Author: ITI Webmaster

The book Interspecies, edited by Mariana Pestana, documents the research and co-curatorial process developed for the exhibition at Centro de Arquitetura MAC/CCB, and was co-published with Bartlebooth. Conceived both as an exhibition and as a research device, the project was collaboratively shaped by researchers from the Interactive Technologies Institute, including Anna Bertmark, Bernardo Gaeiras, Carlos Pastor, Fernanda Costa, Katerina Inglezaki, Mariana Simões, Mathilde Gouin, and Valentina Demarchi. Together, the team examined interspecies practices in architecture and design through a sustained curatorial inquiry.

Grounded in feminist and posthumanist frameworks, the publication advances the hypothesis of a “New Romanticism” as a critical orientation that recognises interdependence between humans, animals, technologies, minerals, atmospheres, and planetary systems. Interspecies relations were enacted not only as thematic content but through curatorial methodology, spatial configuration, and audience engagement. Exhibition design functioned as a mode of research.

The volume brings together projects and texts by the curatorial research team alongside invited contributors Coletivo FIELD, Coletivo Frame, KWY.studio, Studio Ossidiana, and SUPERFLEX, whose works extend the interspecies inquiry across architectural, artistic, and material practices.

Publication details
224 pages
120 × 200 mm
Hardcover with blind embossing
Offset print 4/4
Bilingual edition Spanish and English
ISBN (ES) 978-84-129322-6-3 / 978-972-8944-61-2
ISBN (EN) 978-84-129322-5-6 / 978-972-8944-60-5

The publication is available via Bartlebooth:
https://bartlebooth.org/Interespecies

Biotopia is now open to the public at the Museu de História Natural do Funchal, where it will remain on view over the coming months. The exhibition was developed within the European research project LoGaCulture – Locative Games for Cultural Heritage, coordinated at the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI).

LoGaCulture brings together leading researchers in digital locative games and cultural heritage to develop new design guidance, ethical frameworks, and reusable technologies for cultural institutions. Through multiple international case studies, the project investigates how interactive narratives, augmented reality, soundscapes, and transmedia formats can reshape visitors’ experiences of heritage sites. The aim is to enable cultural institutions to integrate locative and game-based experiences into their core heritage practices.

Biotopia constitutes one of these applied research case studies. The exhibition proposes an immersive, transmedia experience through which visitors encounter Madeira’s natural heritage using interactive technologies.

As explained by Valentina Nisi, researcher at ITI and member of the LoGaCulture project, Biotopia unfolds as a story distributed across multiple media formats. One component presents an interactive digital narrative inside a scenographic environment inspired by the island’s landscapes. Another introduces a wearable haptic sleeve, developed by PhD researcher Mathilde Gouin, that can be tested in the museum garden. The device vibrates when approaching certain endemic species, adding a tactile dimension to ecological awareness.

The exhibition also integrates AI-supported dialogue systems that allow visitors to converse with species such as the monk seal and the Zino’s petrel. Through these interactions, audiences can ask questions and receive responses generated with the support of artificial intelligence, exploring new forms of engagement with biodiversity.

A further element is a board game, also playable online, based on a map of Madeira. By visiting locations and drawing prompts associated with specific sites, participants collaboratively construct narrative fragments that relate to the island’s ecological and cultural contexts.

Ricardo Araújo, Director of the Natural History Museum of Funchal, emphasized that the technological prototypes developed within the project offer accessible ways for younger generations to engage with scientific knowledge about Madeira’s characteristic species and natural heritage.

An RTP Madeira news segment covering the opening of Biotopia is available below.

A new publication in Trends in Biotechnology presents recent work from Luis Quijano, Cristiano Pedroso-Roussado (ITI-LARSyS), and Enza Migliore.

In “Broadening art–science collaboration in biotechnology: integrating design,” the authors advocate for the evolution of transdisciplinary research by integrating design as a generative partner within the laboratory. This paradigm shift is of critical interest to biotechnologists, design practitioners, and researchers seeking to move beyond traditional silos toward a model of collective innovation.

The study highlights the emergence of biodesign as a transformative practice utilizing biological organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to develop novel materials like bacterial cellulose-based textiles and mycelium-based composites. Through high-impact case studies including the Bio-Tile project’s living architectural membranes, the BactoHealing project’s bacterial material repair, and one of the Bauhaus of the Seas residencies focusing on regenerative oyster shell tiles, the authors demonstrate how “material tinkering” enables early-stage hypothesis testing and the inclusion of more-than-human frameworks.

Supported by the Fulbright Future Scholarship, the Australian Government Research Training (RTP) Scholarship, the Horizon Europe Bauhaus of the Seas project, and the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, the work argues that establishing shared lab spaces and joint mentorship is essential to transform biotechnology into a mature research paradigm capable of addressing 21st-century environmental challenges.

Article:
Broadening art–science collaboration in biotechnology: integrating design
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.014
Free access (50 days): https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1mV1Jc9XEr9Gl

Authors:
Luis Quijano (joint co-first author)
Cristiano Pedroso-Roussado (ITI-LARSyS) (joint co-first author)
Enza Migliore

Image: ‘Bio-tile: Biodesign and Microbial Life in Architectural Practice’ (Enza Migliore and Ran Che).
Top left panel: Prototype of the 3D-printed porous ceramic bio-tile structure. Bottom left panel: Design sketch showing potential integration, surface growth, and application within a microclimate-regulating wall system. Right panel: Moss successfully integrated into the tile, illustrating living and material fusion with design. Image reproduced with permission from the Materialities lab (2025).

In 2025, the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI) produced 168 peer-reviewed scientific outputs across international research venues, reflecting the sustained activity of its 24 Principal Investigators (PIs) and their research lines, composed of doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators across multiple scientific domains. The year’s output includes 89 journal articles, 8 review articles, 33 conference papers, 20 book chapters, 9 preprints, and 9 additional scholarly contributions. The data was gathered from ITI’s 2025 dataset compiled by Lucas Pereira (ITI).

Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and Interactive Systems remain ITI’s most represented research area in 2025, with over 50 publications in major international venues. ITI researchers presented work at leading conferences including the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), the ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS), the ACM Creativity and Cognition Conference (C&C), the ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference (IDC), the ACM Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction Conference (TEI), and the INTERACT (IFIP TC13 Human–Computer Interaction). These venues constitute internationally recognised platforms for advancing research in interaction design, digital systems, creativity support technologies, and emerging interactive media.

ITI researchers also published in internationally recognised, high-ranking journals across Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), health, robotics, gerontology, sports science, and multidisciplinary science. Confirmed high-ranking journals include the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, International Journal of Social Robotics, Journal of Affective Disorders, Ageing Research Reviews, GeroScience, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Journal of Aging and Health, Nature’s Scientific Reports, PLOS ONE, Journal of Applied Gerontology, and American Journal of Human Biology.

While interactive technologies remain central to ITI’s scientific profile, the 2025 outputs demonstrate a broad interdisciplinary reach spanning digital health and clinical research, aging and gerontology, social robotics, human performance and sports science, engineering and applied technologies, and social sciences and sustainability research. These results reflect the collective work of ITI’s Principal Investigators and their teams, reinforcing the Institute’s international visibility and scientific impact in 2025.

On 3 February 2026, the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI) participated in the second edition of the Técnico Innovation Summit (TIS 2026), held at the Técnico Innovation Center in Lisbon.

Throughout the day, ITI was present with a dedicated stand showcasing several ongoing research projects developed within the Institute. The projects were presented directly by six ITI representatives — Pedro Galvão-Ferreira, Luiz Sachser, Ivo Roupa,Camila Abreu, Yanick Lambert, and João Leal Severino — who engaged with visitors, partners, researchers, and members of the Técnico community.

The event also marked the inauguration of a new ITI stand structure, conceived as a reusable communication and exhibition infrastructure for future events, outreach initiatives, and institutional representation.

In addition to the stand, ITI was represented in the closing panel on “Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transition and Ethics.” Nuno Jardim Nunes, President of ITI, joined Mário Figueiredo and João Miguel Sousa in a session moderated by Bruno Parra.

In his remarks, Nuno Jardim Nunes argued that Europe’s strength in artificial intelligence lies not in competing at the infrastructure level, but in building new service and interaction layers grounded in cultural values and ethical frameworks, while anticipating regulatory and societal impacts associated with emerging technologies.

The Técnico Innovation Summit brought together Research and Development Units, European-funded projects, spin-offs, startups, and institutional partners, reinforcing Técnico’s role in applied research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

ITI’s participation contributed to this ecosystem through interdisciplinary research in interactive technologies, sustainability, inclusion, and well-being, as well as through critical reflection on the future of AI and digital transition in Europe.

The Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI) invites expressions of interest for one PhD researcher position in the fields of Architecture or Digital Media, within the EU-funded project TIDAL ArtS.

This position is funded through a 12-month grant, renewable for an additional 12 months, up to a maximum of 24 months.
Application deadline: 7 February 2026.

About the project:

TIDAL ArtS is an interdisciplinary initiative working at the intersection of art, design, science, and more-than-human practices, contributing to the European Union’s Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.

Inspired by Astrida Neimanis’s concepts of Bodies of Water and the Hydrocommons, the project approaches water as both subject and practice. It adopts tidal cycles as a co-design methodology, fostering iterative engagements with local communities, scientists, and cultural actors, and enabling situated, relational, and more-than-human forms of collaboration.

Position details

• Role: PhD Researcher
• Host: ITI – Interactive Technologies Institute, Lisbon
• Fields: Architecture or Digital Media
• Funding: 12-month grant, renewable up to 24 months
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Deadline: 7 February 2026

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will contribute to the project through research, coordination, and creative activities, including:

• Writing and editing academic and non-academic publications
• Curatorial accompaniment, documentation, and reporting of artistic residencies
• Communication of residency outcomes and project results
• Monitoring project progress and supporting reporting activities

Profile

Applicants should have a background in Architecture, Design, Digital Media, or related fields, with an interest in interdisciplinary research, curatorial practices, and ecological or more-than-human perspectives. Strong organisational skills, clear communication, and the ability to work collaboratively are essential.

Application process

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest by email to marianapestana@tecnico.ulisboa.pt, including:

• A short motivation letter outlining research interests and relevance to TIDAL ArtS
• A curriculum vitae
• Contact details

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file by 7 February 2026.
Further details on eligibility, selection, and timelines will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

More information about ITI: https://iti.larsys.pt/vision-mission/
Project website: https://tidalarts.eu/

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Vicki L. Hanson, a valued member of ITI’s Advisory Board and a cherished leader in the computing community.

Vicki passed away on January 20. A pioneering researcher in human-computer interaction and accessibility, she devoted her career to expanding access to technology and broadening participation in computing. Vicki served as President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) from 2016 to 2018, and as its Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to 2025.

The Board and the members of ITI’s advisory board extend our heartfelt condolences to Vicki’s family, friends, and colleagues. She will be deeply missed, and we are grateful for the wisdom and dedication she brought to our Institute.

A new open-access paper by ITI researchers, published in Discover Sustainability, explores how artificial intelligence might be used to represent non-human interests in environmental decision-making.

Titled Exploring a biocentric LLM-based assistant in environmental decision-making with more-than-human representation of the Tagus Estuary, the study investigates whether Large Language Models (LLMs) can be instructed to speak from a biocentric perspective—foregrounding ecological concerns rather than exclusively human priorities.

Developed within the Bauhaus of the Seas Sails project, the research introduces a biocentric AI assistant trained on ecological data from the Tagus Estuary. In an experimental study, participants used either this biocentric assistant or an anthropocentric counterpart to advise on a speculative planning scenario: selecting a location for a new university campus.

While the biocentric assistant did not significantly alter participants’ final decisions, it shaped how those decisions were justified. Participants engaging with the biocentric assistant demonstrated greater reflection on environmental impacts and ecological trade-offs, suggesting that AI-mediated non-human representation can influence decision-making processes even when outcomes remain unchanged.

The paper contributes to ongoing debates in more-than-human HCI, raising questions about the role of AI in sustainability, representation, and ecological governance.

Authors:
Rudolfo Félix, Filipa Correia, Cristiano Pedroso-Roussado, and Nuno J. Nunes
📖 Read the full paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-02474-1

Image credit: AI-generated image (Midjourney), produced for this publication.

On 28 November 2025, ITI researchers Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos presented the MODINA Seminar at Kino Šiška, as part of CoFestival – International Festival of Contemporary Dance, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The session brought together researchers, artists, and an engaged public to explore dance-led research and embodied intelligence, with a focus on how interaction and movement inform human-centred perspectives on digital intelligence.

The programme included research talks by Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos, followed by an artist–audience roundtable, moderated by David dos Santos (ITI), with the artists behind:

• Nino — Bruno Martelli & Ruth Gibson
• Gaitless — Marko Milić & Uroš Krčadinac
• Still Moving — Liis Vares & Taavet Jansen

The Ljubljana seminar framed interaction as a shared space of inquiry, allowing embodied knowledge, artistic practice, and creative processes to emerge through dialogue between artists, researchers, and audiences.

ITI researchers Pedro Miguel Matono, Ivo Roupa, Pedro Campos, and Daniel Simões Lopes presented the paper Assessing Redundant Interface Designs for Precise Number Input in Virtual Reality at VRST 2025, the 31st ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, held in Montreal, Canada, from 12–14 November 2025.

The paper addresses the challenge of typing and editing decimal numbers in Virtual and Extended Reality environments. While numerical input is an important task in spatial computing, many existing tools rely on virtual replicas of physical calculators or number pads. To address this, the authors redesigned the traditional calculator-style numpad for Extended Reality environments, introducing redundant interface features intended to make number entry and editing easier, clearer, and faster than a standard numpad.

The study evaluated these redesigned interfaces through user testing. In testing, users preferred the redesigned interfaces compared to a standard numpad, reporting that the added features supported easier and more efficient entry and editing of numbers.

The paper was published in the Proceedings of the 2025 31st ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST ’25), Article No. 31, pages 1–12.

Publication details
Assessing Redundant Interface Designs for Precise Number Input in Virtual Reality
Authors: Pedro Miguel Matono, Ivo Roupa, Pedro Campos, Daniel Simões Lopes
Conference: VRST 2025 — Montreal, Canada
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3756884.3765979