Celebrating the International Week of Science and Peace

Where knowledge, collaboration, and compassion shape a brighter tomorrow.

The International Week of Science and Peace (November 10–16, 2025) held special significance in today’s world, shaken by conflict and human suffering. War around us reminded us that peace is fragile, precious, and never guaranteed. This week called on all of us to use science, collaboration, and shared humanity as tools for stability, understanding, and hope. At Greek Women in STEM (GWiS), these values guide our work to build a more connected, inclusive, and resilient STEM community.

A cornerstone of the week was World Science Day for Peace and Development, celebrated on November 10 with the 2025 theme “Trust, Transformation and Tomorrow.” This theme speaks to the heart of what we believe: trust grows when knowledge is shared openly, transformation happens when people feel supported, and tomorrow becomes brighter when communities invest in one another. This mirrors our own mission: through science communication, mentoring, partnerships, and initiatives that amplify diverse voices, we work to create a STEM ecosystem where everyone, regardless of background, can access guidance, opportunity, and networks. Peace and progress are strengthened when people can learn, participate, and lead. Every mentoring conversation, shared resource, and connection is a small but powerful step toward a future where more people feel seen, heard, and equipped to grow.

I couldn’t complete this note without connecting it, as the VP for Social Impact, to the International Volunteer Day that we celebrate on December 5, themed “Diverse volunteers, stronger communities.” Just as the International Week of Science and Peace reminds us that collective action and shared knowledge can build a more just and peaceful world, volunteerism shows how individuals can turn that vision into reality. 

Volunteering has been a cornerstone of my life since I was 18 — from art and culture, children’s health, and poverty alleviation, to now empowering women in STEM through GWiS. It has taught me that change doesn’t start with grand gestures; it begins when people care enough to act, to lift others, and to build something better together. Volunteers often stand on the front lines during crises, quietly holding communities together, bridging generations, and creating hope where it is needed most.

At GWiS, we celebrate this spirit wholeheartedly. Our community is built on volunteers — our core members, mentors, contributors, partners, and supporters — who believe that equal opportunity is a right, not a privilege. Their passion strengthens our mission and demonstrates that when people lift each other up, both science and society move closer to peace. 

For me, these celebrations are a reminder of why I keep showing up: every act of giving, no matter how small, helps build the world I wished I had growing up, and the world I am determined to build for my daughter and younger generations.