personal experiences, will present how science can be born from observation, creativity, and a personal way of viewing the natural world. His talk will reveal underwater life as a fascinating meeting point of art and science, bringing to light marine species found in Cyprus, as well as invasive species inhabiting its waters. At the same time, it will highlight the power of underwater photography as a tool for scientific observation, documentation, and knowledge generation.

As part of the event, the audience will also have the opportunity to visit a photography exhibition featuring selected works by Mr Lazaridis.

The program will begin with brief welcoming remarks by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neophytou, and the Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Professor Epameinondas Leontidis, followed by an introductory talk on the biological richness of Cyprus by Professor Spyros Sfenthourakis of the Department of Biological Sciences.

The presentation of the keynote speaker and the moderation of the discussion will be carried out by Professor Despo Fatta-Kassinou, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Registration is open until 17 February 2026 via the link.

Keynote Speaker Biography

Athanasios (Sakis) Lazaridis was born in the coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus, in 1962. Since 1984, he has been living in Norway, with the exception of the summer months, which he spends in Cyprus and Greece. From an early age, he developed a deep love for the sea and the underwater world. He began diving in 1977 at the Limassol Nautical Club, at just 15 years old, and remains an active diver to this day.

After completing his military service in Cyprus, he received professional diver training in Scotland and worked for several years as a diver in various countries, carrying out underwater operations. Later in his career, he pursued studies at Swedish universities in the fields of education, psychology, and the Spanish language. He currently works as an instructor at private colleges in Norway.

His enduring passion for the sea and marine life led him to underwater photography, and for the past 20 years he has been documenting marine life in the Greek and Scandinavian seas. With numerous distinctions in underwater photography competitions, he has amassed a rich photographic archive of the underwater worlds of the Greek and Cypriot seas.

His photographs depicting marine life have been published in several journalistic and scientific articles and magazines, including National Geographic.

In collaboration with Greek ichthyologist Dimitris Pafras, he co-authored the book “The Magical World of Seahorses”, a publication unique of its kind in Cyprus and Greece. All photographs of seahorses featured in the book were taken in Cyprus.

Sakis Lazaridis has also authored the books “The Dusky Mediterranean Grouper”, which presents the Mediterranean grouper through striking photography, “The Marine Jewels of Cyprus”, another unique publication focusing on nudibranchs and other gastropods, as well as the children’s colouring book “Underwater Wonders.”