mara.contardo – Transform4Europe

AI and Society: Researchers’ Commitment to Positive Transformation

“Save the date!!

The T4EU Alliance is committed to building bridges and contributing to the professional growth of researchers and PhD students. To this purpose, a series of matchmaking events will be organised by the T4EU partner universities over the current project phase.

The first Matchmaking Event and Doctoral Seminar organized by JMU will take place in Saint-Etienne, France, on November 13th and 14th. The topic of this event will be: “AI and Society: Researchers’ Commitment to Positive Transformation.”

This event is dedicated to researchers, young researchers, and PhD students who would like to meet up and network within the field of Artificial Intelligence.

On the program: panel discussions, workshops on AI, laboratory visits, and conferences. The program will be finalized and communicated by the end of September.

People interested in receiving the detailed program should register here.”

First T4EU Bootcamp in Bulgaria

The team of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Smart cities and regions Environmental transformation Lab invites you to participate in the first T4EU Bootcamp that will take place in the city of Burgas, Bulgaria from 10^th to 12^th September 2024.

For the University of Trieste, students of Master’s degrees and PhDs are eligible to apply.
There are 3 open positions, and it is possible to apply until 5 July by filling this form.

programme

Languages & Intercultural Competencies

Saarland University has just opened registration for two intensive online courses to be held over the summer, one in French (10-19/07) and one in English (12-23/08): look at the programme.

english

French

The courses are open to alliance students and enrolment is free of charge with the participants being given 3CFU.

Students from University of Trieste students who wish to participate in the courses and obtain recognition of the relevant CFUs must consult and follow the guidelines.
Registration until 23/06

apply now

‘(CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY’ Summer Course in Kaunas – Lithuania

Transform4Europe invites you to participate in the summer course on August 27 to 29 organized by Vytautas Magnus University.
This year we offer the ‘(CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY’ course, which will focus on shaping conditions for the happiness of oneself, others, and us all as society in times of challenges and transformations. Participants will have an opportunity to explore topics on how to recognize, create and maintain happiness on personal, group and societal levels. Starting with the search for their inner happiness, participants will move forward to explore the ways how to support others in their search for happiness and create and sustain a happy environment within their social circles.The form of the ‘(CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY’ will be a hackathon – an event, typically lasting several days, where people come together to collaborate to solve a problem or identify new opportunities and to learn from each other.

programme

The inspiring talks and inputs from experts will present an in-depth theoretical analysis of happiness and practical experiences from different academic fields (psychology, philosophy, economy, neuroscience, anthropology, political sciences, etc.).

During the 3-day course, activities will also include a visit to the VMU Botanical Garden for relaxation practice, a creative walk in the Freedom Avenue, folk dances, and discussions.
Participants will take part in group activities and will present a final group proposal of a “happiness formula” to a panel of judges at the end of the hackathon. During the leisure time, the summer course attendees will be encouraged to experience vibrant Kaunas streets, traditional Lithuanian
cuisine, and rich cultural heritage.

The ‘(CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY’ course will provide students with the best experiences to develop the skills necessary to understand their own happiness, happiness of other people and us all as a society, and to identify new opportunities to stay happy in times of challenges.

All participants having completed the course will be awarded certificates for 3 ECTS, which will be recognized across the entire T4EU alliance.
Note that travel and accommodation expenses will be funded by the T4EU Initiative, so please contact the T4EU office at your home university.
Without further ado, we invite you to register for the ‘(CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY’ summer course and experience everything planned yourself!

Application deadline for UniTS students is June 21

Apply now

Round Table – Science Communication and Open Science

On May 21st, from 5.30 to 7 pm at Sala Bobi Bazlen, Palazzo Gopcevich, Via G. Rossini 4, Trieste

This roundtable discussion aims to investigates the strategies and mechanisms crucial for enhancing public engagement in citizen science, science communication, and open science initiatives.

The round table will be divided into two sessions, one in Italian and one in English. In the first one, the discussion will focus on the key themes of the meeting (public engagement/citizen science, science communication and open science), exploring the most significant issues. In the second part, the focus will be on best practices of citizen science with the experiences of some early research careers and on the role of public engagement concerning stakeholder involvement to stimulate a debate involving the public.

Recognizing the pivotal role early research careers play in shaping the future of science and fostering public confidence in science issues, the discussion aims to identify and discuss best practices according to their specific problems and needs.

Citizen science, science communication, and open science are fundamental tools for engaging the public in scientific activities, promoting transparency, and developing collaborations between citizens and the scientific world. In this respect, early research careers play a central role in shaping the future of science and promoting public knowledge and trust on these themes.

Moderator:

Dr. Alessandro Carrieri, T4EU-T4ERI projects, University of Trieste

Institutional greetings:

Prof. Alberto Pallavicini, Rector Delegate for T4EU

Part 1 – Public engagement, science communication, open science and citizen science.

Prof. Stefano Martellos, University of Trieste

Prof. Andrea Cerroni, University of Milano-Bicocca

Dr. Federica Sgorbissa, Medialab Sissa

Part 2 – Best practices for fostering public engagement and citizen science

Prof. Tullia Catalan, University of Trieste

Dr, Anna Krekic, Castello di San Giusto and Risiera di San Sabba, Municipality of Trieste

Dr. Chiara Vitillo, The University of Siena

Dr. Katia Rupel, University of Trieste

‘The Garden of the (In)visible’ travelling exhibition is coming to Trieste

The travelling exhibition ‘The Garden of the (In)visible’ travelling exhibition is coming to Trieste after stops in Koper and Herpelje.

It will be open from 20th to 26th May from 6 p.m. at the Rogers Station, Riva Grumula 14 – Trieste and from 27th May to 9th June at the University of Trieste, Central Building, Ground Floor right wing.

PROGRAMME

PROGRAMMA IN ITALIANO

During the stay in our University there will be various moments and appointments to explore the issues of borders and migration.

At Stazione Rogers

Monday 20th May, 6.00 pm: Inauguration. The exhibition will be presented by Department of Humanities Studies and T4EU members and students. Music by Ismail Swati and Aftab Ali

Tuesday 21st May, 5.00 pm: Khandwala and dignity. Presentation of issues relating to the Silos of Trieste and the living conditions in it. With the participation of the Silos volunteers and those who live there

At Androna Campo Marzio 10

Thursday, 23rd May, 5.30 pm: The Documentary “Agàpe” by Velania A. Mesay e Tomi Mellina Bares. Aula B. In collaboration with Associazione Casa del Cinema di Trieste. Following the projection, at 19:00 in Stazione Rogers, there will be a talk with the two directors of the documentary, open also to the audience to participate.

Friday, 24th May, 12.00 am: Library of the border (event for secondary schools)

The exhibition is part of anthropological research on the theme of migration carried out by the University of Primorska Koper and the University of Trieste, as part of the activities of T4EU – Transform4EuropeAlliance. Working collaboratively across borders, lecturers and students travelled between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy where they found and collected objects left by migrants in the woods or at the edges of towns.

Friday, 24th May, 6.00 pm: Migration: past, present and future. We will explore the different ways in which migration has influenced over time the social and cultural dynamics of Trieste. With the participation of prof. Roberta Altin and Katja Horbat Virloget – Liliana Vocci e Silvia Cassano (testimonies of the exodus) and the University delle Liberetà.

These things are abandoned after long and difficult journeys on foot by people from various backgrounds in Asia and Africa.

They are both everyday objects used for eating, sleeping, protecting oneself from the elements and caring for oneself as well as artefacts that reveal an intimate and spiritual sphere.

Casting these things aside and abandoning them leaves a record of a passage towards a new stage in life, a sign of rebirth.

The piles of discarded things at the edge of the woods or by the roadside that we ignore or treat as rubbish lead us towards a fundamental political and moral question of our times.

Only a small number of these objects have been selected for inclusion in the exhibition ‘In the garden of the (In)visible’.

The travelling exhibition attempts to stage encounters between individuals crossing borders and individuals living at borders.

Ultimately, it seeks to ask a fundamental question: what do we (not) want to see?

How to make science more engaging and sociable?

The Vitautas Magnus University invites academic staff, researchers and PhD students of Transform4Europe universities to participate in the Training & Experiences Sharing Session “How to make science more engaging and sociable?”.

The online training will be held on April 15, 9.00–15.45 CET (MS TEAMS).

The session consists of two parts.

The first part is dedicated to citizen science and will focus on the presentation of its concept and main principles, limitations and problems that could be encountered during citizen sciences projects. The trainers also will share their exemplary experiences in implementing citizen science projects or related activities in different countries and universities.

The second part is dedicated to improving science communication competencies. The program comprises theoretical and practical approaches, covering topics such as the complexity of science communication, ethics in the field, navigating visual misinformation, and utilizing social media tools for effective communication. Led by experts from various institutions, the program aims to enhance participants’ skills in conveying scientific information and navigating the challenges of communication in today’s diverse media landscape.

The reminder about upcoming The Training & Experiences Sharing Session together with login reference will be sent to all registered participants approximately 3–5 days before the event. The Training & Experiences Sharing Session will be recorded.

registration form

SCHEDULE

PART I: CITIZEN SCIENCE

Moderated by Tomas Berkmanas, Associate Professor Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

9.00–9.45 CET

Citizen Science in Practice: Ecosystem Approach | Eglė Butkevičienė, Professor Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania

9.45–10.15 CET

Exploring the Role of Private Natural History Collections in Citizen Science: Opportunities and Challenges | Veljo Runnel, Citizen Science Expert | University of Tartu, Estonia

10.15–10.45 CET

Transferable Experiences and Lessons Learnt from Citizen Science Project on Wildlife Conservation | Elena Buzan, Professor University of Primorska, Slovenia

10.45–11.00 CET

Citizen Science Q & A

11.00–12.00 CET

Lunch Break

PART II: SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Moderated by Austė Aleksandravičiūtė-Šviažienė, Science Communication Specialist, Lecturer | Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

12.00–12.45 CET

The Complexity of Science Communication | Austė Aleksandravičiūtė-Šviažienė, Science Communication Specialist, Lecturer |Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

This lecture aims to delve into the intricacies of science communication, exploring the multifaceted challenges and nuances inherent in conveying scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

12.45–13.30 CET

Ethics of Science Communication | Tomaž Grušovnik, Associate Professor

University of Primorska, Slovenia

The lecture will introduce the audience to the basics of ethical reflection and explain important virtues in science communication: truthfulness, objectivity, courage, etc.

13.30–13.45 CET

Break

13.45–14.45 CET

Navigating the Landscape of Visual Misinformation (Lecture/Seminar) | Kert Viiart, Associate Professor, Graphic Designer and Visual Artist |Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonia

As images and videos continue to be potent tools for disseminating information, the responsibility to promote accuracy and truth in visual communication becomes imperative in navigating the complex landscape of contemporary media.

14.45–15.45 CET

Social Media Tools for Science Communication (Workshop) | Karin Marinič, Digital Communications Editor & Amy Simmons, Assistant Researcher | University of Primorska, Slovenia

This workshop will discuss practical ways to create engaging and accessible science communication. Lecturers will share tips and tricks for effective & creative communication on social media.

First face-to-face “Common Heritage and Multilingualism” experts meeting in Trieste

The University of Trieste, leader of WP7 on Common Heritage and Multilingualism of the T4EU Alliance, held ita first face-to-face WP7 experts meeting in Trieste on 26^th February 2024.

About 30 international guests participated from all 10 partner universities.

The meeting was an occasion to reflect on our common heritage and what we can do to keep our distinctive features, while trying to find a common T4EU identity. Discussions included the definition of commonly used terms like “multilingual” and “intercultural”, and what our Alliance can do to promote them.

Our partners provided a lot of excellent food for thought, inputs, and ideas to develop our partnership stronger and deeper.

Our next step will be the fine-tuning and implementation of what was discussed, with the objective of making cultural heritage and multilingualism two flagship elements of our Alliance!

Beyond Borders T4EU week

It is a great pleasure for us to announce the launch of our 2^nd Transform4Europe Week, co-organised with our Slovenian neighbours, the University of Primorska, from 20^th to 24^th May 2024!

The title of this year’s edition is Beyond Borders, as a tribute to the decade-long collaboration between our two institutions, which are now bound by an even stronger tie: the Transform4Europe Alliance.

The T4EU week will start and take place in Trieste on 20^th and 21^st May, and will then move to Koper on 22^nd, where it will see its conclusion on 24^th May.

We will welcome participants from all 10 partner universities with a rich and varied programme, that will be fine-tuned and published over the next weeks. Stay tuned to get all the updates!

For the time being, we have put together a course offer for students of all study levels (BA, MA, PhD).

Take a look at the course catalogue and make your choice!

Each course description provides details about:

max number of students
target group/s (BA, MA, PhD)
granted ECTSs

Students can only attend one course, but are requested to list three options in order of preference.

Each partner university can send up to 15 students, who will be selected internally based on Erasmus+ criteria and notified accordingly, once the selection procedure is finished.

Courses will be delivered following a BIP hybrid scheme (Blended Intensive Programme), including some online and 20 face-to-face teaching hours each. ECTS credits will be granted by the University of Primorska.

Use our application form and don’t miss out the chance to experience unity and a real sense of belonging beyond borders!

Application And Logistics Guidelines

Hurry up: the deadline to apply is 15^th March 2024!”