Science Communication

Local: Auditorium Prof. Dr. José Marques Dos Santos

Date: Tuesday, July 01^st, 2025 | 14h00-14h20

Chair: António Coelho, Associate Professor, DEI / FEUP

Goals: Science communication is a very relevant competence for researchers, promoting greater impact, relevance and innovation. More specifically:

Develop Real Solutions: Create prototypes that help companies communicate effectively with different audiences, particularly at stands, fairs or events.
Bringing the Academic Community and Companies Closer Together: Fostering collaboration between doctoral students and company professionals, establishing bridges for sharing knowledge and innovation.
Train and Inspire: Provide an intensive learning, teamwork and networking experience where participants will have access to expert mentors who will support the development process.
Promote the Doctoral Symposium: Integrate the best projects and teams into the Doctoral Symposium program, reinforcing the connection between academia, research and the business sector.

Evaluation: Voting from the general public at the DCE (QR Code).

Program

14h00-14h05 | Hackathon Program

António Coelho

Associate Professor, DEI / FEUP

Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto (UP), director of the Doctoral Program in Digital Media at the University of Porto and academic leader of the EUGLOH European University Alliance.

Senior Researcher at the Center for Human-Centered Computing and Information Science (HumanISE) of INESC TEC with research interests in the areas of Computer Graphics, Extended Reality, Serious Games, and Accessibility.

14h05-14h20 | Five-Minute for 3 teams of PhD Students

Team 1 – Dino e a Cadeia da Vida

Dino e a Cadeia da Vida is an educational game for children aged 8 to 12, designed to promote sustainable habits in a playful and effective way. Dino, a dinosaur who has traveled through time, discovers that the future of humanity is threatened by environmental destruction, caused by humans themselves! Determined to prevent life on Earth from suffering the same fate as his species – extinction – he mobilizes children to encourage sustainable habits on the planet. Through three interactive mini-games based on the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), players face real environmental challenges. With the guidance of Dino and his friends Kiki (the turtle), Akua (the blue whale) and Vinee (the polar bear), each action transforms the the game and the planet itself. In the end, the positive impact of the children’s choices makes it possible to divert the course of the meteor from extinction, reinforcing the message that small actions generate big changes.

– Project Description
– Logo
– Poster
– Team Photo

The Meteorite Busters

Ana Camarinha (PRODEB) – Idea and Sketching
Jorge Ferreira (PRODEI) – Game Development
Raushan Mukhamejanova (PDMD) – Idea and Sketching
Rosana Oliveira (PRODEC) – Narrative

Team 2 – Time Travelers

Time Travelers is a mobile application designed to transform the way tourists experience the city of Porto. It offers an immersive, user-centered journey through historical landmarks using geolocation, image recognition, and soundscapes. By simply pointing their phone at a monument or taking a selfie with it, users are instantly immersed in rich, verified historical content drawn from credible sources. With personalized routes and real-time notifications, the app enables users to explore at their own pace, avoiding crowded tours and unreliable information. It combines storytelling, cultural authenticity, and digital innovation to deliver a memorable and educational experience — ideal for tourists like Ashley, seeking depth, authenticity, and convenience.

– Project Description
– Logo

Team

Ana Cristina Castro (PDMD) – organization, creation
Bárbara Bender (PRODEGI) – organization, creation
Diana Sousa (PDMD) – website, app
Jadna da Cruz (PRODEI) – website, app, gps, image recognition
Miguel Guimarães (PRODEI) – website, app, gps, image recognition

Team 3 – God Save the Carbon

Carbon emission levels are steadily rising, as is the average global temperature. Also, evidence shows that “greening education” and “green skills” are increasingly necessary. This project aims to encourage behavioral change among Gen Z FEUP students and raise awareness about sustainable transportation habits. Combining self-reported routines with gamified learning, we create a simple yet effective system to nudge users toward more eco-conscious decisions based on the Self-determination Theory and the Fogg Behavior Model. The “God Save the Carbon“ app, designed with an eco-punk style, is simple, fast, shareable, educational, and career-worthy. Users can log their daily transportation eco-choice, take quick quizzes (learning through micro-challenges), and be awarded badges and LinkedIn certificates. There are two punctuation mechanisms. One is related to the user’s transportation habits, where the points are measured in comparison to the CO2 emission of a standard fuel car, which is reflected in the user’s avatar evolution. The other concerns the user’s correct answers to the daily quizzes, allowing them to unlock new levels and gain badges and shareable certificates.