Greek archaeologist in Britain to establish Mediterranean research centre
12 June 2009
Athens News Agency
Greek researcher, Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, Lecturer in Classical and Archaeological Studies at the University of Kent in the UK has received 300,000 euros of a potential 4.2 million euros from the Los Angeles-based Cotsen Corporation to establish a Mediterranean conservation, research and education centre in Greece.
Through the centre, Kyriakidis aims to set up a visiting scholars’ programme, workshops and lectures on archaeological site management and planning in the Mediterranean region, as well as developing collaborations with relevant institutions in this field worldwide. He also intends that the initiative should become a benchmark institution, conducting and disseminating research on the general conservation, management and preservation of archaeological sites.
The 300,000-euro award is the first part of a 600,000-euro commitment for the pilot phase of the project. If successful in achieving both the programmatic goals and financial matching requirements of the project, the Centre is eligible to receive a total of 4.2 million euros over the next eight years.
International accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers are supporting the project by auditing the end-of-year accounts pro bono. Philanthropist Lloyd Cotsen for many years has promoted and supported education and culture, as well as research in disciplines such as archaeology. He is the President and CEO of Cotsen Institute and Cotsen Corporation, while he has also served as Neutrogena Corp. president. Among others, he is a partner of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. In 2002, the Institute of Archaeology of UCLA was named after him in recognition of his contribution.