Dr. Vassilis PAPPAS, founding member of Institute of Demographic Research (IDEM), was Professor of Spatial Planning and Informatics at the Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, University of Patras (2002 – 2023). Previous academic appointment: Assistant Professor and Director of Laboratory of Computer Applications in Spatial Planning, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Greece (1998 – 2002). As a pioneer of the Greek GIS society, since 1982, he has been coordinating and participating in numerous national and international research and consulting projects dealing with the implementation of information technology in spatial analysis and planning. He has worked, as an individual consultant, in many National State Organizations and in private sector as a GIS expert and spatial planner. He has also been reviewer and evaluator in the IMPACT-GIS, INFO2000 and City of Tomorrow EU programs, end expert specialist in Phare, Phare/Obnova programs for the re-organization of the Statistical Institutes in the Western Balkan (Montenegro, BiH). Member of HellasGIS scientific society (President 2009-12) and Hellenic Cartographic Society (Vice President 2016 - 2023). His authorial work includes numerous papers in scientific journals, conference proceedings, book edits, etc.