Department of Biology, University of Crete

The Department of Biology was initiated in 1981, when the Governing Council of the University invited Profs. F.C. Kafatos and V. Nafpaktitis to join the faculty, on joint appointments (with Harvard University and University of Southern California, respectively). The first two professors organized the new Department along modern lines, into two Sections reflecting broad levels of biological organization rather than traditional disciplines (Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, etc): Section A included Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and Section B included Biology of Organisms, Populations, Environment and Marine Biology. Another initiative, novel for Greece, was to add a section devoted to applications of the Life Sciences: Section C included Biotechnology and Applied Biology.

In terms of subject matter, the original plan envisaged emphasis on selected areas of Biology in which a critical mass of internationally competitive faculty could be attracted, and which offered the possibility for the new Department to play a pioneering role in the Greek University system. Among these focal areas were Molecular Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Marine Biology, Applied Biology and Biotechnology. This emphasis was reinforced by the creation of two Research Institutes, independent of but in close collaboration with the Department of Biology. These institutes (IMBB and IMBC) offered important research opportunities for faculty members in the respective areas of interest, and made possible the foundation of an organized Graduate Programme. As the Department grew, it expanded its coverage in the areas of Biochemistry, Physiology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Microbiology, thus permitting the development of breadth as well as depth in the curriculum and the research programme.

Voutes Campus
PS 70013 Heraklion Crete

Phone number

2810 394403

Fax

2810 394404

Information

Undergraduate
maraveya@uoc.gr Phone: 2810 394403, Fax: 2810 394404

Postgraduate

bervan@uoc.gr Phone: 2810 394402, Fax: 2810 394404

Website:

https://www.biology.uoc.gr/ind...

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