Texas A&M Energy Institute: Summer School in Greece

    Over the past two days, we embarked on a series of day trips from Tripoli to explore field sites and connect with local stakeholders.      On Thursday, we traveled to Megalopolis , pausing en route to visit the Archaeological Museum of Tegea, where we deepened our understanding of Greek history and culture. In Megalopolis, we met with stakeholders, collaborating with them on the closure of lignite coal mines and the region’s transition to natural gas. During our discussions, they outlined their vision for the area and the challenges they face. They also guided us on a driving tour of the now-decommissioned lignite mines. That afternoon, we continued south to Kalamata and enjoyed a relaxing visit to the coastal village of Kardamyli , where we spent time by the beach. On Friday, we took a day trip to Sparta to visit a local olive farm. The owners had convened a group of farmers for a roundtable discussion focused on agricultural challenges and the needs...

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2025 Yassas (hello) from Greece! It's now our team's fourth day in the country. We fortunately had safe and smooth travels, having a quick layover in Toronto and no delays along the way. Landing in Athens, we spent our first day getting some rest, recovering from the jet lag, and enjoying delicious Greek food. The Central Athens Hotel had a truly breathtaking rooftop view of the Acropolis! The next day, we got to work at the Agricultural University of Athens. Associates of the university gave us a brief tour of the campus, along with demonstrations of facilities and projects such as a vertical farm, drones, and a water desalination process. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to attend lectures by professors at the university, discussing topics relevant to our project such as smart energy technologies in agriculture and energy challenges across the urban-rural divide in European regions. In the evening, we had the chance to explore around the city and, of cou...

This week, we prepared for our research trip to Greece. We reviewed data collection and analysis, survey and interview techniques, and consent and ethical considerations in the field. We conducted multiple exercises this week to pilot-test and refine surveys. We were tasked to create a sample survey and test it on graduate students at the Energy Institute. This was very helpful in practicing the necessary skills for conducting surveys when we are in Greece. It was also good practice to deal with refining and changing surveys to make them more palatable for participants.  We also participated in a Greek cultural sensitivity workshop in preparation for our trip. We reviewed appropriate greetings, attire, and typical Greek mannerisms and interactions. This certainly helped to get the group excited for our trip and learn a little bit more about the people we will be studying.  Izzys favorite part of the week was working on survey design. Noah enjoyed piloting surveys with the grad...

This week, we explored quantitative and qualitative data analysis. We examined mixed-method research by combining these techniques and learned how to generate and review themes. Additionally, we discussed system dynamics and practiced this using Stella Architect. This is all in preparation for conducting research in the field as we prepare for our research trip to Greece.  Our team members' favorite aspect of the week are as follows: Bella's favorite part of the week was interviewing grad students and practicing how to create a survey. Bilal's favorite part was creating the stock and flow diagrams using Stella Architect. Izzy's favorite part was learning how to conduct interviews. Eve's favorite part was also learning how to use Stella Architect. Noah's favorite part was learning about thematic analysis.

Today, we wrapped up week 2 of our research program. We spent a lot of time overviewing research papers and the past and present understanding of AI in agriculture. The most important thing to look for is the gap in literature reviews, which helps us to create our research question before we leave for Greece. Noah's favorite part was learning from Dr. Mishaal Ashkanani about his research regarding AI in agriculture and how to code an AI. Bella'a favorite part of the week was the process of creating research questions. Eve's favorite part of the week was learning the differences between qualitative and quantitative research questions. Bilal's favorite part was the political and economic (PEA) analysis and using systems thinking. Izzy's favorite part was linking farmers to policy activities and thinking about ways we can do that once we head to Greece. Thanks for following along on our journey!

Week 1 was a very informative introduction to the Energy Institute's Summer school. We started off this week understanding the history and previous works associated with Greece's Energy Crisis.  We then delved into ethical considerations and started training to prepare us for field work interactions with the local populations.  In conclusion, we ended the week by learning the basics of literature review and discussing how to create credible references for our research paper.