From 5 to 7 June 2026, CARDIMED participated in the Great Exhibition Road Festival, one of London’s leading celebrations of science, technology, creativity and innovation. Throughout the festival weekend, the Imperial College London team hosted an interactive stand in the World Science Zone alongside colleagues from the Sanitary Engineering Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens and the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems.
A highlight of the opening day was the Great Exhibition Road Festival VIP reception. During the event, Professor Evina Katsou and Professor Simos Malamis presented the CARDIMED EU project to Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, and Lord Patrick Vallance, the UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. The meeting provided an important opportunity to communicate CARDIMED’s ambitions and demonstrate the relevance of its work to wider European and UK priorities concerning climate adaptation, sustainability and research-led innovation.
The VIP reception complemented the festival’s broader programme of public engagement, which continued throughout the weekend at the CARDIMED stand. Children, families, students and professionals visited the stand to learn how Nature-Based Solutions can help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Mediterranean communities. Discussions covered climate adaptation, flooding, water scarcity, biodiversity protection and sustainable urban development.
The stand introduced visitors to approaches such as urban green spaces, wetland restoration, sustainable drainage systems and ecosystem-based water management. It also demonstrated how digital tools can support the planning, assessment and monitoring of interventions, helping decision-makers understand their potential environmental and social benefits.
The festival offered an excellent opportunity to present CARDIMED’s wider objectives and explain how the project brings together researchers, public authorities, practitioners and local communities to develop, test and evaluate Nature-Based Solutions across Mediterranean demonstration areas.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the event was the strong level of public interest. Visitors asked thoughtful questions, shared experiences from their own communities and expressed enthusiasm for practical solutions that combine environmental protection with improved quality of life.
CARDIMED’s participation in the Great Exhibition Road Festival provided a valuable platform to showcase the project’s work, strengthen collaboration between partners and engage both the public and senior policymakers in discussions about building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
