SITA – Istituto di Ricerche sulla Popolazione e le Politiche Sociali

AI4Debunk Mini-symposium: AI and Disinformation – Technology, Media Literacy, and Policy

Giovedì 9 aprile 2026, h. 11.30-13.30
ONLINE

The AI4Debunk Mini-Symposium: AI and Disinformation – Technology, Media Literacy, and Policy will explore the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to the fight against disinformation. The event focuses on how technological innovation, educational approaches, and policy frameworks can work together to strengthen society’s resilience to misleading and manipulative information in the digital environment.

During the symposium, participants will have the opportunity to engage with key themes such as:
• The role of artificial intelligence in the creation and detection of disinformation
• Human-in-the-loop approaches and their limitations in AI systems
• Emerging challenges in AI-driven content moderation
• The importance of critical thinking and media literacy in the age of AI
• European initiatives and collaborative strategies to address online misinformation
• The intersection of technology, media literacy, and policy in tackling disinformation

The event aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and reflection, bringing together perspectives from technology, research, education, and policy to discuss how coordinated efforts can contribute to a more trustworthy and resilient information ecosystem.

Learn more about the project: AI4Debunk.

Co-creation events – NewWorkTech Project

As part of the project NewWorkTech – From the margins to the masses: Standard practices and innovative uses of technology in augmenting different abilities of people in the world of work – CNR-IRPPS held four co-creation events (both in-person and online) between September and October 2025 to gather opinions and ideas on the various technological interaction needs of people with disabilities in the workplace. The events were organized and moderated by Tiziana Guzzo and Maria Chiara Caschera and involved various stakeholders, including people with disabilities (intellectual, visual, physical, and hearing), associations, educators, technology experts, and policymakers.

The European NewWorkTech project aims to explore how technology can improve the job skills of people with disabilities (sensory, physical, and intellectual). The main objective is to translate this knowledge into practical results: technologically advanced solutions, new theoretical frameworks, ethical issues, policy recommendations, and practical knowledge accessible to the community at large.

The first co-creation event took place on September 23, 2025, involving people with intellectual disabilities, operators from AIPD (Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome), operators and representatives of ANFFAS (Italian Association of People with Intellectual and/or Relational Disabilities) and Séfora Impresa Sociale Anffas, the Disability Manager of the Bank of Italy, the CNR Prevention and Protection Unit, and the University of Copenhagen.

A group of workers with visual impairments was involved in the second event on September 25, 2025, with local representatives of UICI (Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted), technology experts from S. Alessio Margherita di Savoia (Center for Visual Disability Services), the CNR Prevention and Protection Unit, the “Augusto Romagnoli” State Institute in Rome for the specialization of educators for the visually impaired, and the Disability Manager of the Bank of Italy.

The third co-creation event, held on October 7, 2025, was attended by people with physical disabilities, FISH Lazio (Italian Federation for the Rights of People with Disabilities and Families), the Center for Autonomy and Self-Determination, the University of Copenhagen, the CNR Prevention and Protection Unit, and the Italian National Institute of Health (National Center for Innovative Technologies in Public Health – TISP).

Finally, the fourth co-creation event took place on October 16, 2025, involving several people with hearing impairments, the Kairos Association, the ISTC-CNR Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, the Disability Manager of the Bank of Italy, and the CNR Prevention and Protection Unit.

During the events, through a participatory design process “with and for” people with disabilities, participants provided concrete ideas, needs, and proposals on the use, limitations, and challenges of technology in the world of work.

The feedback received will contribute to the definition of guidelines for the development of more accessible and inclusive technologies that truly respond to the needs expressed by users, in compliance with the fundamental principle: “Nothing about us without us.”

To keep up to date with project news, you can follow our social media channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, and BlueSky.

keepcaring Co-design Event

February 24, 2025
In person at: National Research Council (Central Library) – Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7 – 00185 Rome, Italy / Online via the Microsoft Teams Platform

On Monday, February 24, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the co-design event for the European project KEEPCARING will be held online on the Teams platform and in person at the “G. Marconi” Library of the CNR headquarters.

As part of the KEEPCARING project, the co-design event aims to involve hospital managers, doctors, nurses, and students (with experience in operating rooms) in exchanging opinions, ideas, and suggestions for the design of services and features for the online Change Management Platform. This management platform is designed to influence organizational models and support healthcare decision-makers in addressing stress and burnout among healthcare workers.

You can participate in the event by registering at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/KEEPCARING_evento_co-design .

TRAINING – WINBLUE

On February 25, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM, the training session “Promoting gender equality in blue economy companies and organizations” will be held at the Sala Misiti of CNR-IRPPS, organized by the European project WINBLUE.

The training aims to raise awareness and enhance the sharing of knowledge and best practices on gender equality in the blue economy, in order to strengthen the capacity to address challenges and overcome obstacles that prevent individuals from accessing professional development opportunities in a balanced manner regardless of gender. Interactive sessions will be held during the event.

The training is intended for individuals working in businesses, NGOs, research institutions, universities, and students over 18 years of age who work in or are interested in the Blue Economy sector.

Participants in the training will receive a certificate.

It will be possible to participate in the workshop both in person and remotely.

Registration is required to participate: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/WINBLUE-TRAINING

WINBLUE-training-program-draft-002 Download

NewWorkTech

The NewWorkTech project aims to generate advanced knowledge on how emerging technologies can enhance the working capacities of people with diverse abilities. This knowledge will provide the basis for developing innovative technological solutions, advanced theoretical models, a solid ethical framework, strategic recommendations for public policies, and practical tools designed for effective dissemination and application.

The general objectives of NewWorkTech are:

to improve inclusion and accessibility in the labor market for the 15-20% of the population with disabilities or long-term functional limitations, who are currently significantly underemployed;
to explore the broader application potential of technologies currently used to overcome functional limitations, highlighting their potential to improve work performance not only for people with disabilities but for everyone.

Funded by the EU within the Horizon Europe framework program, the project is coordinated by Tampere University (Finland) and is carried out in collaboration with 9 interdisciplinary partners from various European countries: University of Oulu (Finland), Autism Foundation Finland (Finland), University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Institute for the Blind and Partially Sighted (Denmark), National Research Council (Italy), Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome (Italy), University of Warwick (United Kingdom), European Platform for Rehabilitation (Belgium), Be My Eyes (Denmark).

NewWorkTech project activities will last 36 months, from 2024-12-01 to 2027-11-30.

Participants

Maria Chiara Caschera - Co-lead

Other SITA projects

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KEEPCARING

KEEPCARING

KEEPCARING aims to (re)build the well-being and resilience of healthcare personnel in EU hospitals through the co-creation of a multifaceted, non-digital, digital, and AI-supported approach to prevent burnout among healthcare workers at the individual, team, and organizational levels.
The project consortium is interdisciplinary and multisectoral, and will (1) study the stress and stressors experienced by healthcare workers in their specific context, (2) evaluate digital and non-digital solutions to reduce stress at the individual and group levels, (3) study job crafting among healthcare workers as a method to reduce stress, and (4) finally, develop a change management platform that, using AI, helps hospital managers and surgical staff choose the most suitable solutions for their context.
All solutions and the portal will be developed in co-creation with end users, including 2 professional associations from the project consortium.
Furthermore, the partners and advisory committee draw on legal and ethical expertise to ensure privacy and ethics in such a sensitive context.
KEEPCARING will provide solutions to improve the well-being of healthcare professionals and students, thereby reducing burnout and improving the number of healthcare students entering the workforce. Our organizational solutions will enable individuals and employers to understand and act on stressful situations in their specific environment.
The KEEPCARING consortium is a collaboration of 20 academic and non-academic organizations in 11 European countries, bringing together leading experts to improve the resilience and well-being of healthcare workers and students. The consortium combines extensive experience in healthcare innovation, psychology, and AI with a particular focus on reducing workplace stress and improving resilience through digital interventions and team-based solutions.
The consortium consists of the following members:
Amsterdam University Medical Centers at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (coordinator)
University of Limerick, Ireland
Nuromedia GmbH, Germany
Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
European Connected Health Alliance Group (ECHAlliance), Ireland
Chino Srl, Italy
The University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Zealand University, Denmark
Inland Norway University, Norway
The National Research Council of Italy, Italy
University of Coimbra, Portugal
University of Tartu, Estonia
University of York, United Kingdom
Healthy Mind, France
NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
The National Hospital of Denmark, Denmark
European Federation of Nurses Associations, Belgium
European Hospital and Healthcare Federation, Belgium
European Union of Medical Specialists, Belgium

The KEEPCARING project activities last 48 months, from 01/07/2024 to 30/06/2028.

Website

Participants

Maria Chiara Caschera - principal investigator

Tiziana Guzzo - co-principal investigator

Other SITA projects

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SMILE CITY

SMILE CITY

SMILE CITY provides realistic circular systemic solutions to support the evolution toward a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free, and circular economy by 2050.
The project brings together a consortium of 35 public and private partners from twelve European and non-European countries and is funded by the Horizon Europe framework program.
The main objective of SMILE CITY is to integrate innovative systemic solutions into up to 100 km of cycle paths and implement 20 e-bike charging stations, developed using various types of recycled urban waste: construction materials, end-of-life (EoL) tires, and end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles. The planned innovations include the creation of e-bike charging stations made from prefabricated recycled concrete elements and photovoltaic panels also produced with recycled materials, and the installation of recycled rubber molded products for urban furniture, such as rubber bollards, lane dividers, and rubberized asphalt, thereby contributing to increased sustainability and safety.
SMILE CITY will therefore assemble the state-of-the-art technology from the various value chains involved to implement circular systemic solutions in 7 different EU and non-EU countries, supporting the transition toward a regenerative, inclusive, and circular economy at the local and regional scale across Europe, thus fostering interregional and cross-border cooperation.

WEBSITE

Participants

Arianna D'Ulizia - Project Manager

Alessia D'Andrea - Co-Manager

Other SITA projects

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AI4Debunk

AI4Debunk

AI4Debunk aims to develop four human-centered AI interfaces to provide citizens with a comprehensive set of fact-checking resources to navigate the digital media landscape more consciously and make informed decisions.
Funded by the European Union (EU) through the Horizon Europe program, the project brings together an interdisciplinary consortium of 13 partner institutions from eight countries: University of Latvia (Latvia) – project coordinator, EURACTIV, Pilot4DEV, University of Mons (Belgium), Internews Ukraine (Ukraine), CNR, University of Florence (Italy), Barcelona Supercomputing Center (Spain), DOTSOFT (Greece), University of Galway, F6S Innovation (Ireland), Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, INNoVaTiVe POWER (Netherlands)

The impacts

In recent years, the proliferation of disinformation has become a major issue throughout Europe. The pervasive use of the Internet and social media has facilitated the spread of fake news and propaganda, heavily influencing public opinion, as demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic and, more recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this context, a synergistic combination of human efforts and sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) tools is the only sustainable way to effectively combat the “infodemic” and the battle of narratives we are facing.
By promoting transparency, accuracy, and responsible engagement with online platforms, AI4Debunk strives to foster critical thinking and strengthen the fabric of civil society.

Website

Participants

Alessia D'Andrea - principal investigator

Arianna D'Ulizia -co-principal investigator

Other SITA projects

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foresTEEN

Foresteen

ForesTEEN aims to innovate the cultural offering for new generations through a participatory observation process that experiments with different listening settings. The goal is to understand how exchange with adolescents can stimulate “transgenerational dialogue,” which can serve as a driver of innovation.

ForesTEEN is a European cooperation project for research and innovation in audience development models for young adult audiences, defined as young men and women between the ages of 15 and 25, running from November 15, 2023, to November 14, 2027.

Along with CNR-IRPPS, the project involves 9 other European partners:

Segni d’infanzia (Italy)
Teatrecentrum (Denmark)

ASSITEJ e.V. / Kinder- und Jugendtheaterzentrum (Germany)

Menų spaustuvė (Lithuania)

Theater De Krakeling (Netherlands)

ASSITEJ Srbija (Serbia)

Théâtre Massalia (France)

La Sala Teatre (Spain)

Compagnie 22 – Théâtre-danse (France)

ASSITEJ International associated partner

Website

Participants

Alessia D'Andrea - lead

Arianna D'Ulizia - co-lead

Other SITA projects

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HealthyW8

HealthyW8

HealthyW8 aims to prevent obesity by adopting a multidisciplinary approach that combines interventions focused on diet, physical activity, and psycho-emotional aspects.
The project brings together a consortium of 24 public and private partners from nine European countries and is funded by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

The impacts

The project considers obesity as a multifactorial phenomenon and takes into account individual, interpersonal, organizational, community factors, and public policy measures.
HealthyW8 aims to encourage healthier lifestyles from the early stages of life, decreasing the prevalence of obesity and reducing healthcare costs.
The interventions and digital solutions will enable healthcare providers to personalize services offered to individuals without high infrastructure and administrative costs.
The project emphasizes improving health literacy through goal personalization and nudging/gamification effects for motivation, with HDT support to ensure lasting and sustainable lifestyle changes.
HealthyW8 aims to implement a holistic approach to obesity prevention, using new tools for routine screening of overweight/obesity risks in daily practice. This will lead to a reduction in the public health burden and healthcare costs, as well as a potential increase in life expectancy.

Website

Participants

Arianna D'Ulizia -principal investigator

Alessia D'Andrea -co-principal investigator

Other SITA projects

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AI4Debunk Mini-symposium: AI and Disinformation – Technology, Media Literacy, and Policy

Co-creation events – NewWorkTech Project

keepcaring Co-design Event

TRAINING – WINBLUE

NewWorkTech

NewWorkTech

Participants

KEEPCARING

KEEPCARING

Website

Participants

SMILE CITY

SMILE CITY

Participants

AI4Debunk

AI4Debunk

The impacts

Website

Participants

foresTEEN

Foresteen

Website

Participants

HealthyW8

HealthyW8

The impacts

Website

Participants

Rome Office

Salerno Office

Privacy