members
Helena Machado [ Coordinator ]
is Full Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal. Currently, she is interested in interrogating the intrinsically social and political nature of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies - how they order society, distribute benefits and burdens, and channel power. Her current particular focus are two-fold: (i) the imaginaries about facial recognition enacted by developers of AI, activists, artistic and cultural counter-practices, and stigmatized populations; (ii) the normative framing of "responsible" AI, and its enactments of publics participation. There is life beyond academia, and Helena is an avid social player of tennis and padel.
hmachado@ics.uminho.pt
Emília Araújo
is Associate Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences (ICS), University of Minho, Portugal. She is also a researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS) at the same University, and collaborator researcher at SOCIUS (University of Lisbon). Her research interests primarily revolve around sociology of the future, with a particular focus on the effects of science and technology, including artificial intelligence. In addition to her academic pursuits, Emília loves to travel and is passionate about theater - she has been participating in several community theater plays and groups for a long time.
emiliararaujo@gmail.com / era@ics.uminho.pt
Filipa Queirós
is Junior Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Portugal. Her work explores the use of biometric technologies in criminal investigations that aim to gather information about the human face and biogeographic ancestry of suspects. Currently, she is researching the uses of facial recognition technology by law enforcement forces. Her focus is on how data and algorithms affect police investigative practices, namely in regards to suspicion and racial discrimination. Beyond academia, Filipa is a serious bookworm case, a Netflix addict, and, despite complaining, loves the escape of workout.
filipaqueiros@ces.uc.pt
Laura Neiva
is a PhD student at the Institute for Social Sciences and a researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho, Portugal. Her doctoral research focuses on police officers’ expectations towards Big Data in policing and criminal investigations in Portugal, seeking to understand how their expectations might impact criminal justice, police, and law enforcement. She is also interested in exploring the challenges emerging from the growth of artificial intelligence in these fields. Laura is an unstoppable runner, a nature lover, and an amateur actress.
lauraneiva@ics.uminho.pt
Maria João Vaz
PhD in Sociology, developed her thesis at the Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal, with the title "Expectations and imaginaries about Big Data and tourism in Portugal in a post-COVID-19 world". Aided by several years of experience working in tourism, Maria João closely analyses the growing, but still embryonic, interest in Big Data and artificial intelligence in the Portuguese tourism by considering the views of diverse stakeholders. Besides academic life, Maria João is a passionate reader and, whenever possible, loves to travel around the world.
mariavictorino@gmail.com
Rafaela Granja
is Auxiliary Researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho, Portugal. Her work explores the technological surveillance of criminalized populations at different stages of the criminal justice system, namely criminal investigations, community measures, and imprisonment. She is currently studying data management practices and how artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly relevant in those contexts. Besides being dedicated to criminal matters in her professional activities, Rafaela enjoys yoga, meditation, and getting lost in time while cooking.
r.granja@ics.uminho.pt
Sheila Khan
is a sociologist, researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho. She is also an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and commentator on the panel of the African Debate program at the radio station RDP África. Her research focuses on memory and postmemory, Afrodescendants’ narratives and commitments on historical reparations and the duty of memory from a postcolonial and comparative perspective. She is interested in exploring data colonialism, algorithmic coloniality, and decolonial AI. Beside her academic responsibility, she enjoys reading, writing, doing crossfit, running, and cooking.
sheilakhan31@gmail.com
Susana de Noronha
is Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra and Invited Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho (Portugal). Her research underlines the ontological, epistemological, and performative character of the visual arts, focusing on health & illness experiences, narratives, environments, technologies, and other more-than-human materialities. She is currently interested in science+art+tech+community collaborations, understanding how artificial intelligence can reshape the stories we tell and the worlds we make. Between words and images, Susana is also a lyricist/poet and illustrator, enhancing art-based scientific methodologies with metaphor and imagination.
susananoronha@ces.uc.pt
Susana Silva
is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal, and researcher at the Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA). Based on interdisciplinary multi- and mixed-methods research, she is currently interested in pragmatic ethics, ethics of care, and public involvement on the regulation of artificial intelligence’s applications, with a focus on emergent and controversial uses in synthetic human reproduction. Susana loves walking, gardening, and traveling.
susilva@ics.uminho.pt