Worldwide reference in transmedia, fandom, pop culture, entertainment, media literacy studies, Dr. Henry Jenkins will launch a new version of his website: Pop Junctions: Reflections on Entertainment, Pop Culture, Activism, Media Literacy, Fandom and More.

Renata Frade, DigiMedia’s PhD student, is the new Dr. Henry Jenkins’s website editor. She’ll be in charge of editing and creating contents related to Literature, Activism, Feminism, Civic Imagination, Technology, Digital Humanities, Ciberculture, HCI. Renata Frade is developing a doctoral investigation about women in tech.

The new site will have a more diverse coverage and will feature an incredible team of contributors. New content will be published soon: http://henryjenkins.org/blog/2022/10/15/new-editors

Henry Jenkins is the Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, Cinematic Arts and Education at the University of Southern California. He arrived at USC in Fall 2009 after spending more than a decade as the Director of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program and the Peter de Florez Professor of Humanities. He is the author and/or editor of twenty books on various aspects of media and popular culture, including Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture, Hop on Pop: The Politics and Pleasures of Popular Culture, From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, Spreadable Media: Creating Meaning and Value in a Networked Culture, and By Any Media Necessary: The New Youth Activism. His most recent books are Participatory Culture: Interviews (based on material originally published on this blog), Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination: Case Studies of Creative Social Change, and Comics and Stuff. He is currently writing a book on changes in children’s culture and media during the post-World War II era. He has written for Technology Review, Computer Games, Salon, and The Huffington Post.

THE CONFERENCE

The 2022 edition of the International Conference on Graphics and Interaction – ICGI’2022 – will be held on November 3 and 4, 2022 at Aveiro, as a joint organization between the University of Aveiro (UA), and the Eurographics Portuguese Chapter (GPCG). DigiMedia and IEETA are the two research units from the University of Aveiro involved in the organization ICGI’2022.

Several DigiMedia researchers belong to the organization team:

Conference chairs: Nelson Zagalo and Mário Vairinhos

Web Chairs: Bernardo Marques e Pedro Reisinho

ICGI’2022 aims to bring together researchers, teachers, and professionals in the areas of Computer Graphics, Image Processing, Computer Vision and Human-Computer Interaction, allowing the dissemination of concluded or ongoing work, as well as the exchange of experiences between the academic, industrial, and end-user communities.

More information on the conference available HERE.

David Oliveira, DigiMedia researcher, integrates the multidisciplinary team of the EPIBOOST project, along with CESAM, iBiMED and CIDTFF researchers.

The European project EPIBOOST – BOOSING excellence in environmental EPIgenetics funded by the Horizon Europe Program, under the transversal pillar Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence – Twinning action, formally started on October 1st and, on the next 25th and 26th, the project kick-off meeting will take place online. This is a capacity building project of the University of Aveiro (widening partner).

The EPIBOOST project envisages a solid capacitation strategy towards tackling the challenges to the recently proposed uptake of epigenomics by Environmental Assessment frameworks. Capacitation activities cover for 5 specific objectives that regard the enhancement of the research skills and research profile in the field of environmental epigenetics of the widening partner; the support to raising talent in the field among young EU researchers; the leveraging of science management and administrative support, as well as the Consortium network, to strengthen its capacity for new research and innovation ventures.

As a Horizon Europe CSA – Twinning, EPIBOOST has the overarching aim of stimulating EU research excellence through capacity building of the widening coordinator for the strengthening of a Consortium in efficiently tackling the challenges to the proposed incorporation of epigenomics into regulatory Environmental Risk Assessment frameworks. The European project EPIBOOST has as its object the area of environmental epigenetics through a strategic partnership of UAveiro with the University of Ghent, Belgium, and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), from Spain (advanced partners). The project is coordinated by researcher Joana Pereira from the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and has a funding of about 1.5 M€.

More information on the project available HERE

The Media Innovation Circle#14 took place on October 26, both on-site and online, with a talk by Cristiano Max Pinheiro & Marta Rosecler Bez, University of Feevale, Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil,  followed by a participated discussion on the topic “Jogos Digitais, Saúde Digital e Criatividade”, moderated by Nelson Zagalo (DigiMedia/UA).

This event was organised in articulation with the Master in Digital Games Development (MDJD).

More information available here.

Cristiano Max is graduated in Advertising, Master in Social Communication and Doctor in Social Communication, with the thesis “Notes for an approach between digital games and communication”. He was Coordinator of the Courses of Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising (2007-2014) and founded the Undergraduate Course in Digital Games at Feevale University. He was partner and founder of “Engenho de Ideias” Advertising Agency and Ludema Game Studio developer. He is currently Coordinator of the Master in Creative Industry at FEEVALE University in Novo Hamburgo/RS, is Coordinator of the Laboratory of Creativity and founder of the Ibero-American Interdisciplinary Research Network in Creative Economy. He represents the University in the work groups of the Secretariat of Culture, and in the Secretariat of Innovation of the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

Marta Rosecler Bez has a PhD in Computer Science in Education from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2013) with the thesis “Model for the use of technological tools in the teaching of Medicine”. Master in Computer Science from PUC-RS (2001). She is a professor at Feevale University in the courses of Informatics, Medicine and in the Professional Master in Creative Industry. She has experience in teaching health permeated by technologies, working mainly on the following topics: technologies in education, simulators, digital games and technology in health. He is a fellow of Productive Desen. Tec. and Innovative Extension of CNPq – Level 2 with the project New technologies applied to education in health and Virtual Reality in health. She works in research and technological development projects in partnership with health organizations, such as clinics and hospitals. She is a mentor in initiatives that promote entrepreneurship in the Technological Park of Feevale University, advising the development of startups. She participates in the Creative Industry Research Group in the research line Creative Content, where she works on projects involving teaching methodologies, digital games and recently in the area of Public Policy.

Abstract

Cristiano Max presents the games sector in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, bringing the current cluster project that aims the economic and social strengthening, through actions that stimulate the generation of intellectual capital in the sector, the value chain, the competitive capacity and innovation of companies and actors involved in the ecosystem, aligned with the Strategic Planning of the Sector for 2030 developed in the GAMERS program of RS.
Marta Bez presents initiatives for the development and use of Virtual Reality in Physiotherapy. Games were developed by an interdisciplinary team where the active participation of a physiotherapist allowed the development of a fully parameterizable game environment for trunk control exercises for wheelchair users. In a new initiative, a hardware and game environment for respiratory physiotherapy exercises for children in the Intensive Care Unit is being developed. The game interface will be controlled by the child’s breath.

Maria Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Bárbara Cleto, DigiMedia PhD Students, organised the event “3D Digital e Ambientes Web Imersivos” in collaboration with ANPRI (Associação Nacional de Professores de Informática).

This event was aimed at researchers, students and teachers. Some DigiMedia members, Mário Vairinhos and Carlos Santos, were invited researchers and experts. 20 secondary school students presented their awarded projects. 120 teachers participated in the event in a training dimension.

Pedro Beça, DigiMedia member, was the invited researcher of the CIIMAR “CAFÉ COM CIÊNCIA” SEMINAR SERIES that took place on 19th October, 2022.

Abstract:

A reconexão com a natureza é importante para a adoção de comportamentos ambientais sustentáveis e, devido à sua narrativa interativa e imersiva, os jogos digitais surgem como uma abordagem inovadora na promoção do conhecimento sobre a preservação ambiental e a conservação da biodiversidade.

No projeto Gamers4Nature foram desenvolvidas e implementadas um conjunto de estratégias capazes de sensibilizar os jovens estudantes para a importância da preservação ambiental e da biodiversidade, através da criação de jogos digitais e de proporcionar oportunidades de co-aprendizagem e partilha de conhecimentos com base na aprendizagem experimental em ambientes exteriores. Uma destas estratégias é a Gamers4Nature (G4N) Toolkit to Game Design, um artefacto físico e digital concebido para ser utilizado por não especialistas em sessões de desenvolvimento de jogos, contextualizados em questões de proteção da natureza e preservação do ambiente.

The 2nd edition of the project students@DigiMedia was launched on 12th October in an open session for the all community of Communication Sciences and Technologies.

students@DigiMedia #02

There are 21 proposals, which can be fully analised in the link below
https://tinyurl.com/studentsdigimedia02

Deadline for the students to apply for their chosen proposals: 26/10/2022
https://tinyurl.com/sdm02survey

After the success of the 1st edition, that took place from March to July, with 13 concluded proposals involving 31 students and 24 DigiMedia researchers, students@DigiMedia #2 brings more researchers, varied topics and proposals, reconsidered timeline, but the same and even strengthened conviction of the relevance of the initiative.

Catarina Lelis, DigiMedia member, is the author of “The Impact Plan: Rethinking Today, Remaking Tomorrow, Designing a Better World” which was released in Amsterdam by BIS Publishers. The book was endorsed by Don Norman.

“The Impact Plan provides you with powerful, yet easy-to-use tools that guide
you through the hero’s journey, so you can successfully attack
some of the world’s major problems, while still being yourself,
an ordinary person in extraordinary times.”

Don Norman
Author of Design of Everyday Things and Design for a Better World

Abstract

Imagine being able to determine the impact of a project on the onset. That’s where The Impact Plan comes in. This book provides a definitive yet flexible framework that will guide creative and innovation-led professionals to make impact-oriented decisions, helping them determine which will have the most significant impact on their careers, businesses, or even on humanity as a whole.

When having to choose between several project briefs, individuals or teams must consider the budget, the strength of the plan, the time frame, the relationship with the client, and the essence of the project itself. More often than not, this involves difficult decisions and anxious moments. And without a supporting framework, we are often unaware of the full ramifications of a new project, namely how it can become a more or less impactful, meaningful and pleasurable challenge in the short, mid and long run.
Initially formulated with designers in mind, The Impact Plan evolved to help industry and academia professionals (of any area of knowledge) cycle through potential contexts and influences, to determine the impact these may have on both the involved individuals and humanity. Moving through the fundamentals of design thinking and decision-making, The Impact Plan gives the reader a playful structure for the craft of thinking and planning, and for prioritising project-based activities and experiences.
About the author

Catarina Lelis, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Sciences and Technologies of Communication at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. She was the co-founder of both a publishing start-up and the Portuguese Association for Innovation and Creativity in Organisations. In 2013, she was awarded an Entrepreneurship Prize in Silicon Valley, US. She is the author of four design-related software user manuals. She has been published extensively for her work on brand design, dynamic visual identities, user/consumer experience, and impact-oriented ecologies.

DigiMedia is official partner of the 2022 ICEM Conference. The annual Conference of the International Council for Educational Media (ICEM) is a meeting place for researchers and practitioners with a common ground in educational media, educational technology and technology enhanced learning. ICEM is one of the oldest associations in the field, being established by European ministries of education and UNESCO in 1950.

Despite that, several DigiMedia researchers – Carlos Santos, David Oliveira, Filipe T. Moreira, and Luís Pedro – are part of the Scientific Committee of the ICEM Conference.

In 2022 the Conference will take place at Polytechnic of Santarém, Portugal from 12 – 14 October 2022, and this year is dedicated to the main theme “Moving on towards ‘new normal’ in education”.

For more info about the conference: https://icem2022.ipsantarem.pt/

DigiMedia researcher, Filipe T. Moreira, was invited to join a panel of experts at the event “Matemática com vida: Different Views on Computational Thinking” which took place at the University of Aveiro on 24^th of September and 1^st of October.

In a hybrid format, the event closing panel included Filipe T. Moreira (DigiMedia member and Professor at Polytechnic of Guarda), Carlos Albuquerque (Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon), João Torres (CCTIC/CIEF ESE/Polytechnic of Setúbal) and José Miguel Sousa (Regional Secretariat of Education, Science and Technology of the Autonomous Region of Madeira). This panel entitled “Computational Thinking in Education: what sense does it make and what skills does it promote?” was moderated by Margarida Pinheiro (CIDTFF, ISCA-UA, University of Aveiro).

The panel aimed to contribute to the debate on this topic, clarifying the sense it makes to talk about Computational Thinking in Mathematics, its transferability to other disciplines, as well as the skills it promotes in the development of more autonomous and digitally critical citizens.

This Meeting was part of the ‘Labs Convida’ section of the larger initiative ‘Labs Com Vida’, taking advantage of the synergies of lem@tic – Mathematics Education Laboratory – and LabDCT – Science and Technology Didactics Laboratory, functional structures of the Research Center for Didactics and Technology in Training of Trainers of the University of Aveiro (CIDTFF).

For more information about the event: Informações – Matemática Com Vida – Diferentes olhares sobre o Pensamento Computacional (ua.pt)