News
Maria João Antunes, a DigiMedia researcher, participated in the CISTI 25 conference – 20th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (ISEG, June 16-19, 2025), with a paper entitled: “Digital Health Literacy in the Elderly: Exploratory Study in Senior Universities in Portugal”.
This paper refers to the study carried out between October 2024 and February 2025 by a PhD student and invited researcher, Vanessa Pinto, during her study period at DigiMedia. This same conference also addressed the work of the PhD student and researcher Renata Frade: “Women In Technology: A Case Study In Science Communication and Knowledge Management”. During the conference, it was possible to establish contacts with other researchers and see how the academic community is appropriating AI, in different research contexts.
NEDD – Núcleo de Estudantes de Doutoramento do Digimedia (PhD Student Group of DigiMedia) has a new coordination. Carlos Queirós and Lucius Vinicius Filho, both PhD students in New Media, are the new coordinators of the NEDD.
The NEDD aims to support students and fellows of the DigiMedia and develop initiatives for the doctoral program students that belong to the the research unit.
The previous coordinators, Beatriz Vieite and Dalila Martins, have organized many seminars and workshops, with experts in different areas, and have created a manual for PhD students, with all the relevant information related to the PhD programs and scholarships.
The recent coordinator, Carlos Queirós and Lucius Filho, intend to continue the work carried out so far, and to strengthen the articulation between DigiMedia doctoral students, promoting the visibility of ongoing projects and enhancing collaboration networks inside and outside academia. In the short/medium term, it is intended to create regular moments of scientific sharing, mutual support and interaction with research groups and partner institutions.
For more information about NEDD click here.
Project n. 6 – WebPage to insert data collected from Immersive Web Environment
About the project
The aim of this project is to develop a web page to publish a video analysis model for Immersive Web Environments (IWE). This model emerged from the analysis of videos of 12th grade students in the science and technology course, who carried out an immersive experience in a Portuguese language class, in an AWI about José Saramago, available at: https://framevr.io/josesaramago.
The students, represented by avatars, carried out activities for 70 minutes in this AWI, about the life and work of the writer and Nobel Prize winner in Portuguese Literature. This experience was recorded in 46 videos of approximately one hour.
A data repository was developed in Microsoft Access and it was decided to develop a web page to disseminate the video analysis model for AWI, in which all researchers have access to complete information about the video analysis model, viewing of stored data and videos.
Participants
This project is coordinated by Maria de Jesus Ferreira (PhD student), with the participation of:
Beatriz Pinho (Industrial Engineering and Management)
Gabriel Azevedo (Multimedia and Communication Technologies)
What do you expect from participating in the initiative?
“Collaboration between students from different areas and backgrounds strengthening our knowledge and research” (Maria Ferreira)
More information about students@DigiMedia here.
More information about this edition here.
Francisco Regalado, a PhD student in Information and Communication in Digital Platforms at DigiMedia, DeCA, UA, participated in the ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences (IMX 2025), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 3 to 6, 2025.
During the conference, Francisco presented his full paper, “Co-creating with Older Adults is a Challenging Task! Lessons Learned from Real-Life Experiences and Challenges at an Ageing Lab” — available at https://doi.org/10.1145/3706370.3727865. The paper was co-authored with professors Ana Isabel Veloso and Carlos Santos.
The research explores a key part of Francisco’s thesis, based on insights gained through a series of activities conducted with older adults at the Laboratório do Envelhecimento (Ageing Lab). Based on these real-life experiences, the study presents a set of practical recommendations for effectively conducting co-design sessions with older participants.
Project n. 3 – Let’s talk about students@Digimedia#04
About the project
This project aims to gather and consolidate data and analyze results from the current cycle of students@Digimedia, identifying successes achieved and opportunities. The team is developing a framework of good practices based on their previous experience, and establishing guidelines and processes that ensure the continuity and evolution of the next editions of this initiative.
Participants
This project is coordinated by Raquel Magalhães Cabral (PhD student), with the participation of:
Gabriel Ribeira (MCTW / Campus-Digimedia)
Rita Gomes Programa Doutoral em Novos Media
Mariana Coronha (DigiMedia)
What do you expect from participating in the initiative?
“As we reflect on this journey, we realize how much the event has grown in its organization and the importance of this educational program for our entire community. As a group, we have noticed the importance of mixing our different experiences, which create a valuable networking for our careers. In the end, we see this project as a learning experience”.
More information about students@DigiMedia here.
More information about this edition here.
The Impact of AI tools on the development processes of digital products for the Web was discussed on an event that took place on June 9, 2025, organized by the DigiMedia team.
The event had two sessions:
A discussion about the role of universities in training students who will enter a job market where AI tools are already a reality. This session was moderated by the DigiMedia Coordinator, Nelson Zagalo, and had the participation of two invited speakers: Celso Martinho (Cloudflare) and Benjamin Junior (Sonae).
Then, the objectives and action plan for the Master in Communication and Web Technologies (MCTW), as it relates to AI tools, was presented and discussed, by professors who teach at MCTW.
This event was an opportunity for DigiMedia researchers and professors of Science and Communication Technology to reflect on the the growing impact of artificial intelligence on academia and on the future job market of our students.
Beatriz Vieite, a PhD student in New Media and researcher at DigiMedia and at CESAM, attended the PCST 2025 Conference in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK) from 27th to 29th May 2025. The conference is promoted by the Public Communication of Technology Network (PCST) and this year was organized by the University of Aberdeen.
Beatriz presented a poster and a 3-minute talk on Portuguese biological collections and their potential for science communication. This study mapped the existing natural history museums and biological collections in Portugal, as well as the challenges and opportunities from science communication and public engagement of science, according to museums and collections staff (curators, managers, museum educators).
This work is part of Beatriz’s PhD thesis, supervised by Pedro Beça (DigiMedia/DeCA), Ascensão Ravara (CESAM/DBio) and Marina R. Cunha (DBio).
Public Communication of Science and Technology
The Master in Communication and Web Technologies organized the open class “Launching and building digital products in an AI era”, on June 4th, with the participation of two former students of Multimedia and Communication Technologies: António Santos and Pedro Araújo, who became senior Web Developers and successful entrepreneurs, and creators of web products already available on the market.
The two invited speakers shared how they integrate AI tools throughout the design, development, and launch process of digital products.
This session was an opportunity for students to discover practical insights, tips, and tricks to supercharge their projects with AI.
Project n. 11 – Mapping the Landscape of Women’s Digital Health Literacy Interventions
About the project
The team is currently updating a systematic review focused on women’s digital health literacy interventions, comprehensively mapping how digital health tools and interventions are -directly or indirectly- supporting women’s health and ehealth knowledge and decision-making globally. This project serves dual purposes: it is a critical component of the lead researcher’s doctoral dissertation while also addressing an important gap in the published literature. Their goal is to produce two scholarly publications: a detailed review protocol paper outlining their methodological approach, and a comprehensive scoping review that synthesizes current evidence and identifies emerging trends.
Through this work, they aim to inform the development of more effective and accessible digital health literacy interventions that empower women in their health journeys. They are grateful for the opportunity that the students@digimedia initiative provides in fostering cross-level academic collaboration while advancing meaningful research.
Participants
This project is coordinated by Jennifer Bueno-Rocha (PhD Student), Dalila Martins (PhD Student) and Jo Matos (BSc. Biotechnology).
What do you expect from participating in the initiative?
“I hope to expand knowledge and drive discoveries in this area of research” (Jo)
“I hope to contribute my experience and learn new approaches that are useful for research” (Dalila)
“To create a space for the collective development of new research skills while contributing to the area of women’s health research” (Jennifer)
More information about students@DigiMedia here.
More information about this edition here.
The DigiMedia coordinator, Nelson Zagalo has written an opinion piece in the online newspaper Jornal de Notícias, entitled “Do ruído à afinidade”, where he reflects on the new era of social networks.
The article can be read here.
Project n. 10 – ACT2ParenTeens: Designing 2D serious games for engaging families in ACT-based coping skills
About the project
This project aims to create an engaging, gamified interface for the ACT2ParenTeens psychological intervention. In the early stages of the project, the team has focused on researching effective gamified features in digital mental health. Also, a compelling narrative was developed to make the platform relatable and motivating for young users and their parents.
Currently, key efforts include designing illustrations that visually support the narrative to resonate with the audience and developing a user-friendly interface that may be used to access psychological interventions effectively. Through ongoing collaboration and feedback, the project aims to merge psychological science with digital technology, providing innovative support for adolescent mental health in a format that resonates with them.
Participants
This project is coordinated by Paula Vagos, from the Department of education and Psychology and
William James Center for Research (UA) and Rita Santos (a DigiMedia researcher), with the participation of the students David Palricas (Master in Digital Game Development), Graziella Custódio (1st cycle degree in Multimedia and Communication Technologies), Laura Alves (Master in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology), Inês Amaral (1st cycle degree in Multimedia and Communication Technologies),
and Joaquim Martins (1st cycle degree in Computer and Informatics Engineering).
What do you expect from participating in the initiative?
“I believe that this will be a unique and enriching opportunity that will allow us to step out of our comfort zone and explore new areas, exchange experiences, increase our knowledge and collaborate as a team with people from different areas of expertise. I am certain that participating in this project will significantly contribute to both our personal and professional growth” (Inês Amaral)
“It has been a time of great learning, of sharing knowledge and ideas. Discovering, in a practical way, how different areas can work together towards a project and, thus, acquiring knowledge that goes far beyond that of the classroom” (Laura Alves)
More information about students@DigiMedia here.
More information about this edition here.
Project n. 14 – Comunicação Audiovisual do Projeto de Investigação AlmeidAR / Audiovisual Communication of the Research Project AlmeidAR
This project is coordinated by Cátia Silva, a DigiMedia PhD student, with the participation of Inês Barbosa (Master’s student in Design), Constança Parracho and Leonor Rodrigues (students in Multimedia and Communication Technologies).
The project’s research team is producing a video about the AlmeidAR application, aiming to make it accessible and engaging to a broad audience, thereby contributing to the demystification of science communication in scientific research projects.
What do they expect from participating in the initiative?
“To deepen my knowledge of scientific communication, based on the prototype developed during my doctorate, collaborating with undergraduate students with different perspectives” (Cátia Silva).
“I hope to deepen my audiovisual knowledge, establishing a deeper connection with research and autonomous work incorporated in the area of Communication Sciences and Technologies” (Leonor Rodrigues).
“I hope to apply the knowledge I acquired throughout the course in practical and collaborative contexts, while developing my technical and creative skills” (Constança Parracho).
More information about students@DigiMedia here.
More information about this edition here.
