Zacharias C. Zacharia is a Professor of Science Education and director of the “Research in Science and Technology Education Group” (ReSciTEG) at the University of Cyprus. He completed a B.A. in Education at the University of Cyprus (Cyprus), a B.A. in Physics at Rutgers University – New Brunswick (USA), and his graduate studies (M.A., M.Sc., M.Phil and PhD) in Science Education at Columbia University, New York (USA). He coordinated several projects concerning science and technology funded by the European Commission. In particular, Prof. Dr. Zacharia researched topics focusing on, among others, the design and development of computer supported learning environments in science, the development and assessment of science curriculum, the training of teachers for designing and implementing technology enhanced science teaching materials, Living Labs (open innovation ecosystems), physical and virtual laboratory experimentation, modeling, science (including STEM) curriculum development and assessment, RRI, conceptual understanding, teacher training and professional development, Open Schooling, educational evaluation and informal science education. Zacharias was an Associate Editor for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and he is enlisted in the “World Ranking Top 2% Scientists” list, created by Stanford University.
orcid: 0000-0002-6381-0962
Marios Papaevripidou holds a B.A. in Educational Sciences-Primary Education (University of Cyprus), a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Learning in Natural Sciences (Department of Educational Sciences, University of Cyprus). In the past, he worked as a Primary School Teacher at local schools in Cyprus and as a Research Fellow at the Department of Educational Sciences at University of Cyprus. Since 2004, he holds a Specialist Teaching Fellow of Science Education position at the Department of Educational Sciences at University of Cyprus. He teaches science methods courses and technology integration science courses, and supervises the design and implementation of science lessons of undergraduate students (primary and pre-primary education) in the context of the school practicum program. He served as a member of the scientific and organizing committee of international conferences organized at the University of Cyprus (e.g., EARLI, ESERA, JURE, GIREP, CBLIS), as the chair of the JURE of EARLI conference 2013, and is a member of international learning and teaching associations (e.g., EARLI, ESERA, AERA, NARST). His research interests entail the use of modeling as both a competence, a learning tool, and an instructional approach in science teaching and learning, and also the design and research validation of computer-supported curriculum materials to foster teachers' professional development in STEAM education. He participated (and is currently participating) in several European funded research projects, presented the outcomes of his research in local and international conferences, and published papers and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and books.
orcid: 0000-0002-2008-1464
Tasos Hovardas is a Senior Research Associate of ReSciTEG at the Department of Education, University of Cyprus. He has a Degree in Biology, a MSc in Environmental Biology and a PhD in Environmental Education from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His expertise includes model-based inquiry, quantitative and qualitative methods in assessing educational intervention, teacher training. He has worked in 30 research projects, he has published 40 papers in citation index journals and he has reviewed papers for more than 30 citation index journals. He served as Editor-in-Chief for Society & Natural Resources (2017-2020) and as Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (2017-2020). He coordinates the Special Interest Group (SIG) of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction on inquiry learning (EARLI; 2021-2023).
orcid: 0000-0003-1776-2493
Yvoni Pavlou holds a Bachelor's degree in Education (University of Cyprus), and an M.A. and Ph.D. in "Learning in Natural Sciences" (University of Cyprus). She has been working as a teaching assistant and researcher at ReSciTEG since 2015. She has participated in various European projects (e.g., SNAC Polar Star, LfE, Digi-Science, SALL) and has received a Fulbright Visiting Scholar grant (University at Albany, New York, U.S.). Her research interests focus on the development of learning environments using new technologies, the professional development of teachers for the design and implementation of activities that follow contemporary pedagogical approaches (e.g., inquiry-based learning, STE(A)M, living labs, open schooling) in formal and non-formal learning settings, and experimentation in real and virtual environments for school-aged and preschool children.
orcid: 0000-0002-4893-1846
Kyriaki Vakkou
Ph.D.
Special Scientist
Kyriaki Vakkou holds a B.Sc. in Physics (University of Cyprus, 2019), a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in “Learning in Natural Sciences” (University of Cyprus, 2021 and 2025). She has been working as a teaching and research assistant in the “Research in Science and Technology Education Group” (ReSciTEG) at the University of Cyprus since 2020. She was involved in a variety of national and EU-funded projects (e.g., GINOBOT, Bridges, LfE). Her research interests focus on STEM education and educational robotics for fostering students’ and teachers’ digital competences and literacy, as well as on the training of teachers to design and implement STEM lessons through innovative approaches such as inquiry-based learning, the engineering design process and project-based learning.
orcid: 0000-0003-4935-1867
Theodoros Karafyllidis
Ph.D. Candidate
Special Scientist
Theodoros Karafyllidis is a Ph.D. candidate in "Learning in Natural Sciences" at the University of Cyprus. He holds a B.Sc. in Physics (2019) and an M.Sc. in "Didactics in Physics and Educational Technology" (2021) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Currently serving as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Education at the University of Cyprus and holding the position of Special Research Scientist in ReSciTEG since 2022, Theodoros is actively involved in a variety of EU-funded projects, including SEISMO-Lab and AI4EDU. His research interests focus on Artificial Intelligence in Education and the development and evaluation of scaffolding tools aiming to support the development of undergraduate students' inquiry and experimental skills.
orcid: 0009-0004-3040-146X
Marilena Savva
Ph.D.
Special Scientist
Marilena Savva holds a PhD in Education from Durham University, United Kingdom, where her doctoral dissertation focused on Educational Technology. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Cyprus and a Master’s degree in Inclusion and Special Education from the University of Birmingham. Since 2020, she has been working as a Special Scientist in the Research in Science and Technology Education Group (ReSciTEG), participating in the research projects SALL (Schools As Living Labs) and SpicE (Special Education STEAM Academy). Her research interests focus on the evaluation and effective use of digital technologies for learning in schools, understanding how children’s thinking and reasoning develop, and how teachers can be supported in enhancing the quality of their teaching.
Evridiki Erakleous has completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Cyprus, earning a bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences – Primary Education. As of September 2024, she began pursuing her postgraduate studies in the program “Learning in Natural Sciences” at the University of Cyprus. Concurrently, she began working as a teaching assistant and researcher at ReSciTEG. She participates in several national and European projects (e.g. TELEMAT).
Chloe Savvidou completed her studies at the University of Cyprus with a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences – Primary Education. Since September 2024, she has been pursuing a Master's degree in "Learning in Natural Sciences" and working as a teaching assistant and research scientist in the ReSciTEG research group, participating in various European programs (e.g TeLeMat).
Marina Constantinou Epifaniou is a Biologist and holds postgraduate degrees in the sciences and arts, including advanced studies in Cellular Pathology, Science Education, and Teaching in Higher Education, along with a scholarship awarded Ph.D. in Science Education Research and Development from British universities. Along with Postdoc positions, she has taught in tertiary institutions both in Cyprus and the UK, contributes to curriculum development, and participates in national and European projects. An Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and member of the scientific committee for established science education conferences, her research interests are continuously expanding, with a current focus on scientific literacy, laboratory based inquiry learning, educational technology and professional development in secondary and tertiary science education.
Last Updated on April 21, 2026
