News and Events

Approximately 50 social mediators from Portugal’s Programa Escolhas, a long-standing national governmental initiative dedicated to promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities, participated in two webinars organised by the Algowatch project on 8th May. The initiative, titled “AI I think – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Critical Thinking,” was part of the national ‘7 Dias com os Media’ event and was held in partnership with the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) and the Portugal Media Lab mission structure. The workshops, … Read More

The Algowatch project, focusing on expertise and literacy in the age of Artificial Intelligence, was prominently featured at the annual Library Association of Ireland and CILIP Ireland Joint Annual Conference 2025. Aphra Kerr, professor of Digital Media and Communication at University College Dublin and co-Principal Investigator on the ADAPT project and at the ADAPT Research Centre, delivered an invited keynote address on the subject on 11th April in Cork City. Professor Kerr’s address, titled “Expertise and Literacy in the AI … Read More

The Voices Festival’s Exhibition Hall featured a dedicated Media Information Literacy (MIL) corner, where consortium members engaged with visitors and showcased their projects, including the Algowatch project, which presented a video teaser of Eunopia, the Algowatch project’s serious game, developed by the Irish partner team led by Aphra Kerr, offering attendees a glimpse into the game’s immersive world. Set in the distant future on the planet EUNOPE, the game explores a society deeply influenced by AI and algorithms, where these … Read More

DKMK, the Croatian partner in the Algowatch project, conducted a dynamic 90-minute workshop at the Voices Festival, attracting approximately 30 participants with a focus on Algo-AI literacy. Facilitated by Tamara Kvas and Vitor Tomé, the workshop utilized educational materials developed by the Algowatch team, featuring a range of interactive activities. The session included an eye-opening introductory activity, a lively lecture and discussion on AI-related disinformation and algorithmic principles, an interactive quiz session, and a demonstration of the Eunopia game. The … Read More

The Algowatch project was further highlighted at the Voices Festival in Zagreb through presentations by media information literacy (MIL) expert Divina Frau-Meigs in two key round table discussions. During the “Artificial Intelligence, a Double-Edged Sword for Truth” roundtable, Frau-Meigs emphasized the necessity of AI competence-based resources, such as those developed in the Algowatch project, to build trust among citizens and empower them to navigate AI systems. She demonstrated how MIL serves as a crucial asset for informed citizenship and free … Read More

At the Voices Festival, held in Zagreb from February 27th to March 1st, the Algowatch project was prominently featured during the round table discussion, “Media Information Literacy making of: what does it take to succeed against all odds?” Organized and moderated by Savoir Devenir, the event aimed to provide insights to media information literacy (MIL) practitioners and interested participants on the challenges and strategies for successful MIL project implementation. Aphra Kerr, representing Algowatch, joined other European MIL actors to present … Read More

The Algowatch project team held a significant and productive in-person meeting on 26th and 27th February 2025. Hosted at the Catholic University of Croatia in Zagreb, the two-day session provided a crucial opportunity for the team to review progress and plan future activities across the project’s various work packages. The meeting, held at the Catholic University of Croatia, included discussions on the first day that focused on updates regarding planning and deliverables, as well as reviewing quiz production and related … Read More

Over 100 school librarians at the national conference “Culture and Challenges of New Media” in Zagreb were presented with the Algowatch project’s activities, focusing on the critical role of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) in media content creation and consumption. Researcher Igor Kanižaj from DKMK emphasized the project’s concepts, competencies, and activities, stressing the profound impact of algorithms and AI on online experiences. “They play a crucial role in shaping our online experiences, influencing our opinions and the information we … Read More

Educators from five Croatian secondary schools participated in a pioneering training session on algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) on January 17th, marking a significant step in the Algowatch project’s mission to empower students and teachers in the digital age. The intensive training, held in Zagreb, was led by researcher and lead trainer Igor Kanižaj, who equipped teachers with essential competencies, objectives, exercises, and activities designed to demystify algorithms and AI. The interactive session focused on practical application, with immediate feedback … Read More

The Algowatch project was prominently featured among three sense-making practices at the 17th MediaEd Forum, held online on 10 January 2025, by the Media Education Lab in the USA, specifically within the panel dedicated to the EDMO Guidelines for Effective Media Literacy Initiatives. Vitor Tomé highlighted the project’s crucial role in enhancing media literacy strategies. Alongside Algowatch, other initiatives were demonstrated as exemplary practices in the field, including TeaMLit, presented by Chloé Pété from the Media and Learning Association, and … Read More

The Algowatch project was the central theme of the programme “90 Seconds of Science” on the Portuguese public radio station RDP1, aired on 9 January 2025. Using accessible language, researcher Vitor Tomé explained, in 90 seconds (the duration of the programme), what the project entails and its objectives. The episode is now available on the RDP1 website. “90 Seconds of Science,” created in 2016 and broadcast daily since 1 November 2023, aims to showcase the scientific work being done in … Read More

English teachers from across Croatia gathered at a national conference on December 20th in Split, where they were introduced to the Algowatch project and its resources, marking a significant step in AI literacy education. Researcher Igor Kanižaj from DKMK presented the Algowatch activities, sparking considerable interest among the teachers, many of whom were receiving their first exposure to algorithms and AI education. Participants showed particular enthusiasm for the tools developed within the project. The event highlighted the growing need for … Read More

The Algowatch team member Aphra Kerr, from Algowatch at University College Dublin, participated in the recently held webinar “Games for Good: Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship” on 11 December 2024. The session explored the educational potential of games, emphasising their role in teaching media literacy and fostering digital citizenship. Kerr highlighted how interactive experiences can promote empathy and understanding while addressing critical social issues. Other speakers included Linas Skirius from the Civic Resilience Initiative, who introduced “The Disinformation Challenge Game,” … Read More

“Media, Citizenship, and Democracy in the Context of AI and Algorithms” was the theme of a session led by researcher Vitor Tomé on 10 December 2024, at Cacilhas-Tejo Secondary School in Almada, south of Lisbon, Portugal. Organised as part of the school’s Citizenship projects, coordinated by teacher Nuno Pousinho, the session engaged 11th and 12th-grade students in discussions about the importance of democracy and the right to vote, misinformation, and the impacts of algorithms. Students explored new tools developed using … Read More

The Algowatch project was one of the projects highlighted in the presentation that researcher Vitor Tomé presented on December 5th at the National Conference of the Association of Educational Services Agencies (AESA), which took place in Orlando, Florida, USA. The 50-minute intervention started with the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025, which will be launched in January, but then highlighted three projects based at the Center for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES), as examples of fieldwork carried out … Read More

Algowatch researcher Aphra Kerr from UCD was one of two guests on the panel discussing AI through a media literacy lens at the Media Literacy Ireland annual conference 2024, held at the Foundry in Dublin, hosted by Google, on 4 December 2024. Moderated by Eileen Culloty, Co-Chair of MLI, the panel featured a captivating discussion that also included Dónal Mulligan from Dublin City University. The panel explored the essential skills and knowledge needed to fully harness the potential of AI, … Read More

The Algowatch project team convened for a face-to-face meeting at Maynooth University in Ireland on 2 and 3 December 2024, bringing together ten members to discuss key updates and progress. The agenda began with a welcome and an overview of the project, including the interim report and financials. The team reviewed the development of the video game, training workshops, and recent deliverables from WP3, followed by a playtest demo of the game. Discussions also focused on testing in schools, educational … Read More

Resources produced by the Algowatch project team, including quizzes, eye openers, and a video game, were validated in the Azores from 18 to 20 November 2024, during sessions with journalists and librarians. This initiative followed a collaboration with the Protocol Centre for Professional Training for Journalists, the regional delegation of the Journalists’ Union in the Azores, and the Public Library and Regional Archive of Ponta Delgada. Approximately 20 participants engaged in the sessions, facilitating an in-depth analysis of the project’s … Read More