Georgia Loggitsi Karnessis – A Visionary’s Journey from Maritime Law to the International Robotics Olympiad
Completing her studies at the law school of Athens University and the City University of London, may have never imagined the role she would be called to play in organizing the 25th International Olympiad of Sports Robotics, which will take place in Athens, from January 15–20, 2024. A decade ago, it was science fiction to be involved in this field.
Georgia Loggitsi Karnessis is a very successful Αttorney at Law who runs the “Loggitsi & Associates Law Firm” and she is the Head of the Legal Department of the shipping company MPK Shipping INC. She has earned a great deal of experience working as a legal advisor to several Ministers of Shipping and Island Policy, multinational corporations in the maritime, trading, and commercial sectors, as well as ship-owning and ship-management companies in Greece, the United States, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines. She is now recognized and respected by the international legal, maritime, and banking communities. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters and the wife of a second-generation shipowner Marios P. Karnessis. She is a Doctoral candidate in Law at the University of Athens Law School, and as she continues to develop, she actively shows her love for both her family and society. The International Robotics Olympiad, which is the center of her passion, makes her even more unstoppable and resolute, despite the demands of her profession. She is a Greek woman role model, one of those rare individuals that society needs, and an excellent example of inspiration for all women.
Georgia, how did it all start?
When representatives of the Hellenic Robotic Sports Federation came to my office to ask for help with the enormous task of hosting the 25th International Robotics Olympiad in our country in 2024, that is when it all began. Despite my theoretical background, from the first day I was enthralled by the sports, scientific, and educational principles and I set out on this magnificent journey. As I immersed myself in supporting the newly established Federation, through dedication and commitment, I was offered the role of Legal Advisor. I think it is a great honor for Greece to be the host nation for the 25th International Robotics Olympiad, which will be supervised by the International Olympics Committee Robot-Sports based in Korea. This is a significant international event that has been taking place since 1992 and will involve over 2,500 representatives, children, and young adults between the ages of 6 to 18 and we have managed to host it for the first time on European soil in Greece. It is supervised by the International Robot Olympiad Committee (IROC) through an internationally accepted structured system of regulations that ensures its prestige. The fact that the Robotics Olympiad coincided with the establishment of the Federation challenged me since I sought to make a significant contribution to the creation of robotics departments in sports clubs and open up robotics to all children in towns and islands.
Do you have a vision for society that drives you to support such a significant event?
The need to encourage the innovation of young inventors and position our country at the forefront of robotics and technology on an international level is highlighted by the rapid technological development and the relentless pace of progress, particularly during a time when our country is experiencing ongoing crises brought on by severe climate change phenomena, wildfires, and other events that have an impact on society. We are presently in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, thus it is obvious that this sector represents the future. To keep up with global advancements, our country needs motivation and leadership.
Do you have support?
Support and collaboration are principles that I uphold and act as catalysts in all of my interactions, both personally and professionally. As a result, I provide them to my environment and seek them out to achieve a goal. I anticipate the participation of all parties in this effort for the long-term advancement of the ideal. We are still struggling with the complexities of the system in order to complete the organizational and implementation procedures, so the assistance of relevant Ministries and government bodies, as well as the entrepreneurial forces of our region, is deemed to be extremely necessary, especially three months before the international event takes place. In this effort, we must all stand together.
What is Sports Robotics?
Robotics is a scientific field that integrates mechanics, electronics, and computer science. In addition to being a hobby and a profession, the discipline of robotics now appears to find use as an educational tool, enabling children of all ages to access a wide range of skills, information, emotions, and technology. Particularly in sports robotics, two or more athletes or teams build, create, and program robots via competition.
Are there Robotics teams in schools or special tutoring centers?
Yes, some school robotics teams exist. The crucial factor is that students are more likely to fully absorb the knowledge offered by robotics when they approach it as an enjoyable activity. Of course, there are also specialized robotics tutoring centers where kids may release their inner explorers who thirst for information and knowledge. The Hellenic Federation of Robotics and Technological Sports was established with the intention of giving children and young adults simple access to sports robotics, even in the most remote locations, through organized sports clubs throughout Greece.
What are the expectations for the future?
This question probably doesn’t have an easy answer. We have a responsibility to solve the challenges we will face in the future. Since 1942, when young Isaac Asimov first identified the three rules of robotics in his short story “Runaround,” the debate over the moral implications of technological development, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence, has inextricably included a crucial philosophical issue. This can only be accomplished, in my opinion, by taking a normative approach to this exciting relationship. The ultimate objective is surely to enhance human-robot collaboration so that robots assist humans by carrying out jobs that are hazardous or difficult for humans to do, rather than to choose between humans and robots. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has already started, and it includes advancements in previously unconnected sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, genetics, and biotechnology. Serving human needs and enhancing quality of life should always be the main priorities, in my opinion. The biggest question is whether technology and its uses will ever be able to take the place of the human mind’s ability for critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and decision-making.
Thank you very much!
