On May 16, 2026, the Rethymno Municipal Garden hosted an open event by the Faculty of Letters of the University of Crete, connecting the local community with the humanities. Around 70 professors and members of the academic community joined forces to present the work of the Faculty through brief talks, music, and poetry.

A key highlight of the event was the address by the Vice-Rector for Development, International Relations, and Outreaching of the University of Crete and Principal Investigator of TALOS, Prof. Melina Tamiolaki. In her speech, she emphasized the ongoing transformation of the humanities and the ways in which these disciplines evolve to respond effectively to contemporary global challenges.

In this context, TALOS AI4SSH was represented by the Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities and Classics at the University of Crete and Director of the TALOS Lab, Maria Papadopoulou, along with the project’s Research Assistants, Lefteris Zamboulakis, Rafail Giannadakis, and Tonia Lourentzaki.

During their presentations, the team members shared with the audience their experience from participating and working within the TALOS project. Furthermore, they highlighted the new academic fields they explore, explaining how they combine with the traditional disciplines nurtured by the Faculty, while also focusing on what they have gained from the specific research subject they are working on.

This successful public outreach initiative proved that research extends far beyond university walls, actively interacting with society and shaping the future of Humanities in Crete.