![\"Greek](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eratosthenes-earth-greek-students.jpg\")
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Greek students measuring the Earth. Credit: PANEKFE<\/p>\n
On Friday, March 20, 2026, the day of the vernal equinox, students across Greece<\/a> will participate in a nationwide educational initiative that revives one of the most remarkable experiments in scientific history pertaining to Eratosthenes\u2019 calculation of the Earth\u2019s radius and circumference.<\/p>\n The 2026 initiative for students, titled \u201cEratosthenes\u2019 Experiment for Calculating the Earth\u2019s Radius,\u201d is organized by the Panhellenic Association of Science Laboratory Center Managers (PANEKFE<\/a>) in Greece in collaboration with the Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications & Remote Sensing (IAASARS) of the National Observatory of Athens, and the Greek ESERO office. The project is fully supported by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.<\/p>\n The vernal equinox<\/a> marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. On this specific day, the sun is positioned directly above the Earth\u2019s equator, making day and night nearly equal in length. These unique astronomical conditions provide the perfect opportunity to replicate the historic experiment conducted by Eratosthenes more than 2,200 years ago.<\/p>\n As part of the project, primary and secondary school groups will conduct measurements within their schoolyards. By collaborating with schools in various regions of the country and comparing their data, students will work together to recalculate the Earth\u2019s dimensions.<\/p>\n This initiative creatively bridges physics, mathematics, geography, astronomy, history, and information technology. It fosters experiential, collaborative, and discovery-based learning, while highlighting the vital role of experimentation as a cornerstone of the modern educational process.<\/p>\n Eratosthenes of Cyrene, studied by students in Greece<\/p>\n