Seed-Funded Projects

This project responds to a growing need to improve statistical understanding across health-related disciplines, so that research and education are clearer, more reliable, and easier to communicate. It brings together universities within Circle U. to strengthen statistical literacy, with special attention to challenges that arise when people work across languages, cultures, and academic fields. The project will develop shared, open-access learning resources, including a multilingual glossary of key statistical and research terms, designed to support students, researchers, and educators. Through collaboration, workshops, and academic exchange, the initiative aims to reduce misunderstandings, support interdisciplinary work, and make statistical concepts more accessible. While the project draws inspiration from experiences in Latin America, where similar challenges exist, it is driven by Circle U. and aligned with its goal of inclusive, international education and research. The long-term aim is to build a sustainable foundation for clearer communication and stronger global collaboration in health sciences.

• Participating universities: Aarhus University, King’s College London, University of Oslo, University of Belgrade, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Project promoter: Fernando Valentim Bitencourth, Aarhus University
• External Partner: Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) (Denmark); University of Sao Paulo (Brazil); University of Buenos Aires (Argentina); Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay)
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

The main objective of the project is to bring together university collection managers and administrators within the Circle U. alliance around a project aimed at launching a stable dynamic of sharing and pooling knowledge, skills and opportunities. This will enable us to get to know each other and facilitate more ambitious collaborations in the future.  Since summer 2025, video calls have enabled us to connect and get to know each other. In October 2026, we will organise a three-day workshop in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) open to managers and heads of university collections from the alliance and other partner associations, by invitation, such as Universeum, the European association of university collections. The workshop will be an opportunity to get to know each other better, present collections, share case studies on issues/opportunities with the rest of the alliance, and participate in training sessions led by internationally renowned specialists. The workshop will focus on the importance of provenance research in university collections, the management of heritage from a colonial context and the role of university collections as an educational tool. 
 

• Participating universities: UCLouvain, University of Oslo, University of Pisa, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Vienna, University of Belgrade, Université Paris Cité, King’s College London
• Project promoter: Ficco Marino, UCLouvain
• External Partner: Universeum- European Academic Heritage Network
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

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Circle Out! by Circle U. is a joint initiative that supports better mentoring for postdoctoral researchers across European universities. Postdocs often rely on their mentors for career guidance. Yet many Mentors feel unsure how to advise on career options, especially beyond academia. This project addresses that gap by developing a short, practical e-learning tool for mentors. The project brings together administrative and professional staff from the University of Vienna, the University of Oslo and King’s College London. The e-learning programme will offer clear, easy-to-use guidance on mentoring approaches, career conversations and inclusive practices. It is designed to fit into busy academic schedules, with short modules that can be completed flexibly. By supporting mentors, the project aims to improve career development conversations, increase awareness of diverse career paths and promote fair and supportive research environments. The final resource will be transferable and usable across Circle U. universities and beyond.

• Participating universities: University of Vienna, University of Oslo, King’s College London
• Project promoter: Madeleine Harbich, University of Vienna
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

Since the October 7, 2023, attacks and the Israel–Gaza war, interethnic and interfaith relations in Western societies—particularly between Jewish and Muslim communities—have come under unprecedented strain. Universities—spaces that should foster dialogue, tolerance, and critical inquiry—have too often become sites of polarisation and hostile debate. Jewish and Muslim students alike report feeling targeted for events thousands of kilometres away. In Germany, Denmark, and Austria, campus debates have become increasingly aggressive and divisive. 

Our project responds by positioning European academia as a space for constructive dialogue. Building on our successful Heidelberg pilot, we bring this Jewish-Muslim dialogue model to Berlin, leveraging the city's unique position as both Germany's political capital and a major hub for diverse communities. We will create a 7-day intensive program bringing together 23 Circle U. students and early-career researchers to examine transnational dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on European interfaith relations.

• Participating universities: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Aarhus University, University of Vienna
• Project promoter: Saskia Schäfer, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• External Partner: Dr Uri Rosenberg, Postdoc at Hochschule fur Judische Studienn Heidelberg & Co-Founder of Tech2Peace, Israeli NGO
• Awarded budget: 9970 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

Recognizing the urgent need to transform medical education to address the ecological crisis, PHEMED aims at implementing a European Planetary Health (PH) curriculum to equip current and future doctors and educators with transdisciplinary knowledge of the interdependency between human health and Earth systems to become agents of system-wide change towards sustainable healthcare. The project fosters a student-led approach, promotes low-carbon collaboration and focuses on innovative teaching material. PHEMED will develop transdisciplinary learning resources on PH including a syllabus for a common European course that will train teachers and undergraduate (UG) medical students on PH issues and create a community of future leaders in this field. Implementation will include teacher training and student activities like Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and summer schools. To increase impact, the team will develop a public digital platform to share innovative pedagogical materials, to equip current and future doctors with the knowledge and skills needed to promote PH and deliver sustainable healthcare, expanding across Europe to address PH challenges.

• Participating universities: Université Paris Cité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Oslo, Aarhus University
• Project promoter: Victoire de Lastours, Université Paris Cité
• External Partner: Alliance Sante Planetaire (ASP)
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

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Young Influencers: Empowering Leadership for Democracy (YIELD) is a new initiative that brings together four Circle U. universities to create a shared course on leadership and democratic engagement. Many young people want to influence politics, organisations and society, but lack practical training and clear pathways to do so. YIELD responds to this gap by combining academic knowledge with real-world experience. The course will focus on three areas: leadership in theory and practice, how political and organisational decisions are made, and how to communicate ideas persuasively. Students will learn from academics and practitioners across Europe and apply their learning to issues they care about in their own communities. By working across universities and disciplines, YIELD strengthens student voices, builds democratic skills, and helps prepare a new generation of confident, responsible leaders.

• Participating universities: University of Oslo, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Belgrade, University of Pisa
• Project promoter: Dan Banik, University of Oslo
• External Partner: Norwegian Nobel Institute (TBC)
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

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CodeFL aims to strengthen how coding is taught to students outside traditional computing subjects. As programming becomes essential across many disciplines, educators often teach it without specialist support or a shared community. This project will connect these educators across Circle U., enabling them to exchange ideas, resources, and teaching approaches. 

A major focus of the project is understanding how generative AI is reshaping the way students learn to code. While these tools can support learning, they also risk reducing students’ hands‑on practice with core concepts. CodeFL will explore these challenges directly, developing clear guidance to help educators use AI responsibly while ensuring students build strong problem‑solving and computational‑thinking skills. By creating a long‑lasting network and practical best‑practice guidelines, CodeFL will improve interdisciplinary coding education and enhance students’ learning experiences.

• Participating universities: King’s College London, University of Vienna, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Oslo, Aarhus University
• Project promoter: Timothy Pullen, King’s College London
• Awarded budget: 6351 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping higher education, transforming not only teaching and research but also how universities make strategic, ethical, and operational decisions. In response, many European institutions are rethinking their governance structures and establishing dedicated AI leadership roles to guide institutional strategy, support responsible adoption, ensure regulatory and ethical compliance, and coordinate initiatives such as curriculum innovation and AI literacy programmes. Despite this growing momentum, these roles are developing in uneven and fragmented ways, with limited opportunities for cross-national exchange and knowledge sharing in terms of effective governance models, responsibilities, and long-term impact. This project responds directly to that gap. It will map emerging AI leadership practices across institutions and create a joint AI Leadership Network to enable structured collaboration between two major international university alliances: Circle U. and the Coimbra Group. By connecting leaders, sharing experiences, and building a stronger evidence base, the project will support more coherent, informed, and responsible approaches to AI governance across European higher education.

• Participating universities: King’s College London, UCLouvain, University of Pisa, University of Oslo, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Project promoter: Dr Jelena Dzakula-Fuller, King’s College London
• External Partner: Coimbra Group
• Awarded budget: 9300 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

How to illustrate abstract mathematical and scientific concepts to the general public, students, or to fellow academics? This project connects three independent science communication and exhibition initiatives based at King's College London, the University of Belgrade, and the University of Oslo. 

As part of this initiative, we will also co-design one new object that can be incorporated into our own collections. In particular, we will create an interactive piece around the idea of `rep-tiles': a shape that not only tessellates, which also at the same time forms a bigger version of the same shape. This new piece will be designed in partnership with students as part of a workshop to take place before the exhibition to the public. As tiles are designed across the institutions, these can be shared internationally with the assistance of 3D printing or laser cutting. We ultimately aim to connect these three initiatives while engaging with students, colleagues, and the general public.

• Participating universities: King’s College London, University of Belgrade, University of Oslo
• Project promoter: David Kohan Marzagão, King’s College London
• Awarded budget: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

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This project builds on connections established during the 2025 Circle U. Climate Programme in Berlin, where a group of students from multiple alliance universities collaborated intensively on climate-related discussions. It draws on the interdisciplinarity, intersectional perspectives, and intercultural exchange that emerged from bringing together students from different academic, cultural, and personal backgrounds. Leveraging this network, the team aims to create an ongoing multi-phase initiative to inspire, inform, and mobilise students and youth within and beyond the alliance on climate change and its intersections with multiple societal and academic fields. 

Objectives 

1. Raise awareness of the interconnectedness between climate change and diverse domains such as education, mental health, management, economics, political science, and law.
2. Engage student voices from different nationalities and genders to produce high-quality, accessible content in multiple formats.
3. Strengthen cross-university collaboration within Circle U. while extending impact to non-alumni students.
4. Encourage concrete action through storytelling, advocacy, and dialogue. 

The project draws on multiple disciplines, including education, psychology, management, economics, political science, law, sociology, environmental science, and communications, to explore climate change from a variety of perspectives. This approach will integrate intersectional analysis and intercultural dialogue, ensuring that diverse voices shape the narrative. The work will guarantee national and gender diversity among contributors, creating richer discussion and broader relevance for audiences.

• Participating universities: Université Paris Cité, University of Pisa, University of Belgrade, King’s College London, University of Vienna
• Project promoter: Eliane El Haber, Université Paris Cité
• Awarded budget: 5000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

As attacks on equity, academic freedom, and evidence-based science intensify with the erosion of democracy and human rights, we face a pivotal moment that demands a collective response. 

The CREDO initiative (Communicating Research, Equity, and Democratic Openness) was born from this urgency. It’s a proactive, multidisciplinary project designed to transform concern into concrete action. We are building a multidisciplinary community of researchers, students, and staff to develop the practical tools and strategies needed to defend the core values of open, fair, and knowledge-driven societies. 

By creating a sustained space for dialogue, we will strengthen our collective voice in advocating for academic freedom, equity, diversity, inclusion, and evidence-based research. This initiative empowers its members to understand the challenges, communicate their value clearly, and stand up for the role universities play in sustaining democratic and inclusive societies. While addressing the ongoing work required to make these institutions truly inclusive for all.

• Participating universities: University of Belgrade, King’s College London, University of Oslo, University of Pisa, University of Vienna
• Project promoter: Ivana Nikolić, University of Belgrade
• External Partner: Ministry of Culture (Government of India), Lawyers Committee for Human Rights; University of Science Malaysia
• Awarded budget: 5000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026

LEaP supports colleagues in programme leadership roles across Circle U. with professional development and guidance to address educational challenges and drive meaningful change through effective programme and curriculum design. The project's key objectives are:

1. To develop a collaborative programme leadership development resource: working with the expertise of CU.til and in partnership with the Swiss Faculty Development Network, LEaP will co-create an online, evidence-based professional development resource for programme leaders, co-designed through a Programme Leadership Symposium
2. Launch a Circle U. Programme Leaders Network: the Network will foster productive collaboration among programme leaders across the alliance, promoting shared curriculum development, education research, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
   By connecting programme leaders across national, institutional and disciplinary boundaries, LEaP will enhance professional development, improve recognition of educational leadership and contribute to Circle U.'s strategic goals by embedding the alliance within our universities’ communities.

• Participating universities: King's College London, Aarhus University, University of Oslo
• Project promoter: Rebecca Lindner, King's College London
• Budget awarded: 8.552 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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The HybridCU project aims to raise awareness of the potential benefits of hybrid teaching for inclusion, flexibility and internationalisation, and to support the implementation of high-quality hybrid teaching and learning across the alliance.

Hybrid teaching offers the ability to bring together classrooms in different sites and connect live audiences with online participants, and presents a promising option for universities seeking to increase their international collaboration. This project will bring together the expertise from the Centres for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) of six Circle U. universities to support teaching staff in implementing hybrid teaching, thus offering international experience for as many students and staff as possible across the Alliance.

Expected outputs include guidelines for hybrid teaching within Circle U.; training workshops on hybrid teaching for teaching staff from the fields of the four knowledge hubs (climate, democracy, global health, AI); survey on Circle U. educators’ experiences with hybrid teaching.

The increasing number of international hybrid teaching project collaborations (such as COIL projects) and the deeper networking of Circle U. universities' centres for teaching and learning are considered as long-term outcomes of the project.

• Participating universities: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Aarhus University, King's College London, UCLouvain, University of Oslo, University of Vienna
• Project promoter: Daria Dydzinskaya, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Contact email: hybride.lehre@hu-berlin.de
• Budget awarded: 9.959 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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Foreign language skills and associated competences are frequently hidden players when navigating the job market. Employers seek potential candidates whose knowledge and qualifications best match and address the needs of what are often defined as specialist company positions. Prospective job applicants buy into these expectations unwittingly and many new graduates are focused on showcasing their newly acquired degrees in STEM, business and related fields of study. Therefore, entering the employment market arena with foreign language skills alone is challenging to say the least and calls for endurance and creativity.

This project aims to work around this issue by developing an online Employability for Languages Module (ELM). It will focus specifically on enhancing employability for students who have both core and dual competencies in foreign languages. The module will be supported further by creating an innovative Employability Skills Mapping Tool (ESMT) for students and staff. This will serve as a framework for both groups and help to promote outreach and a better understanding of the value of languages and language education as students embark on the move from campus to career. Furthermore, the engagement and contribution from participants at the five partner Circle U. institutions will represent a diverse and multilingual consortium which will be reflected in the co-creation process and end product.

• Participating universities: King's College London, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, UC Louvain, University of Oslo
• Project promoter: Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, Aarhus University
• Budget awarded: 9.973 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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The narratives of politicians, official instances, academia, NGOs and society at large about poverty and the assignment of responsibility for poverty in those discourses are intrinsically linked with the creation of reports and the formulation of poverty reduction policies. In this project, students and academic staff will critically explore these connections by analyzing how the discourse on poverty influences policy design at three levels: (i) nationally, within Circle U. countries, (ii) internationally, in relation to sustainable development and development aid and (iii) locally, in terms of access to higher education and opportunities therein.  

Poverty resonates across several of Circle U.’s knowledge hubs. In addition to undermining democratic participation and decision-making, poverty affects access to health and sanitation as well as severely undermining migrant integration and social cohesion. Moreover, people living in poverty are more heavily affected by climate change. Finally, poverty limits access to higher education and learning opportunities. Given the inherently interdisciplinary nature of these issues, the team involved in this project is interdisciplinary, involving colleagues from political science, European and International Studies, economics, history, discourse analysis, sociology of language, solidarity education & global citizenship, agroecology & development cooperation.

• Participating universities: UCLouvain, King's College London, University of Oslo
• Project promoter: Barbara De Cock, UCLouvain
• Budget awarded: 9.700 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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This student-led initiative by the Student Network on Climate Action (SNCA) brings together international students from diverse disciplines to address climate change through a multifaceted approach. Combining workshops, lectures, and community-building activities, the program fosters collaboration across national and disciplinary boundaries.

The one-week summer course will take place at the University of Vienna in July 2025, welcoming up to 25 participants. This includes alumni from previous Circle U summer schools on "Empowering Climate Action: Policy, Communication and Agency," as well as other interested students. The program aims to build a strong, interdisciplinary network and inspire participants to tackle climate challenges through innovative collaboration.

With contributions from students, faculty, and external partners, the summer school offers a dynamic space for exchanging knowledge and fostering actionable strategies to address global climate issues.

• Participating universities: University of Vienna, UCLouvain, King's College London, University of Pisa, University of Oslo
• Project promoter: Angelika Tangl, University of Vienna
• Budget awarded: 5.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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ReCrEA:  Researching creative economies in Africa: sharing knowledge, methods and practices is a collaborative project between King’s College London, Aarhus University and Humboldt University of Berlin. It aims to bring together current research – from a range of disciplines – that explores the value, workings and impact of creative economies in Africa.

Research on creative economies (CE) in Africa is limited and fragmented across different disciplines, making it hard for academics to connect and establish shared frameworks and practices. Furthermore, research on CE has been narrowly focused on the Global North and has not placed enough value on cultures, heritage, innovations and ideas from the Global South. So, the proposed project aims to create a network of activities to rebalance this perspective by supporting research on Africa to be shared and made more visible, giving space to PhDs and ECRs (early career researchers) to interact and share ideas.

The project also recognises that CE are essential to innovation, technology and economic development and are cornerstones of sustainable development, community engagement and dialogue across cultures and generations. The project has 3 objectives:  

1. Create an opportunity for academics across our Universities and Circle U to share their research on CE, prioritising contributions from ECR and scholars from the global majority, including opportunities for mobility amongst the partners.  
2. Create opportunities for PhD students and ECRs to collaborate through online workshops, to present ongoing research, present methodological questions, and reflect on their practice in a supportive and collaborative network.  
3. Publish a brief manifesto summarising some of the challenges researchers face and some of the research questions and themes that need addressing by new research projects and future PhDs.  
   The activities will include a mix of online-only seminars and 3 hybrid events; all will be accessible and open to everyone.

• Participating universities: King's College London, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Aarhus University
• Project promoter: Roberta Comunian, King's College London
• Budget awarded: 9.585 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025
• Contact: creativeconomy.africa@gmail.com

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The LEAD project unites three Circle U. hubs—Democracy, Global Health, and Climate—to create an interdisciplinary master’s-level course launching in Autumn 2025/Spring 2026. The course will explore effective policies and strategies for addressing poverty, health challenges, and environmental degradation, focusing on equitable development for marginalised communities.

A key milestone is a multi-day workshop in early 2025, where faculty and students will finalise the course syllabus, format, and logistics. Student input is central throughout the process, ensuring the course reflects their needs and perspectives. The Pasteur Network’s expertise will further enrich the project by providing global insights.

By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across Circle U. institutions, LEAD will advance interdisciplinary education and create a lasting community of practice to address global challenges.

• Participating universities: University of Oslo, Université Paris Cité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Project promoter: Dan Banik, University of Oslo
• Budget awarded: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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AlgoNomy is an interdisciplinary research initiative addressing the challenges posed by “digital paternalism” in healthcare, an emerging phenomenon where algorithm-driven decisions overshadow the collaborative input of patients and physicians.

Drawing on expertise from law, medicine, and computer science, the project investigates how AI applications in healthcare may limit patient autonomy, restrict physicians' influence on treatment decisions, and raise liability concerns.

The project’s activities aim to deepen understanding of these challenges and propose strategies to ensure that AI respects the individual preferences of patients while supporting physicians in delivering personalized care. AlgoNomy will foster academic and public dialogue through an interdisciplinary call for papers, an international conference at the Pisa Festival of Robotics, and a specialized summer doctoral workshop to nurture emerging scholars. Research findings will be disseminated through an open-access publication, ensuring global accessibility. These diverse initiatives will help generate innovative approaches for the development, implementation and regulation of AI medical devices, with the goal of effectively safeguarding the autonomy of both patients and physicians.

• Participating universities: University of Pisa, University of Vienna, King's College London, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Université Paris Cité, University of Belgrade
• Project promoter: Nicolò Amore, University of Pisa
• Budget awarded: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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This project addresses the healthcare challenges faced by undocumented migrants in Europe, a group often marginalised in public health discussions. By exploring barriers to healthcare access and proposing inclusive solutions, it aims to foster equity and inclusion in healthcare systems.

A three-day hybrid workshop will be held in Oslo, Norway, from 28–30 April 2025, bringing together early-career researchers, master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers from Circle U. partner universities. Participants will engage with experts in public health, law, human rights, and social policy, as well as external partners such as NGOs and healthcare providers.

The workshop will include expert presentations, comparative analyses of national healthcare systems, and discussions on ethical research practices. Pre- and post-workshop activities will ensure ongoing engagement, culminating in tangible outputs such as a comparative report and policy recommendations.

This initiative builds capacity among early-career researchers, strengthens networks across Circle U., and advances the alliance’s mission to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and impactful change in addressing healthcare disparities for undocumented migrants.

• Participating universities: University of Oslo, University of Belgrade, Aarhus University (student from Ghana), Université Paris Cité, King's College London, University of Pisa
• Project promoter: Fatou Jatta, University of Oslo
• Budget awarded: 5.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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Our project brings together six Circle U. Members – Belgrade, Aarhus, Paris Cité, UC Louvain, Humboldt and Vienna – with the aim of understanding processes through which new collective actors striving for social change emerge in situations of crises such as the 2008 financial meltdown or the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the past decade and a half, we have witnessed the appearance of movements such as Occupy or protests against systemic racism which dissipated quickly or became confined to specific groups, while others, such as the Arab Spring, traversed group boundaries and produced tangible political effects. What explains these different outcomes?

While this question is addressed from many angles in social science, we focus on a somewhat neglected phenomenon: the formation of a shared affective dynamic among members of different social groups hit by a crisis, who are mutually aware of their common predicament. Such dynamic, which we term “emergent collective affectivity“, creates an elusive, inarticulate sense of togetherness across existing group boundaries.

Whether this transient form of collective identity will evolve into a political actor capable of struggling for social change, or whether it will fragment along certain fault lines, depends on a number of factors. Our project aims to formulate a theoretical model, informed by social-scientific research, that specifies the conditions under which the first, positive scenario can be realised. The model could be used in social-scientific analyses of the potential of crises to foster democratisation as well as in public debate about the issue. The project thus aims to strengthen the Circle U. Knowledge Hub on Democracy.

• Participating universities: University of Belgrade, Aarhus University, UCLouvain, University of Vienna, Université Paris Cité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Project promoter: Marjan Ivković, University of Belgrade
• Budget awarded: 8.700 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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Long neglected in favour of urban-centric narratives of photographic history, rural photography offers a rich field for interdisciplinary inquiry. To produce original research on rural photography in Europe during the long 19th century, this international research project proposes a series of online workshops leading up to an in-person symposium, exhibition, and publication. This first edition of the project focuses on the theme of rural photography and the environment. From the origins of the photographic medium in the mid-nineteenth century, when photography was conceived of as “sun writing,” photography has been understood as working with, just as much as working on, the rural environment. Drawing from sources across Europe, the project will investigate how photography pictured the rural environment in the industrial era.

• Participating universities: Université Paris Cité, University of Pisa, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, King's College London
• Project promoter: Lauren Pankin, Université Paris Cité
• Budget awarded: 7.170 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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Citizen science (CS) is a scientific research approach involving non-professional scientists at various stages. Actively engaging citizens and society can enhance research quality and outcomes while strengthening societal trust in science.  

The PReCISE project aims to promote CS expertise among Circle U. universities, by sharing knowledge and fostering its uptake to drive institutional change. To initiate this transition, PReCISE organises a hybrid CS summer school bringing together postdoc and advanced researchers with CS experts from UCLouvain, Université Paris Cité, Aarhus University, and University of Vienna. This summer school will focus on fostering equitable collaborations to support contextualized citizen science projects in Africa.

The specific objectives of PReCISE are to:

1. Run a session the Science Infuse festival at UCLouvain, using participatory board game to raise awareness about geo-hydrological risk among secondary school students;
2. Organise an on-site and online CS summer school for Circle U. researchers;  
3. Develop guidelines for organising a recurring hybrid CS summer school;  
4. Contribute to updating the ECSA 10 principles, with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

• Participating universities: UCLouvain, Université Paris Cité, University of Vienna, Aarhus University
• Project promoter: Caroline Michellier, UCLouvain
• Budget awarded: 7.100 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

The advent of large language models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI) is changing the ways in which we approach the design and construction process of knowledge graphs (KGs). Traditionally, KGs relied on skilled knowledge engineers for their completion, but automation is reducing human involvement, raising concerns about the correctness of the knowledge automatically introduced in KGs. This is especially critical in high-risk interdisciplinary domains such as healthcare, where it is vital to be able to rely on and trust AI’s decision-making.     

Objectives: We propose an interdisciplinary RAI4KG workshop, focusing on knowledge engineering through technical, ethical, and legal lenses. 

Our goal is to raise awareness on this multifaceted topic and to also produce a blueprint for a robust framework for the responsible use of GenAI for KGs. The main objectives of this workshop are: 

1. to assemble an international community around topics of social responsibility, GenAI and KGs;
2. to disseminate the understanding of socio-technical research occurring in this space; and
3. to facilitate collaboration between researchers on a bigger project proposal (e.g., EU Horizon funding >3M EUR).    

Timeline: We will organise the workshop at the beginning of autumn 2025. Venue arrangements (applications to join conferences, inviting keynote speakers and promoting the event online) will begin in January 2025. A long-term goal is to co-locate the workshop with prestigious scientific AI and knowledge graph conferences (e.g. International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC) held in November 2025, with a workshop proposal deadline in February 2025 or The Web Conference) for high impact and visibility.    

This workshop aims to produce recommendations (e.g. white paper) for researchers and organisations shaping AI policies (e.g. EU AI Office, the UK’s AI Policy Directorate). We will establish an interdisciplinary network of scholars to discuss and derive an actionable framework for responsible AI-driven KG engineering and will raise awareness of the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of responsible AI.  

• Participating universities: King's College London, University of Vienna, Aarhus University
• Project promoter: Albert Meroño Peñuela, King's College London
• Budget awarded: 10.000 €
• Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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