Nuno Jardim Nunes and Valentina Nisi Deliver Talks at the National University of Singapore

Researchers from the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI), Nuno Jardim Nunes and Valentina Nisi, were recently invited to speak at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where they presented insights on digital storytelling, cultural heritage, and sustainability through technology. Their talks, deeply connected to ongoing European projects, highlighted the intersection of interactive technologies, design, and participatory culture.

Nuno Jardim Nunes, President and Founder of ITI, presented “Bauhaus of the Seas – a Vision for the New European Bauhaus”, a talk centered on the Bauhaus of the Seas (BoS), one of the flagship initiatives of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). BoS is the only NEB lighthouse project led by a Southern European country, rolling out in seven cities across Europe. In his presentation, Nunes emphasized the project’s interdisciplinary framework, which integrates interspecies, intergenerational, and intercultural design approaches. He also discussed how digital technologies, including AI, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and interactive storytelling, are used to foster new urban interventions. His talk also provided key insights into the BIG ERA Chair, exploring how blockchain can be leveraged for social good, particularly in supporting participatory processes and interspecies assemblies.

Valentina Nisi, Full Professor of Design Thinking at Técnico – University of Lisbon, delivered a talk titled “Storytelling as a Bridge to Heritage and Cultural Identity”. She presented case studies from several EU-funded projects, including the MEMEX and LoGaCulture initiatives, demonstrating how interactive digital storytelling can address societal challenges. MEMEX, for instance, aims to enhance social cohesion through heritage-related tools, offering inclusive access to cultural heritage and fostering interactions among marginalized communities in Lisbon, Paris, and Barcelona. LoGaCulture takes this concept further by integrating locative games into cultural heritage experiences, blending nature and culture through VR, AR, and mixed reality. Nisi also explored the role of DLTs and NFTs in preserving and enhancing natural heritage, reinforcing the importance of digital technologies in cultural sustainability.

Both talks underscored ITI’s ongoing contributions to European research and innovation, particularly within the frameworks of Bauhaus of the Seas Sails, the BIG ERA Chair, and LoGaCulture. The engagement at NUS further strengthens international collaborations and paves the way for future interdisciplinary research at the crossroads of design, technology, and societal impact.