Achievements

STEAM AMBASSADORS LEAD EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION

Thalasat: A Youth-Led SpaceTech Solution for Mediterranean Marine Protection

đź“Ť Nicosia, Cyprus | 22 May 2025

We are proud to celebrate one of the most visionary achievements of our certified STEAM Ambassadors: the launch of Thalasat — a student-led, satellite-powered marine monitoring system — at the prestigious VeneTo Stars Challenge 2025 in Italy.

Developed entirely by a team of Cypriot youth trained through STEMFREAK’s advanced STEAM education programme, Thalasat uses AI, Copernicus Earth Observation data, Galileo/EGNOS geolocation tools, and ECMWF climate forecasting to detect and visualise threats to the Mediterranean marine environment. The system supports real-time decision-making in areas such as biodiversity loss, marine heatwaves, coastal erosion, and water quality degradation.

“Thalasat is more than a tech project—it’s a bold statement about what young minds can achieve when trusted to lead real-world innovation,”
— Dr. Andri Vrioni, Founder of STEMFREAK

🚀 Meet the Thalasat Dream Team

Each member of this dynamic team is a current or graduate STEMFREAK student and part of our STEAM Ambassador Certification Scheme:

  • Christos Charalambous (19) – CEO, Space & Strategy
    → STEMFREAK Graduate | Specialist in satellite applications and space policy
  • Andreas Leonidou (19) – COO, AI & Algorithms
    → Software Developer | Focus on robotics, ML, and AI ethics
  • Chara Siekkeri (19) – Head of Sustainability
    → Environmental Physicist | Passionate about ocean literacy and policy
  • Michalis Chatzittofi (16) – CTO, R&D
    → Certified STEAM Ambassador | IoT and systems innovation
  • Stefanos Siathas (15) – Head Data Scientist
    → Certified STEAM Ambassador | Data engineering and predictive modelling

🌍 From Cyprus to Veneto: Innovation in Action

As a pilot project, Thalasat will be tested in the Veneto Region of Italy, where lagoon ecosystems and coastal industries are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The system provides:

âś… Early detection of marine heatwaves
âś… AI-driven coastal erosion modelling
âś… Real-time water quality tracking
âś… Public dashboards for policy, education, and civic action

“Thalasat embodies everything we stand for at STEMFREAK—project-based learning, civic innovation, and cross-disciplinary action. It’s education with purpose.”
— Dr. Andri Vrioni, Director of Educational Innovation

🏅 Why It Matters

This achievement demonstrates the global impact potential of the STEMFREAK 5-Level STEAM Pathway and our e-portfolio-based certification model. These young innovators have applied AI, space science, and sustainability thinking to develop a scalable solution for one of the Mediterranean’s most urgent challenges — proving that the next generation isn’t just ready for the future… they’re building it.