2nd FORTHEM Annual Conference - Connecting Worlds of Science and Society"

Jan 29, 2025, 9:00 AM → Jan 31, 2025, 9:45 PM Europe/Berlin

ONLINE

2nd Annual FORTHEM conference 

FORTHEM – For the Future

 

^{January 29-31, 2025}

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2nd FORTHEM Annual Conference, “Connecting Worlds of Science and Society,” is taking place from January 29-31, 2025. This edition will highlight the vital role of science in shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future for all, while showcasing the FORTHEM Alliance’s efforts to bridge the gap between science and society through research-driven outreach initiatives.

The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, enhance global competitiveness, and address pressing challenges. By encouraging participation across various disciplines, FORTHEM seeks to expand its networks, engaging researchers from other alliances, academic institutions, and non-academic partners.

This collaborative research approach strengthens our ability to respond to unforeseen crises like pandemics and regional conflicts, which have long-term societal impacts requiring comprehensive study. It also enables us to navigate the rapidly changing societal and technological landscape. FORTHEM recognizes that basic and applied research are essential, complementary forces that drive creativity and innovation, creating a thriving research environment.

Featuring 12 thematic sessions, the conference will facilitate the sharing, discussion, and evaluation of research findings across a range of current and critical fields. By welcoming researchers from around the world, FORTHEM invites participants to explore common research strengths and forge meaningful connections. 

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We invite submissions on but not limited to the following topics:

General sessions:

• Navigating the challenges and opportunities of diversity and migration
• Enhancing multilingualism and learning in schools and universities
• Ensuring safety, nutrition, and sustainability
• Shaping the future through digital transformation
• Climate Change and resource management: strategies for a sustainable future
• Cultural exchanges and integration in the 21st century Europe
• Improving life quality and resilience amid demographic shifts
• Art and Aesthetics as critical infrastructure in an uncertain world
• Preserving cultural heritage - balancing tradition and modernity
• AI-driven realities: embracing the future of human and machine synergy
   

Cross-disciplinary sessions specially targeted for Early-Stage researchers:

• Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts: insights from next-gen researchers
• Natural and Life Sciences: insights from next-gen researchers

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Wednesday, January 29

Opening Ceremony: Moderator: Dr. Agnese Rusakova

1 Connect Over Coffee: Meet & Greet

2 Opening of the conference

Speaker: Dr Agnese Rusakova (Faculty of Education, Psychology and Arts)

3 Welcome speech by the Research, Innovation and Transfer Mission Board's Co-chair

Speaker: Dr Nikolaus Bourdos (FORTHEM Research, Innovation and Transfer Mission Board's Co-chair, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

4 Greeting from the European University Association on behalf of the conference

Speaker: Monika Steinel (Deputy Secretary General, European University Association)

5 The Joint Research Center - European Commission

Speaker: Emanuella Bellan (Head of Unit, European Commission, Joint Research Centre)

Ensuring safety, nutrition, and sustainability: Chair: Prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

11:00 AM Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

6 Triterpene glycosides from the roots of Deutzia x hybrida “Strawberry Fields” (Hydrangeaceae) as sweet taste modulators

Deutzia Thunb. is a genus of the Hydrangeaceae family, among the seven families belonging to the Cornales order. The 60 species of this genus are widespread in warm temperate climate, from Southeast Asia to the Philippines, West, and South of North America, also Central America. The Deutzia species hold an economic significance as ornamental plants, with hybrids such as Deutzia x hybrida or Deutzia x rosea. From a phytochemistry point of view, echinocystic acid glycosides, Deutzicoside A and B, have been previously isolated from Deutzia corymbosa . Echinocystic acid was found in literature, to possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidation activities. However, information about their influence on the sweet taste receptor TAS1R2/TAS1R3 is currently lacking. This oral presentation thoroughly describes the isolation protocol of the Deutzia x hybrida “Strawberry Fields” cultivar using various chromatographic techniques, such as VLC, flash chromatography and MPLC, and the structural analysis of the pure compounds. The evaluation of the activation of the TAS1R2/TAS1R3 receptor will be presented.

Speaker: Efstathia KARACHALIOU (Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne)

7 Assessing the role of red beetroot by-product in modulating the bioavailability in vitro of Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A, and Zearalenone

Assessment of red beetroot by-products on mycotoxin bioavailability through an in vitro digestion model and a Caco-2 cell system simulating the intestinal epithelium. This study highlights the potential role of dietary components in enhancing food safety strategies.

Speaker: Paula Llorens Castello (Universitat de València)

8 Comparation of two stirring devices for NADES sequential extraction of polyphenols from soybean

Interest in sustainable food production and consumption has been growing, with soybean (Glycine max L) being highlighted as a nutritious and low-cost option used in food products and dietary supplements. The extraction of compounds from soybeans using green solvents is relevant for its safe and environmentally friendly properties. Among these, the Natural Deep Eutectic Eutectic Solvents (NADES) are renewable mixtures that, in specific proportions, generate liquids with lower melting points than their individual components. This study aims to select the best method to extract polyphenols from soybean using a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic NADES. The COSMO-RS model was used to predict solubility and sequential extractions were carried out with different combinations of NADES. Two extraction methods were compared: heating with stirring (HS) and heating with orbital shaker (HOS), at 45 °C for 45 min. Results showed that the combination of C:T and CA:Glu was the most effective, with a higher total polyphenol content (TPC) in HS (23.6 mg GAE/g) compared to HOS (17.1 mg GAE/g). Sequential extraction proved to be effective and the use of COSMO-RS facilitated the identification of optimal NADES combinations.

Speaker: Giulia Ceravolo (University of Milan)

9 A multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation of contaminant effects in marine organisms: from biomarkers to food safety

Exposure of marine organisms to contaminants, such as heavy metals, is a major environmental and health concern. Contaminants bioaccumulate in marine ecosystems and enter human food chain through seafood, posing health risks. The dynamic of heavy metal bioaccumulation depends on the chemical properties of the contaminants, exposure levels, species, and affected tissues. Given the difficulty of monitoring all anthropogenic contaminants that pose environmental risks, a promising approach is to use biomarkers to assess biochemical responses. Biomarkers detect cellular stress before observable effects at higher biological levels. A key response to heavy metals is oxidative stress, caused by ROS, which damages cells and impairs health. ROS can lead to lipid peroxidation, affecting cell membranes, which is especially concerning in marine organisms due to their high levels of PUFAs, including omega-3 fatty acids. While oxidative stress and biomarkers have been studied, less research has been done on how lipid oxidation affects fish growth and quality. Understanding bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants in fish is crucial for assessing risks to human health through the marine food chain. A multidisciplinary approach, integrating bioaccumulation data with molecular and cellular assessments, promotes environmental sustainability, ecological integrity and food safety, in line with the “One Health” model.

Speaker: Dr Simona Manuguerra (University of Palermo)

2nd FORTHEM Annual conference_Manuguerra Simona.pdf

10 Modeling the losses at honey processing

In the honey industry, reducing losses is an important aspect for decreasing costs and increasing sustainability. In this research, the honey processing was analyzed – from raw material to packaged honey (in barrels or jars), to analyze losses. Experiments were realised on two types of honey, acacia and polyfloral, to establish the dependence of density and viscosity on temperature. A model describing the flow through pipes and the flow on surfaces was created; values for the honey layer that remains on pipes and surfaces were obtained. The results of the mathematical model were validated by measuring the honey layer remained when flowing on stainless steel surfaces. Based on the model obtained, losses were calculated in different technological stages. As the results indicate, losses in honey processing at the temperature of 40oC by: unloading honey from barrels, crushing honey lumps, transporting honey to the dehumidifier, dehumidification, transporting honey to the homogenization-tempering tank, transporting to filtration and transporting to packaging are at least 1.5 %. Working at lower temperatures determines an increase of losses. Losses increase with the complexity of the technological process. Losses in honey processing are added to humidity losses, impurities and undetermined losses. Suggestions for process optimization are given.

Speaker: Monica Mironescu (University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu)

11 Dual toxicity of gliotoxin and ochratoxin A in human intestinal cell model

Gliotoxin (GTX) and Ochratoxin A (OTA), produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi in food and feed, are harmful mycotoxins affecting human and animal health as it has been previously showed in our studies their cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuronal model and its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. his study investigates their medium inhibitory concentration (IC50) and using Caco-2 cells as a model for the human intestinal epithelium.The IC50 of GTX, OTA, and their combinations was evaluated via the MTT assay at 24h and 48h. GTX demonstrated higher cytotoxicity than OTA across both cell lines and time points, as reflected in lower IC50 values. In SH-SY5Y cells, GTX achieved an IC50 of 1.25 μM after 48 hours, while OTA exhibited a much weaker cytotoxic effect, with an IC50 of 8.25 μM at 24 hours. Similarly, in Caco-2 cells, GTX was more potent, reaching an IC50 of 1.2 μM at 48 hours, compared to OTA, which had IC50 values of 7.9 μM at 24 hours and 5.1 μM at 48 hours.

Speaker: Raquel Penalva Olcina (Universitat de Valencia)

12 Comparative Cytotoxicity of Moniliformin and Patulin: Assessing the Impact of Binary Mycotoxin Combination on SH-SY5Y Cells

Mycotoxins like moniliformin (MON) and patulin (PAT) are toxic compounds commonly found in food and feed, posing significant health threats to both humans and animals. Of particular concern is their frequent co-occurrence in binary mixtures, which could amplify their toxic effects. This study explores the cytotoxic impact of MON, PAT, and their combination on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, shedding light on the potential risks associated with combined exposure. By investigating the interplay of these toxins, this research emphasizes the pressing need for deeper understanding and improved risk assessment of food contaminated with multiple mycotoxins, an issue of growing relevance in food safety and public health.

Speaker: Claudia Moyano López (Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Valencia)

2 ANNUAL CONF. FORTHEM_poster CML.pdf

13 No food pleasure without food concepts: Neophobic children's food categorization

Current explanations of food rejection, which peaks between 2 and 6 years, mostly refer to genetic predispositions and environmental influences. However, these two broad influences do not take into account the cognitive factors implicated in children’s decision to accept or refuse a given food. We suggest that food rejection dispositions (i.e., food neophobia and pickiness) are associated with various cognitive factors, such as categorization skills and executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility). We will document children’s categorization difficulties and question the cognitive underpinnings of these difficulties in testing the strength of the association between cognitive flexibility and food neophobia and pickiness, and elaborate on their difficulty to consider food from multiple perspectives

Speaker: Jean-Pierre Thibaut (Université Bourgogne Europe)

Forthem Food Thibaut.pdf

14 Valorisation of fish by-products for sustainable blue economy: nutraceutical, feed, and food sectors

The growing demand for fish products poses sustainability challenges for the fish supply chain. The European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda promote sustainable blue economy strategies, highlighting the valorisation of fisheries, aquaculture and processing by-products to reduce waste and promote a circular economy.
Fish by-products, such as those from Sicilian bluefin tuna processing, are valuable sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), known for their health benefits. Advanced enrichment techniques such as Short Path Distillation (SPD) extract of PUFA-rich fractions for nutraceutical applications.
In the feed sector, fish by-products have been successfully incorporated into insect diets to improve their nutritional profile. The incorporation of fish by-products into insect diets, as shown in the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), significantly increases the omega-3 PUFA content of the larvae, improving their nutritional value for aquafeed. Additionally, crustacean by-products can be used to develop sustainable food packaging. Protein hydrolysates rich in antioxidants can be incorporated into chitosan-gelatin films, resulting in active packaging with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
The valorisation of fish by-products in different sectors contributes to the goals of the circular economy by minimising waste and supporting sustainable innovations in nutraceutical, feed and food packaging sectors.

Speaker: Rosaria Arena (University of Palermo)

FORTHEM_2conference_poster_Arena.pdf

15 Best practices for local-level social engagement and guideline implementation in the blue economy sector

Despite its potential, the EU blue economy faces challenges related to stakeholder involvement, maturity, and sector gaps. To address these gaps, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive framework that includes social engagement, training activities, and governance strategies supporting a sustainable blue economy. This framework should raise local awareness of the social and economic value of marine resources, promote innovative management of marine value chains, and strengthen stakeholder networks. It should also integrate art and design to enhance communication and engagement through targeted campaigns. This research activity aimed to promote social engagement in the blue economy sector at local level in Western Sicily, focusing on sustainable use of marine resources and the valorization of marine by-products. A Map & Gap analysis, combined with co-creation workshops and B2B meetings, identified local gaps in marine resource management, communication strategies and stakeholders’ engagement. In response, continuous adult training programs, awareness campaigns, and governance guidelines were implemented. New communication campaigns, combining art and scientific research, were developed to engage local communities. These activities, in line with Agenda 2030, aimed at sustainable use of marine resources and by-products applying the “turning waste into profit” approach, contributing to local development and the European Green Deal objectives.

Speaker: Eleonora Curcuraci (University of Palermo)

Curcuraci E, Manuguerra S, Messina CM_Poster_FORTHEM_2conference.pdf

16 Cytotoxic Effects of Acrylamide, Penitrem A, and 3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol on Caco-2 Cells

Acrylamide (AA), formed in starchy foods during high-temperature cooking, is a recognized food processing contaminant. Mycotoxins, such as penitrem A (PEN A), produced by Penicillium species, and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), produced by Fusarium culmorum, are natural food contaminants with well-documented toxic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of AA, PEN A, and 3-ADON individually and in combination on Caco-2 cells. Cells were exposed to AA (0–10,000 µM), PEN A (0–40 µM), and 3-ADON (0–8 µM), and to combinations [AA + 3-ADON] (0–5,004 µM), [PEN A + AA] (0–5,040 µM), and [PEN A + 3-ADON] (0–44 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay.
3-ADON caused the greatest cytotoxicity at 24 h (40% reduction), while AA exhibited the highest toxicity at 48 and 72 h (95% and 97% reduction, respectively). PEN A significantly reduced viability at 48 and 72 h (85% and 91%). Binary combinations, especially AA + PEN A, caused the highest reduction in cell viability (66–90%), followed by the triple combination. These findings highlight the cytotoxic potential of food contaminants individually and synergistically.
Acknowledgements: Supported by PID2020-115871RB-100, CIAICO2022/199, and Generalitat Valenciana scholarships.

Speaker: Luna Bridgeman

17 The Role of Sleep Quality, Chronotype and Stress in Young Women on Postprandial Salivary Cortisol Levels

Cortisol, one of the most diurnally variable hormones, has been observed to have a significant rise during the postprandial period. The hormone levels are known to be impacted by sleep quality and stress levels. Therefore this study set out to assess the impact of sleep quality, chronotype and stress in the postprandial period of young women during two meals, one taken in the morning, other – in the evening. This study substantiates that sleep quality can impact the postprandial processes during the day, by altering the levels of cortisol, and consequently the glucose metabolism. It elucidates the importance of healthy sleep during the global obesity pandemic.

Speaker: Erīna Akmene

18 Application of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in the large-scale winemaking process of Catarratto, Nero d'Avola and Petit Verdot grape varieties

Malolactic fermentation is a secondary wine fermentation process carried out by one or more species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This process converts malic acid into lactic acid and CO2, reducing total acidity, increasing pH, and enhancing the microbiological stability of the wine. The introduction of LAB strains, particularly non-Oenococcus strains, in recent years, for oenological applications, has marked a significant advancement in the wine industry. The present study applied Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ML PrimeTM strain to Catarratto, Nero D'Avola, and Petit Verdot wines on an industrial scale and investigated, for the first time, the potential cultivar-LAB relationship and its effects on the sensory profile of the wine. The findings showed the efficacy of ML PrimeTM strain across various wine varieties, as evidenced by reduced acetic acid levels and accelerated malic acid degradation. The ML PrimeTM strain also significantly impacted the aromatic profile of the wines. The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the 24-hour stage notably enhanced the floral notes in Catarratto, Nero d'Avola, and Petit Verdot wines. Statistical graphical analysis of the volatile fractions of the wines supported the existence of a cultivar LAB relationship; however, further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Speaker: Valentina Craparo (University of Palermo)

19 Product Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture: A Sustainable Response to the Global Demand for Fish Resources

Seafood provides many of the elements needed for a balanced diet. These properties make them increasingly sought-after by consumers. This growing demand, combined with the demand for quality products, is forcing market competitors to diversify their productions. To this end, new methods of production, processing and preservation could be useful for the emergence of new products and new market opportunities by meeting consumer demands.
Aquaculture and genetic selection are considered proven and powerful tools for increasing production efficiency. They bring significant advantages to products (reduced cost of production, increased yield, increased disease resistance, improved nutritional fish properties).
Innovative processing and preservation technologies represent new opportunities to obtain diverse product categories, reduce waste, and extend seafood shelf life. Among these techniques, salting and smoking stand out as significant examples they can now be applied in innovative ways to improve the quality and shelf life of farmed fish species.
Innovative farming processes and production methods are keys to supporting the growing demand for high-quality seafood. By integrating advanced genetic selection programs and innovative processing techniques, both farmed and wild caught species can meet consumer expectations for sustainability, and nutritional value, and extended shelf life.

Speakers: Maxime Rannou (Università degli Studi di Palermo), Alessandra Aiello (University of Palermo)

FORTHEM_2conference_poster_Rannou.pdf

20 The presence of bio-activators during yeast inoculation to evaluate their impact under the harsh conditions of alcoholic wine fermentation

The early stages of alcoholic fermentation are highly susceptible to external influences and the success of the process depends on the ability of the fermenting yeast strain to adapt to adverse conditions. This study investigated the effect of adding two commercial bio-activators on fermentation performance and yeast cell responses during the first 48 hours of alcoholic fermentation. In addition, the effect of a low pH environment (2.9) on the parameters under analysis was assessed. Specifically, yeast population levels were monitored using plate counts and flow cytometry, which allowed to evaluate also yeast viability, during the first 48 hours after inoculation. The RNA was extracted from yeast cells, converted to cDNA and analysed by RT-qPCR to assess gene expression. Notably, both plate counts and flow cytometry showed that yeast population levels were higher at 14 hours after inoculation in the bio-activator treatments. In addition, the addition of bio-activators improved cell viability under both standard and low pH conditions. Gene expression analysis revealed distinct treatment-dependent responses, suggesting that the bio-activators affected stress-related pathways. Overall, this study provides important insights into yeast cell physiology, highlighting how yeast cells adapt their behaviour to cope with challenging conditions during the early stages of fermentation.

Speaker: Enrico Viola (University of Palermo)

21 Valorisation of The Invasive Blue Crab in the food and nutraceutical sector: A Circular Economy Approach

The invasive blue crab in the Mediterranean presents an environmental challenge and a valuable resource. Blue crab biomass can be valorized through the extraction of bioactive compounds like chitin, chitosan, and astaxanthin. Chitin and chitosan have potential applications in food packaging and preservation due to their film-forming and antimicrobial properties. Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant, has nutraceutical value with potential health benefits. Additionally, protein hydrolysates derived from blue crab waste can be used as natural emulsifiers and water-holding agents in food applications. This approach promotes sustainable waste management in the seafood and nutraceutical industry, contributing to the blue circular economy by maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.

Speaker: Michelle Magriet Marchan Gonzalez (Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, DiSTeM, University of Palermo, Via Barlotta 4, 91100 Trapani, Italy)

22 Bilberry compounds as modulators of gene expression, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress in mycotoxin-exposed intestinal cells

Mycotoxin contamination, particularly with ochratoxin A (OTA), poses significant food safety and health risks, inducing oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and disrupting intestinal barrier function. This study assessed the protective effects of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) compounds in differentiated Caco-2 cells exposed to intestinal digests of bread variants: control bread (C), bread with OTA (OTA), bread with bilberries 2% (VM), and bread containing both OTA and bilberries 2% (OTA-VM).
Apoptosis/necrosis analysis revealed that OTA digests significantly increased dead cell counts (5.10 ± 0.34%) compared to OTA-VM digests (2.16 ± 0.61%), with similar trends observed for cells in early and late apoptosis. ROS levels showed a 15% reduction in oxidative stress in OTA-VM-exposed cells compared to OTA alone.
Gene expression analysis highlighted the ability of bilberries to partially modulate mitochondrial and barrier-related genes, including CLAU-2, OCCLUDIN, SRXN1, and SLC7A11, essential for oxidative stress response, cellular defense, and intestinal integrity. These findings underscore the potential of bilberries to mitigate OTA-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress, supporting their role as natural functional food ingredients for promoting intestinal health.

Speaker: Denisia Iulia Pasca (University of Valencia)

Pasca_Denisia_FORTHEM_Conference_Poster.pdf

23 Incorporating Lactic Acid Bacteria for the Development of Innovative Donkey Milk-Based Products

Donkey milk, valued for its exceptional nutritional properties, serves as a promising base for functional dairy products. This study highlights two innovative applications: a fermented milk beverage enriched with exopolysaccharides and folic acid using specific Streptococcus thermophilus strains, and an ice cream fortified with vitamin C and probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis). Both products demonstrated enhanced nutritional and functional qualities, with the ice cream effectively maintaining high probiotic viability during storage. These results underline the potential of donkey milk combined with lactic acid bacteria to create innovative, health-promoting dairy products.

Speaker: Ichrak CHARFI (Innovation and Valorization Laboratory for a Sustainable Food Industry (LIVIAD), ESIAT. University of Carthage, Tunisia)

24 Evaluation of fermented whey and pumpkin as functional ingredients against aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A oral toxicity in rat duodenum

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are potent mycotoxins known for their significant health risks. To mitigate their toxic effects, bioactive ingredients such as fermented whey (FW) and pumpkin (P) have been studied for their antioxidant and immunoregulatory properties. This research explored the protective potential of FW and P against AFB1 and OTA-induced toxicity in duodenal tissue, focusing on key genes involved in apoptosis, antioxidant activity, and intestinal integrity. The findings suggest that FW and P effectively modulate molecular pathways involved in the response to these mycotoxins, offering a protective effect. Importantly, these benefits were observed to be independent of the sex of the subjects, underlining their broad applicability as functional ingredients for preventing mycotoxin-induced damage.

Speaker: sarra rafai

FORTHEM_2conference_poster_SarraVF.pdf

11:00 PM Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

25 Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

Speaker: Ana Juan-García (University of Valencia)

26 Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

Speaker: Ana Juan-García (University of Valencia)

27 Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

28 Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

Speaker: Ana Juan-García (University of Valencia)

11:00 PM Introduction to the session: prof. Ana Juan-Garcia

Navigating the challenges and opportunities of diversity and migration

29 Introduction to the session

Speaker: Prof. Vincenzo Todaro (Università degli Studi di Palermo)

30 Femintegra - "Exploring the Labor Trajectories of Romanian Women in Barcelona, Valencia, and Castellón"

Since the 1990s, immigration to Spain, especially in Catalonia and the Valencian Community, has grown significantly, sparking public debate and numerous studies. Romanian migration, in particular, increased dramatically in the early 2000s after the fall of the Eastern European communist bloc, making Romanians one of the largest immigrant groups in Spain. This doctoral study focuses on the labour integration of Romanian immigrant women in Barcelona, Valencia, and Castellón, analysing their employment profiles, labour trajectories, and the factors aiding their entry into the workforce.
The study employs a mixed methodology, using surveys for demographic and employment data and interviews for personal insights into their labour experiences. Preliminary findings show that most Romanian women work in lower-paying sectors such as hospitality, domestic work, agriculture, and, less frequently, healthcare and education. Many face challenges like precarious work conditions, limited recognition of qualifications, and high mobility due to economic crises and recent labour reforms. The study highlights the importance of factors like EU policies and social networks in supporting their integration and calls for further analysis to address the specific challenges faced by Romanian immigrant women in Spain.

Speaker: Ioana Marin (University of Valencia)

31 Challenges to Educational and Social Inclusion of Refugee Children in Latvia

This study explores the academic and social inclusion of asylum-seeking and refugee children in the Latvian school system, using a whole-child approach that focuses on each child's overall well-being and development. The research combines perspectives from multiple stakeholders through semi-structured interviews with school leaders, teachers, and teaching assistants directly involved in the inclusion process. Additionally, children are interviewed to understand their experiences and feelings, alongside their parents and friends, to provide a comprehensive view of the inclusion process. The study follows a case study methodology, tracking the situation in six Latvian schools.

By evaluating the alignment of inclusion practices with children’s right to education, international standards, and policy commitments, this research aims to identify gaps between policy and practice. It highlights the importance of addressing these gaps to ensure equitable access to quality education for all children. The findings are expected to provide practical recommendations for policymakers and educators, contributing to the broader dialogue on inclusive education in diverse and evolving social contexts.

Speaker: Zane Melke (PhD student)

11:40 AM Disscussion: facilitated by Prof. Delia Stefenel

32 Communicative strategies and sociolinguistic integration of non-Spanish-speaking migrants in Spain

Sociolinguistic integration, which extends beyond mastering the language(s) spoken in the host society to include the development of a sense of belonging, is crucial for migrants to establish solid relations with their receiving communities. In this sense, communicative strategies, defined as action plans to attain communicative goals, are essential. Through an online questionnaire, this research project explored how such strategies affect the sociolinguistic integration of non-Spanish-speaking migrants in Spain, and it identified which ones were most commonly used by them. These included paraphrasing, mimicking, avoiding, requesting help and feedback, apologizing, developing cultural competence, and using digital tools. The results corroborate that sociolinguistic integration largely depends on the quality of relationships between migrants and the native population. Therefore, implementing strategies to facilitate communication between the two groups is a vital element of their interactions that must be thoroughly studied and understood.

Speaker: Ms Daína Eileen Pestana Blay (Universitat de Valencia)

33 Discrimination Against Syrian Refugees in the Turkish Labor Market and Their Position in Turkey ' s Workforce

This research aims to observe the living standards of migrants in host countries by analyzing social media content and the comments on these posts. Despite having an importance in the Turkish labor market, Syrian refugees do not experience the same working conditions as locals. Their access to fundamental rights, such as social security and fair wages, is often limited, and they frequently face poor treatment. Perceptions of refugees play a significant role in this inequality. There is a strong correlation between attitudes toward refugees and the working and living conditions they encounter in the host country.
Del Carpio et al.(2018) demonstrated that regions with a high concentration of Syrian refugees relative to the local population and the national refugee total are among the most disadvantaged. These areas tend to have fewer formal businesses, limited job creation, lower educational attainment, reduced labour force participation, and higher unemployment rates than the national average. This situation can be attributed to factors such as the ease of finding unskilled jobs, limited social networks, societal perceptions, or the lack of recognition of their qualifications. Furthermore, social networks play a crucial role and these are visible through social media channels.

Speaker: Aslı Bilge Aslan

34 Mapping Migration’s (In)Visibilities: The Role of Short-Video Formats in Shaping Public Narratives

I critically examines the role of short-video formats—such as Instagram Reels and TikTok videos—in shaping the visual narratives of migration and their implications for public geographies(Lake 2024; Torre 2023). Drawing on theoretical insights and empirical findings from a film-based research project with West African migrants, the study explores how audiovisual media can foster new spaces for visibility and public debate. Short-video formats, often characterized by emotional and highly affective content, serve as low-barrier tools to counteract dominant narratives of dehumanization, xenophobia, and epistemic violence. However, the visibility these formats provide is double-edged (Bayramoğlu 2023; Clark 2024; Radojevic et al. 2020).
This research interrogates how the mediatized visibility regimes embedded in short-video platforms produce typological and stereotypical representations, shaping both empathy and suspicion among viewers. It argues that "doing film geography" with short-video formats provides an important methodological tool for understanding and critiquing these visibility regimes. By situating individual migrant stories within broader visual cultures, the study calls for a reflective and ethically sensitive approach to visual media, emphasizing the need to dismantle the logics of commodified visibility while fostering nuanced, inclusive narratives that move beyond the reductive figure of "the migrant."

Speaker: Paul Hummel (JGU Mainz)

12:31 PM Discussion: facilitated by Prof. Delia Stefenel

35 Comparative analysis of the regional identities formation through minority organizations: cross-border features and belonging

The attached abstract aims to explain the research plan in detail while also discussing some of the theoretical definitions tied to it through the topic. It presents the idea of comparing 3 diversified regions (Opole, Cieszyn, and Lviv) with noticeable self-organized (Polish and German) minority communities operating there. The research looks at the chosen groups' history and current surrounding environment, trying to identify similarities in how they present their belonging and use cross-border cooperation opportunities.
Its main goal is to establish, whether there are differences within the minority communities located within and just outside the borders of the EU. Especially curious would be the comparison between the German minority in Opole and the Polish minority in Lviv since communities have historically used (or still use) similar tools allowing for cross-border migration of their participants to the EU countries.

Speaker: Khrystyna Shelvakh (Opole University)

FORTHEM_Khrystyna Shelvakh.pptx

36 Religious communities in Latvia: sociocultural experience of newcomers’ inclusion

Historical experience of various religious denominations’ coexistence in Latvia demonstrates sustainable social mechanisms – self-organisation, charity, solidarity strategies, significant for the contemporary situation, where inclusion and supporting newcomers (permanent, temporary, voluntary and forced migrants) are directly linked to the Latvian society’s security.

The aim of the research is to identify the experience of religious communities in newcomers integration into Latvian society, describing forms of social assistance practiced by communities both at institutionalized (mission work, Sunday schools, shelters) and at informal level (networking, social events, assistance).

Historically rooted religious groups in Latvia have a diverse cultural and social “profile”, including linguistic and ethnic differences, therefore suggested different inclusion strategies for culturally different newcomers. Accompanying religious parishes, the religious / public organizations like Order of Malta Relief Organization in Latvia, Diaconia Centre of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Baltic Global Initiative build solidarity network between religious and secular society groups, supporting charity and access to funding. Diaconia and pastoral care are helpful practices, promoting networks of newcomers and locals, as well as providing social services also to larger group outside denomination (Caritas Latvia, The Salvation Army in Latvia).

This research was supported the grant nr. Nr.VPP-LETONIKA-2021/4-0002.

Speakers: Nadežda Pazuhina (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology), Inese Runce (University of Latvia)

37 European Immigration Policy towards Afghan Refugees and Migrants. The Comparative Study Poland and Germany

Europe has faced an unprecedented migration and refugee crisis since 2014, driven by armed conflicts, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. Afghan refugees represent a significant part of this migration due to decades of conflict, including the Taliban’s 2021 resurgence, which exacerbated displacement and created a humanitarian crisis. This study focuses on understanding the socio-economic integration of Afghan refugees in Europe by undertaking a comparative analysis of Germany and Poland.

The research aims to identify best practices and challenges in refugee integration while contributing actionable recommendations to enhance European migration policies. A comparative case study approach will be used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Surveys with Afghan refugees will gather data on social and economic integration, while interviews with policymakers and NGO representatives will provide deeper insights. Policy analysis of Germany’s established systems and Poland’s evolving approach will highlight differences and commonalities.

The expected results include identifying significant contrasts in integration outcomes, with Germany likely showing stronger successes due to robust systems, while Poland may reveal key barriers. By addressing these gaps, the study seeks to propose effective solutions for improving refugee integration policies across Europe, bridging the gap between humanitarian needs and practical governance.

Speaker: Mr Mohammad Kohistani (Phd student/Inernational Mobility Specialist)

1:22 PM Discussion: facilitated by Prof. Delia Stefenel

AI-driven realities: embracing the future of human and machine synergy: Chair: Dr. Agnese Rusakova

38 Using Gestalt Theory of Perception in Artifical Intelligence Training

Speaker: Dr Agnese Rusakova (Faculty of Education, Psychology and Arts)

39 Digital Tools, Archetypes and Implications in Marketing Educational Products: A Path to Global Competitiveness

Modern education faces challenges such as globalization, competition, and the need for integrating new technologies. Marketing strategies based on archetypes and implications show significant potential. Their combination with digital capabilities and the prospect of incorporating neuromarketing opens new pathways for enhancing the effectiveness and improving the communication strategies of educational institutions.
Integrating digital opportunities into marketing strategies significantly improves the effectiveness of promoting educational products. Archetypes and implications create emotional value, neuromarketing prospects offer new research opportunities. Further directions: development of interactive educational products using VR/AR; integration of AI for the personalization of educational programs;using of AI for analyzing target audience behavior and personalizing content.All these advancements are explored through the lens of archetypes and implications, enhancing emotional resonance and audience engagement.

Speaker: Halyna Mykhailenko (Department of International Relations, Poltava State Agrarian University)

40 Come with me if you want to live

Please find my abstract in attachment

Speaker: Jean-Francois Caron (University of Opole)

41 European Union`s Strategy Tackling AI-generated Disinformation and Social-Media Threats

The European Union's strategy to tackle Artificial Intelligence-generated disinformation and social media threats is a comprehensive approach aimed at safeguarding democratic processes, public trust, and societal cohesion. As AI technologies evolve, they have increased the scale and sophistication of disinformation campaigns, making it challenging to detect and counter false narratives. The EU's strategy focuses on several key areas: enhancing regulatory frameworks, fostering collaboration with tech companies, and promoting digital literacy.
Part of the approaches on this issue is related to the fact that AI significantly contributes to the fight against disinformation in the European Union and that AI technologies enhance the detection and analysis of disinformation by identifying patterns and anomalies in online content. Projects like GoodNews use deep learning to detect fake news by analysing spreading patterns on social media. Additionally, the WeVerify project employs AI for advanced content verification and debunking false information. These AI-driven initiatives are considered to help improve the accuracy and efficiency of disinformation detection, making it easier to counteract misleading content and protect democratic processes. Another part is against this approach and initiatives; our goal is to analyse both parties in terms of vulnerabilities, threats and risks on the communicational environment.

Speaker: Dr Nicoleta Annemarie Munteanu (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

Nicoleta Annemarie Munteanu FORTHEM_2conference_poster_template.pdf

Nicoleta Annemarie Munteanu FORTHEM_2conference_presentation_template.pdf

42 AI’s Environmental Burden – A Hidden Cost of Human-Machine Synergy

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries, streamline decision-making, and enhance human-machine synergy, its environmental impact remains an overlooked yet critical issue. While AI promises efficiency and progress, its energy-intensive infrastructure—data centers, large-scale computational training, and ongoing algorithmic operations—poses a growing sustainability challenge. This presentation explores the hidden environmental costs of AI, drawing insights from recent research on discursive silencing in science communication and the sociotechnical imaginaries that shape public narratives around AI’s environmental footprint.
Despite AI’s potential to contribute to climate change mitigation—through energy optimization, disaster forecasting, and carbon footprint monitoring—the industry’s unchecked expansion risks exacerbating energy inequality, carbon emissions, and resource depletion. Through a multimodal discourse analysis of AI-related media coverage (2022–2024), this study investigates how AI-focused reporting addresses sustainability concerns. It examines textual and visual strategies used, identifying how dominant narratives prioritize AI’s economic and technological benefits while obscuring its environmental impact.

Speaker: Robert Radziej (Uniwersytet Opolski)

43 Cultural Sensitivity in AI Translation of Chinese Language: Evaluating AI’s Capability to Grasp Culturally Rich Texts

The present study aims to critically evaluate the performance of the most popular AI translation tools in accurately translating culturally rich Chinese texts. Specifically, it seeks to assess the quality of translations regarding cultural sensitivity, idiomatic accuracy, and contextual appropriateness. The methodology followed includes a comparative analysis conducted using a curated corpus of Chinese texts encompassing various genres— classic literature, recent news texts from several different domains (society, culture, technology and science) from the platform Chairman’s Bao, contemporary colloquial conversations from Mandarin Bean and specialised technical manuals accessible through Baidu Wenku. These platforms have been selected for their comprehensive representation of linguistic and cultural diversity. This diverse collection ensures a robust test of AI translation capabilities across different text genres. For the analysis, several leading AI translation tools will be evaluated. The tools will be assessed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study is expected to find varied effectiveness among the AI tools, with anticipated deficiencies in translating idiomatic expressions and maintaining cultural authenticity. The findings will offer insights into the current capabilities and limitations of AI translation tools, emphasising areas where AI can augment human translation efforts and identifying gaps that require further technological refinement with human contribution.

Speaker: Iulia Cindea (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

44 The Benefits of Applying the DISC Model: The Key to Improving Collaboration and Efficiency in the Organizational Environment

Throughout history, people have been fascinated by the differences in personality among us. From Hippocrates to Carl Jung, William Marston, and many others, there has been an ongoing effort to decipher human behaviors, leading to the conclusion that three fundamental elements define our personality: heredity, environment and role models. Genetic traits do not entirely define our personality. There are aspects we can control. The DISC model is a method of personality assessment used to decipher the behavior and communication styles of individuals, whether in a professional or personal setting. Considering people's preference for tasks or relationships, as well as extroversion or introversion, this model identifies four basic behavioral styles. It has been applied the DISC technique to analyze a group of students from the Faculty of Engineering from "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Romania. The results indicated the following distribution: 56.5% of the students have a Dominant profile, 26.1% are Influential, 8.7% are Conscientious, and 8.7% are Steady. These data offer valuable insight into the group's dynamics and how each DISC profile contributes to forming an effective team. To maximize teaching and learning efficiency, it is essential to adapt teaching methods to the various DISC profiles present in the classroom.

Speakers: Mr Alexandru-Tobias Kocsis (Universitatea Lucian Blaga din Sibiu), Ms Jessica Koch (Universitatea Lucian Blaga din Sibiu)

The benefits of applying the DISC model_the 4 personality types.pptx

Shaping the future through digital transformation

45 Parties’ Use of Google Ads Elections

Speaker: Prof. Jasmin Fitzpatrick (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

46 Deliberative Democracy in the Digital Age

Governments have been experimenting with innovative practices in the field of deliberative democracy to make the public participate in decision-making. However, these experimental practices do not create citizens´ entitlements, nor public power duties. Citizens´ participation needs to be secured and guaranteed through codification and institutionalization. Otherwise, no rights are conferred to citizens and deliberative processes operate at the discretion of public authorities. Experimental practices, without a legal framework supporting them are likely to bring about harmful effects on democracy. Citizens may perceive that their participation is useless if their opinions are not finally considered in decision-making because not legal framework makes compulsory for public authorities to integrate these inputs in the process.
To turn these pilot programs into sustained governmental practices remains a challenge. However, institutionalization of deliberative democracy is the key to secure citizens’ rights and also to provide deliberative processes with a set of guaranties and safeguards. As well as this, deliberative democracy needs to address an additional challenge. Any legal considerations to deliberative processes must take a future-oriented approach, considering not only to give solution to current unsolved problems, but also considering the lurking challenges in a changing world dominated by new technologies and AI.

Speaker: María Jesús García García (UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA)

47 The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on employees' professional needs and expectations

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the needs and expectations of employees in multinational companies in Sibiu. Employee needs, which are a relevant factor in their attitudes and a determinant of motivation, influence the performance and success of organizations (Rivas & Perero, 2018). Additionally, employee expectations towards the workplace represent an important aspect in understanding how they adapt to the new challenges imposed by the pandemic (Spacey, 2018). The study was conducted on a sample of 54 employees from multinational companies in Sibiu and aimed to identify changes in their needs, including job security, work-life balance programs, personal development opportunities, psychological counseling, and expectations related to the control of workspace and time. The results indicate that employees whose well-being was affected during the pandemic have a greater need for psychological development programs and counseling. The study also revealed a significant relationship between family status and the need for control over workspace and time, highlighting the importance of a personalized approach in post-pandemic human resource management. These findings emphasize the need to adapt organizational policies to address to the new realities (needs and expectations) of employees.

Speaker: Ms Bianca Mădălina Popa ("Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu & Romanian Academy)

48 Analysis of the Correlation Between the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Productivity

Background. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business operations is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for enhancing productivity and driving economic growth. Understanding the relationship between AI adoption and labor productivity is essential for developing effective business strategies and economic policies in the digital age.

Aim. This research aims to analyze the correlation between the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and labor productivity across European countries during the period 2021-2023. By examining the interaction between AI technologies and productivity metrics, the study seeks to provide insights into the potential impact of AI on macroeconomic performance.

Speaker: SYLVESTER-ROBERT RADOMIR (PHD STUDENT AT LUCIAN BLAGA UNIVERSITY OF SIBIU, SIBIU, ROMANIA)

49 Quantum outreach through making games

We present the design process of a quantum outreach event for high school (HS) students. Though teaching quantum technologies is a part of the Digital Europe Program, it is challenging to teach the counter-intuitive quantum concepts. Embedding quantum concepts in art or games is a promising direction. However, there is always a risk of misusing/mislearning of these concepts. Therefore, we should find innovative ways to teach them without expecting any solid background in physics or mathematics.

By targeting HS students, we propose an outreach activity to make a simple quantum game using quantum superposition. As a part of it, the students repeat the related physical experiments on a simulator. Then, they run these experiments on quantum computers, followed by mathematical explanations of experiments. After that, there is a discussion session on philosophical interpretations of quantum superposition. Thus, the students learn and discuss about quantum superposition in different context., and then, they embed it as a part of game. Their game works only if they implement the quantum superposition correctly. We explain the design logic of each stage based on its relevant literature, and we show the connections among them and how all of them form a first-of-its-kind activity.

Speaker: Abuzer Yakaryilmaz (University of Latvia)

50 Bridging Academia and Open Knowledge: Engaging Translation Students in Wikipedia-Based Learning

This proposal details the development of the Wikiproject, an initiative within the Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom program, implemented during the second semester of the 2022–2023 academic year. The project engaged three translation groups – English-Spanish/Catalan and French-Spanish/Catalan – in the General Translation 2 course at the Faculty of Philology, Translation, and Communication at the Universitat de València.

Following training by a Wikimedia Meta-organizer from the Valencian Community on Wikipedia editing and translation, students undertook real translation tasks in groups, contributing to their course assessment. This experiential learning approach enabled students to publish their translations on Wikipedia, thereby enhancing their translation competencies and fostering skills in teamwork and real-world project management.

The Wikiproject exemplifies the conference's theme by bridging academic learning with societal engagement through open-access knowledge dissemination. It underscores the role of educational initiatives in connecting scientific endeavors with community needs, aligning with the conference's focus on integrating science and society.

Speaker: Dr María López Rubio (Universitat de València)

Thursday, January 30

Climate Change and resource management: strategies for a sustainable future: Chair: Prof. Virginia Toy

51 Biomass waste as a resource to achieve progress towards bioeconomy and circular economy

Achieving sustainable development goals and contributing to climate change mitigation is of key importance in reorganising research aims, used methods and selection of study objects. The replacement of fossil materials with renewable ones and full utilisation of biomass according to a zero-waste concept is a strategy providing new challenges and opportunities for structuring research and development in green laboratories. Prospective directions of activities include studies dedicated to the processing of biomass of differing origin into new materials, according to the biomass processing value pyramid, starting with the uppermost levels (products of added value chemicals used in food, biopharma etc.), followed by bulk chemicals for the production of biopolymers, synthons and considering utilisation of processing waste into energy.

Speaker: Maris Klavins (University of Latvia)

52 Biorefinery solutions to valorize logging residues from the forestry sector

Forestry has long been one of the main driving forces of the economy in Northern Europe. The main product produced from this sector is timber; however, a large amount, approximately 30%, of the biomass is either left in the forest to decompose or chipped for production of bioenergy. Logging residue from the coniferous trees - Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), which are the dominant tree species in the countries belonging to the Baltic Sea region, contains a variety of valuable compounds that have application potential in other industries, for example, diterpenes, polyphenolics, polyprenols, vitamins, and others. The principles of bioeconomy and circularity promote the cascading principles in biomass refinery, where, at first, the biomass is utilised for retrieval of most valuable compounds and later for obtaining products with lower added value but higher potential of the biomass volume utilised. Implementation of circularity and end-of-life solutions to achieve carbon neutrality, or even negativity, can be the key to reaching the EU's climate goals. Here we explore several aspects and steps in the biorefinery cycle towards a more sustainable forestry.

Speaker: Dr Linards Klavins (The Natural Resource Research Centre of the University of Latvia)

53 New Genomic Techniques: a way forward for the sustainable future of the EU agriculture

New Genomic Techniques have been developed after adoption of the Directive 2001/18/EC to introduce targeted changes in crop plant genomes potentially leading to new traits that can lead to more sustainable agriculture under the climate change. There are legal challenges for use of NGT plants in the EU, as they are still considered GMO, although some of them are not transgenic. The talk will address potential regulatory options for NGT plants with the aim to support the EC legal proposal for regulating NGT1 and NGT2 plants.

Speaker: Prof. Nils Rostoks (University of Latvia)

Rostoks_FORTHEM_2conference_presentation.pdf

54 Impact of Candida oleophila yeast strain on wine sustainability: a metabolomic study within wine microbial consortia

The wine microbiota is a dense but highly exploited ecosystem. The selection of new microbial species from non-conventional ecological niches could constitute a new pool of biodiversity in the winemaking process. This research for the first time addresses the metabolomic impact generated by non-Saccharomyces strain, Candida oleophila (C. oleophila) YS209, selected from the honey ecological niche and used within microbial consortia. Analysis of the total exometabolome was able to distinguish 8734 features. A total of 917 of these constituted metabolomic fingerprinting of C. oleophila stimulated by microbial interactions among non-Saccharomyces - Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) and non-Saccharomyces – LAB – S. cerevisiae.
High fold change values, allowed the detection of high fumaric acid production in S. cerevisiae when the latter consociated with C. oleophila YS209 strain. Further effects were identified for the YS209 strain's ability to biosynthesize vitamin B6, vitamin B5 and coenzyme A precursor.
Noteworthy are the interactions between YS209 strain and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MLPK45H strain. Their interchanged metabolic activities resulted in strong decreases in quercetin aglycone in wines. The use of C. oleophila YS209 strain in microbial consortia could be a microbial resource to reduce the use of many adjuvants and increase the sustainability of the wine industry.

Speaker: Dr Vincenzo Naselli (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Building 5, Ent. C, 90128, Palermo, Italy)

55 Developing the Framework for Conflict/Synergies (FOCS) Analysis in KURMSP

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) is significantly important to upholding sustainability and managing conflicts among the maritime industries. The first-generation planning document, the Maritime Spatial Plan 2030 (MSPlan 2030) covering also sea waters along the Kurzeme coast, was officially adopted in May 2019. The first Interim Evaluation 2019-2023 of the MSPlan 2030 was published in October 2024. There is an increasing need for a modern approach to MSP, backed by a validated methodology, in realising more sustainable and efficient maritime sectors such as the shipping industry.
It is, therefore, the aim of this study to evaluate how maritime space is being utilized for the resolution of possible conflicts, describe the potential synergies of those sectors, and work on a methodology to fill existing gaps in Latvian MSP documentation. The preliminary results indicate that existing planning documents carry less analytical depth in terms of cross-sectoral conflicts and synergies and that the methodology deployed is rather weak. A conflict and synergies (FOCS) framework is proposed to evaluate spatial cross-sectoral interactions using distance, importance and governance indicators, taking root in classical  gravity and magnetic field theories. The study employs geographic information system (GIS),  mathematical modelling, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), statistical methods and stakeholder/expert judgment.

Speaker: Ieva Demjanenko (Riga Technical University Latvian Maritime Academy)

56 How to retell the world: Narratives of human relations with nature in museums

Aim. My main research question is whether these narratives reproduce the anthropocentric world order or whether they attempt to transform it and introduce a new language into the museum space.
Methods. The empirical material consisted of texts accompanying museum exhibitions. I used critical discourse analysis to analyse the empirical material.
Results. The texts accompanying the analysed exhibitions contain many indicators proving that museums have tried to tell stories about nature in a new way. However, the language in the exhibitions still uses concepts from the anthropocentric dictionary, as evidenced by, for example, the location of events in the human era, the placing of responsibility for the deepening climate crisis on the entire human species, and the lack of critical references to the language of economics dominant in the public space.
Conclusion. Analysed exhibitions focus on our relationship with nature – specifically, the need to renew it. Building a new relationship with nature and realising that we are part of it is the basis for taking action for its good.

Speaker: Elżbieta Nieroba (University of Opole)

nieroba_presentation.pdf

Preserving Cultural Heritage - Balancing Tradition and Modernity: Chair: Prof. Tuuli Lähdesmäki

57 Non-invasive analysis of Cultural Heritage samples through digital imaging

The analysis of Cultural Heritage samples imposes some requirements during the development of the analytical methods that would be applied to investigate them. In this regard, non-invasiveness is often key to ensure the conservation of the sample, or at least to imply minimal alteration. This contribution presents a digital image-based method to distinguish among different inorganic pigments in mural paintings. Different laboratory mock-ups were prepared and painted with 12 different inorganic and historical pigments, covering four hues: red, green, blue and yellow. Each hue was represented by three different pigments. Thereafter, the pigments were colorimetrically characterised using digital image colorimetry, and different chemometric classification methods were applied. Results demonstrated that Support Vector Machines allowed to identify the specific pigment with errors below 5.7 %. Thus, this smartphone-based method permits to obtain knowledge about the composition of the samples with no direct contact with the sample, and provides objective information that does not rely on subjective interpretation or environmental factors. Also, it emerges as an affordable and easy-to-use tool for restorers and researchers.

Speaker: Prof. Roberto Sáez-Hernández (University of Valencia)

FORTHEM 2025 RobertoSaezHernandez

58 Time-Mapping the National Past: The Temporal Structure of Romania’s Public Memory

Social memory scholars have compellingly argued that a socially constructed past plays a paramount role in the articulation of national identities. Constructed by developing a historical master narrative that spells out a socially meaningful story of a people’s becoming, national memory is inscribed in various places (monuments, place names, memorial plaques) and is disseminated through different media (textbooks, banknotes, stamps). In this paper, I investigate the temporal structure of Romania’s public memory as codified in the national system of street names. Drawing on the complete dataset comprising all the street names in urban Romania (N = ~50,000), I investigate what historical period(s) are most represented in the country’s national memory. Methodologically, I analyse the years of birth and death of the personalities commemorated in Romania’s street nomenclature. The statistical results are presented through visual charts (“mnemograms”) that indicate the nineteenth century as Romania’s “mnemonic century.” This is accounted for in terms of the country’s political history, by pointing out how Romania was constructed as a nation-state during what I call the “short nineteenth century” (1848-1918). I conclude by arguing that Romania’s national memory is temporally structured to celebrate the nation-makers whose actions created the country during this historical period.

Speaker: Mihai S. Rusu (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

59 Between heritage and future: The contemporary challenges of cultural preservation

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH), comprising practices, skills, oral expressions, rituals, and living traditions, is an essential pillar of cultural identity and diversity. However, it is particularly vulnerable to globalization, cultural homogenization, and socio-economic transformation. The central question is: how can we preserve and transmit this intangible heritage without freezing it, while at the same time making it relevant to current generations in a context of accelerating modernization? The aim is to reconcile the safeguarding of traditional practices with adaptation to the needs and realities of the contemporary world.

The methodology is based on an in-depth literature review and representative case studies. Sources include institutional reports, academic articles, international conventions (such as the 2003 UNESCO convention), and examples of successful projects in different cultural contexts.

The results reveal that the integration of modern technologies, such as digitization and digital platforms, facilitates the preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage while making it accessible to a wider audience. The successful initiatives combine traditional and contemporary approaches, enabling creative adaptation of practices without compromising authenticity.

Preserving intangible cultural heritage requires a collaborative approach involving communities, institutions, and experts. Rather than seeing tradition and modernity as opposites, it is essential to see them as complementary.

Speaker: Meryem Baba (PhD student)

Improving life quality and resilience amid demographic shifts: Chair: Prof. Henrijs Kalkis

60 Quality of life in the European cities: insights from the Eurobarometer 2023 survey

Background. Improving urban quality of life is now increasingly at the top of the political agenda of modern cities. However, right policy treatment requires a thorough analysis and correct diagnosis.

Aim. The aim of the current study was to examine the most recent Eurobarometer (2023) survey data on the quality of life in 83 European cities to explore which quality of life dimensions (safety, trust, environment, infrastructure, public transport, governance, livability, economic situation) should be still improved in the European cities and, thus, need the most attention of the policy makers.

Methods. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) method was used to obtain one numerical variable per each quality of life dimension per city (based on the value of first principal component of the PCA), and also a composite quality of life indicator per city, which then was rescaled to a 0–100 point scale for representation purposes. The use of the PCA was justified by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin criterion.

Results. Northern European cities tend to show higher quality of life satisfaction in almost all quality of life dimensions than Southern European cities. Capital cities tend to show lower quality of life satisfaction in all dimensions except economic situation.

Speaker: Dr Olegs Krasnopjorovs (University of Latvia; Bank of Latvia)

61 Resilience, epistemic rights and information security: War coverage in the era of AI

In the world of multiple crises and wars, the questions of how information is provided, how conflicts are framed and how public deliberation is shaped with mediated technologies is of utmost importance. The stability of democratic societies depends on ethical and responsible attitudes of news providers, but also on informed and inclusive practices of remediators. This presentation is devoted to exploring the challenges to epistemic rights and information security, as envisioned from the perspective of young users of AI tools when accessing current information about wars. The presentation draws from the international project CORECON (2024-2026) that concerns the coverage and reception of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in Polish, Romanian and English-language media, which focuses on resilience and media literacy (https://grants.ulbsibiu.ro/corecon/).

Speaker: Katarzyna Molek-Kozakowska (University of Opole)

62 Attitude and evaluation of collaboration experience of newly enrolled entrepreneurship students

The role of effective collaboration is increasingly vital in different areas of entrepreneurship. The bonds formed through collaboration represent a critical component of entrepreneurs’ social capital. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the study of collaborative cognition as an important research domain. The development of advanced collaborative skills may augment entrepreneurship students' proficiency in engaging in collective tasks and encourage more effective collaboration in resolving issues, which can ultimately result in the successful realization of mutual objectives. The aim of the research was to evaluate newly enrolled 1st year entrepreneurship student collaboration in teams.

Speaker: Kristīne Bērziņa-Cunska (University of Latvia)

63 Urban Preparedness for Emerging Risks in the Baltic Sea Region

Background. Total defence approach to national security strategy entails the active involvement and preparedness of all sectors of society and individuals taking responsibility for their own level of readiness to respond to crisis and security challenges.
Aim. Understand the concerns of residents in Baltic urban centres and the role they are ready to play in crisis preparedness initiatives as part of the total defence approach. First, look at risk perception analysis of natural and man-made disasters in the three countries and identify the major concerns of residents. Then, look at shortcomings to individual readiness by comparing self-described levels of preparedness in relation to common preparedness measures and national civil security recommendations. Thus, we identify the overall challenges political institutions in these urban centres must overcome, and the overall readiness of the public to respond.
Conclusion. Residents of surveyed cities are nowhere near the level of readiness necessary to respond to for disasters/emergency situations and do not have sufficient knowledge about necessary actions. Majority need more detailed information about what to do in the event of a disaster or emergency (e.g. leaflets, media) - 69% of inhabitants of Riga, 73% of inhabitants of Germany’s cities and 80% of inhabitants Helsinki.

Speaker: Ieva Birka (University of Latvia)

2025 FORTHEM Confrence.pptx

64 Ensuring Safety in Translational Research for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Responsibilities of Preclinical Researchers

Neurodegenerative diseases impose a significant burden on society, leading to substantial healthcare costs and profoundly impacting the quality of life for patients and their families. In a search for innovative treatments, translational research plays a significant role by bridging basic discoveries to clinical applications for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Nevertheless, this type of research poses ethical questions about responsibilities of preclinical researchers in the process of translation.
The aim of this study was to map the ethical risks in the process of translation of preclinical research results to clinical application in the context of development of innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases from the point of view of researchers. We performed four focus group discussions with researchers in 2024, one session took place in person in Finland, while the other three were held online via Zoom, engaging participants from the Netherlands, Canada, Latvia, and Estonia.

Speaker: Signe Mežinska (University of Latvia, Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine)

65 Evaluation of Work-Related Psychosocial Factors Determinants among ‎Healthcare Workers

Introduction. Healthcare workers face significant psychosocial risks in their work environment, which can negatively affect their health.
Aim of this study: investigate the psychosocial factors among healthcare workers in family medicine centers (FMCs).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in FMCs in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and included healthcare staff working there. The data were collected through an online questionnaire from February to March 2024. All the participants took a two-part questionnaire that asked about sociodemographic data and psychosocial factors using selected parts from short COPSOQ II. The study was approved by the Institutional Research Board of the Royal Commission health service program.
Results. In total, 80 participants were enrolled in this study, with a response rate of 79.2%. The result calculated the mean and standard deviation of participants and psychosocial factors. The highest mean score for work-related psychosocial factor was meaning of work. This is followed by social support from colleagues and supervisors, cognitive demand, rewards, and commitment to the workplace.
Conclusions. Psychosocial disorders at work have a negative impact on employees' well-being and job outcomes. Addressing psychosocial risks is crucial for promoting the well-being of healthcare workers. There is a need for prospective studies followed by further intervention.

Speaker: Marwan Babiker (University of Latvia)

66 Informal Care Givers Physical load and Their interest in Physical Ergonomics Training

The most common biomechanical risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders, were repetitive movements, working in altered, prolonged uncomfortable positions, and lifting heavy loads (da Costa BR, 2010), (Kuoppala J, 2008).Such positions are most commonly adopted by informal caregivers. Although it may sometimes be difficult to reduce the musculoskeletal (MSDK) disorder risk factors in the work environment, the application of proper ergonomics and various exercises can significantly impact the frequency of MSDK occurrences.(Shuai J, 2014), (McDonald M, 2011) (Comper ML, 2014).
It is important to determine whether informal caregivers have a need for specialized training to reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. This survey of informal caregivers is a preliminary research process for a further dissertation on reducing ergonomic risks for informal caregivers.

Speaker: Marika Briede (University of Latvia)

67 Kairos project: Student chronotype (mis)match with school time organization: its effects on health, learning, time use and satisfaction

We address the problem of (de)synchronization of times in childhood and youth. We want to investigate the effects the student chronotype vs. the school schedule match/mismatch on health and learning, time use and wellbeing. Among European education systems, the Spanish case has different school time arrangements for the same age groups which allows to distinguish between split and compact school schedules to examine the consequences for the lives of children and youth of the (mis)match between student chronotype and school schedule.
Recent evidence from chronobiology, chronomedicine, and chronopsychology questions the organization of social times (school, extracurricular...) that do not respect biological times, in particular in relation to sleep, atention, eating, physical activity and out-door time. In the areas of both health and education there is concern about the consequences for health and academic performance of a permanent mismatch between the social and internal clocks of students. The novelty of our study is that it addresses this relevant and complex issue in a multidisciplinary way using a mixed methodology.
Project financed by Grant PID2021-126846NA-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and Grant CIACO/2023/120.

Speaker: Daniel Gabaldón Estevan (University of Valencia)

68 Innovative Approaches to Addressing Cognitive Impairments: The Synergy of Education, Culture, and Digital Technologies

Cognitive impairments are becoming an increasingly relevant issue in modern society, especially among at-risk groups such as individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and those at risk of dementia. Scientific research shows that cultural stimulation and active learning can positively influence cognitive functions, but the question of which approaches are most effective for different groups of participants remains open.
This integrated approach combining active learning, cultural stimulation, and psycholinguistics effectively prevents cognitive impairments and enhances cognitive processes. The digital laboratory is crucial for monitoring, analysing, and adapting the program to individual needs. By offering innovative solutions for motivation, engagement and learning, it will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the program and provide a strong foundation for its successful development and future expansion.

Speaker: Halyna Mykhailenko (Department of International Relations, Poltava State Agrarian University)

69 Demographic Aging and its Implications on the Quality of Life and Health Services in Romania

Demographic aging is a significant phenomenon in Europe, characterized by the increase in the proportion of elderly people in the total population. This trend has major implications for the economies, health systems and social structures of European countries.
It influences the quality of life of the elderly through increased risk of social isolation,financial barriers and increased care needs.
It also puts an important pressure on the health system,generating:
• Increased demand for health services: consultations, hospitalizations and treatments for chronic diseases.
• Insufficiency of human resources: the lack of medical staff specialized in geriatrics affects the quality of the care provided.
• High costs: treatments for chronic diseases, involve substantial expenditure.
• Need for long-term care services: nursing homes, day care centers, home care services are underdeveloped.
Challenges and solutions:
• Investments in health infrastructure:geriatric care centers
• Training medical personnel in geriatrics
• Prevention programs: to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.
• A sustainable pension system:support the elderly to maintain a decent quality of life.
• Access to support services and home care
Demographic aging is an inevitable process, but through appropriate public policies it can minimize the negative impact on the quality of life and health services.

Speaker: Dr Violeta Francu (University Lucian Blaga Sibiu, Romania)

FORTHEM_2conference_presentation_template (2).pptx

Friday, January 31

Art and Aesthetics as critical infrastructure in an uncertain world:Chair: Dr. Marius L. Igland

70 Introduction to the session

Speaker: Marius L. Igland (Department of classical music and music education Faculty of fine Art – The University of Agder)

71 Art with/in/for society – Mapping the field of practice

Art engaging with/in/for society has become a rapidly growing field of practice and expanded professionalism as understanding of the possibilities of art in/for social change has increased. However, the versatility of the field and the expanding professionalism have led to the development of dozens of value-laden and even conflicting concepts and approaches associated with this practice, such as socially engaged art, art activism, cultural-wellbeing and workarts. Each approach may pull the art practitioner towards their respective views, resulting in a dispersed and fragmented field of practice.

This research maps the field of practice with the aim of better understanding the phenomenon of art with/in/for society and the possibilities of art and creative practices in society. In this way, new knowledge is produced to strengthen the field and support the education and training of future practitioners in the field. By providing case examples and synthesising existing research, this presentation will bring forth the plural possibilities of art in/for social change, the potentials of the expanding professionalism, and the vital role of art in shaping society.

This research was initiated in relation to the forthcoming FORTHEM campus titled Art in Society—Exploring and Creating Practices.

Speaker: Dr Eeva Siljamäki (Postdoctoral researcher / University of Jyväskylä / Finland)

72 International Capital of Culture Programmes’ Approaches to Culture and Sustainability: An Ecosystemic Analysis

In this presentation, I propose an ecosystemic approach to culture and sustainability and discuss its use in the case of international Capital of Culture (CoC) programmes. I will first present the proposed approach, following which I will discuss the ways in which international CoC programmes approach and frame the relationship between culture and sustainability in their goals, guidelines, and criteria. The presentation combines the key conclusions from the first two articles of my PhD dissertation, the first of which is currently under peer review and the second still a work in progress. The research participates in the topical academic and policy debates on cultural sustainability and cultural ecosystems and aims to actively challenge Western- and anthropocentric notions of culture and sustainability.

Speaker: Jenni Pekkarinen (University of Jyväskylä)

73 Aesthetics of Modern and Contemporary Art Illuminating the Intangible Experience of Energy

The everyday experience of pushing a button and starting an electrical appliance, or turning on the lights or air conditioning, is in practice very simple. Yet, in trying to explain how they actually work, or what is energy, one needs fairly complicated expert knowledge. As fossil fuels still remain the ordinary energy source for the world, the accelerating climate crisis haunts all energy questions.

In this paper I consider how artworks can outline the intangible experience of energy and give an aesthetic form to it. Through the concept of enchantment, I consider the potential to connect the ordinary, or disenchanted, energy questions with the central sensibilities of art: wonder, imagination, and creation. I will delve into the some artworks of the 1950s and 60s, ranging from performance to kinetic art and painting, and analyze them in juxtaposition with contemporary artworks of the 2020s.

The artworks elucidate that the aesthetics of energy are not confined to mere documentary representation and instructive illustrations of the complex technical-economical systems that dominate current understandings of energy. I argue, that addressing and approaching energy questions aesthetically, is one way to transport and entangle energy questions into our cultural imagination where they have largely been absent.

Speaker: Anna-Kaisa Koski (University of Jyväskylä)

74 Art and Aesthetics as Critical Infrastructure in an Uncertain World

The modern world faces global challenges, including conflicts, climate change, economic instability, and cultural polarization. In this context, art and aesthetics are not only tools for preserving cultural heritage but also serve as critical infrastructure for addressing social, economic, and emotional issues. Art helps individuals process traumatic experiences and adapt to shifting social and political realities, supporting spiritual well-being and contributing to the stabilisation of society.
The study’s methodology, integrating art into the process of overcoming social and emotional instability, was effective. Art and aesthetics act as critical infrastructure for strengthening societal resilience in times of uncertainty, helping to overcome personal trauma and reinforce social connections. Additionally, Art contributes to maintaining economic stability by creating a platform for restoring public order. This approach could potentially be integrated into government programs aimed at preserving social and cultural stability in times of crisis.

Speaker: Halyna Mykhailenko (Department of International Relations, Poltava State Agrarian University)

Presentation Art.pptx

75 Object-Oriented Ontology is not the Answer: Contextualist Aesthetics and the Return to the Subject

This presentation critiques Graham Harman’s object-oriented ontology (OOO) and its conception of art. Though OOO has gained traction in artistic and architectural circles, among other things for its anti-anthropocentric views and ecological implications, I argue that its understanding of art is inadequate. Despite its aspirations, OOO relies on inescapably human beliefs to define art, failing to adequately account for the role of the subject in aesthetic experience and the social conditions that shape it.
Drawing primarily on the philosophy of Arthur Danto, George Dickie’s institutional theory of art, and Yuriko Saito’s insights from everyday aesthetics, I propose a socially embedded, conventionalist and contextualist paradigm as a superior framework for understanding art. I argue that aesthetic experience is deeply tied to the subject’s ability to identify and interpret objects as artworks – a capacity shaped by socially embedded knowledge that OOO overlooks and even implicitly assumes.
Ultimately, this presentation makes the case for a return to the subject and the contextual conditions that shape art and aesthetic experience, arguing that these considerations are crucial for a more legitimate ontology of art today.

Speaker: Rūdis Bebrišs (University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Philosophy and Ethics)

76 Final thoughts and wrap up

Speaker: Elżbieta Nieroba (University of Opole)

Enhancing multilingualism and learning in schools and universities: Chairs: Laura Castañe Bassa and Sergio Maruenda-Bataller

77 Prospects of Multilingual Education Implementation: TNPU Experience

Multilingual education in Ukraine is essential due to the nation’s linguistic diversity and integration into the European Union. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine plays a pivotal role in these reforms, aligning policies with European standards, including the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Law on Education emphasizes foreign language instruction at all levels to enhance international academic mobility. The 2019 law on language policy ensures Ukrainian language preservation while promoting English in schools. The Strategic Action Plan (2027) aims to improve foreign language proficiency in higher education to meet global market demands.

TNPU’s initiatives resulting from participation in the international educational projects (New Generation School Teacher (2017-2019), Erasmus+ MultEd (2019-2023) particulalyr) include introducing various methodology and EMI courses to prepare fully equipped pre-service teachers to multilingual environment and delivering courses at schools and universities. Survey conducted at TNPU shows broad support for multilingualism, with a majority advocating for English instruction to enhance competitiveness. TNPU aspires to raise language proficiency promoting CLIL approach by implementing updated and new courses into the curriculum. The elaborated strategy issued by TNPU on multilingual education aims at enhancing language skills, fostering multicultural understanding, and preparing students for the global market.

Speakers: Dr Liudmyla Babii (Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University), Oksana Yarema (Ternopil National Pedagogical University)

78 The Arousal of Cognitive Processes in Vocabulary Learning

This study investigates effective vocabulary learning strategies for Finnish as a foreign language. Using physiological data (electrodermal activity) and self-reports, the research examines how different word list learning strategies (Stratton, 2022; Hoshino, 2010) affect learners' engagement, self-efficacy, and cognitive load. 100 international university students will learn Finnish vocabulary categorised by difficulty and lexical similarity. The study hypothesises that alternating easy and difficult words boosts self-efficacy and balances cognitive load, while grouping lexically similar words enhances encoding. The expected outcome is that a mixed presentation of vocabulary, combining easy/difficult and lexically similar words, will promote self-efficacy, encoding, and recall, informing the design of more effective foreign language vocabulary instruction.

Speaker: Jobert Ngwenya (University of Jyväskylä)

FORTHEM_2conference_JobertNgwenya.pdf

79 Transforming 21st-Century Language Learning through Generative AI Tools (Gen-AI)

In today’s interconnected world, education needs to prepare students with essential skills like critical thinking, communication, and adaptability to navigate complexity. Indeed, the latest language learning approaches go beyond teaching a language and aim to provide students with holistic training—mind, heart, and body—preparing them for the demands of the future society.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools, like GPT and Gemini, are completely transforming education, making it more tailored and accessible, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.
These powerful AI tools can personalize materials, provide feedback, and create engaging, customized experiences that address individual needs while boosting productivity. However, their use also involves certain risks, such as concerns about academic integrity, ethical implications, and reliability (Ciesla, 2024).
Therefore, despite its undeniable potential in optimizing the teaching and language learning process, both teachers and students should be equipped with the necessary digital skills to use these tools effectively. Only by doing this can AI truly become a powerful ally in transforming the overall learning experience and supporting its improvement.
Ciesla, R. (2024).The Book of Chatbots: From ELIZA to ChatGPT. Springer Nature.

Speaker: Lola López Molines (University of Valencia (TALIS research group))

80 A framework for capturing student learning in challenge-based learning

Background. The transformation of traditional higher education into a student-centered and community-responsive paradigm provides the foundation for tackling modern social concerns. In the framework of globalization, technological progress, and evolving community expectations promoting innovation in education has become essential. The Learn.Inc project, co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme, is an innovative effort to connect formal education with real-world challenges through Challenge-Based Learning (CBL).
Aim. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of the Learn.Inc project on fostering student-centered learning, enhancing collaboration across institutions, and creating innovative e-learning formats that address critical societal challenges.

Speaker: Mihaela Rotaru (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

FORTHEM_2conference_presentation_Learn Inc.pptx

12:00 PM Break

81 Supporting multilingual and new speakers in a Catalan primary school: An exploration of schoolscape and language practices

In Catalonia, embracing linguistic diversity and promoting Catalan language, a minoritised language, in education stand as a fundamental challenge. Despite its officiality, Catalan faces a low status and linguistic diversity and Spanish are seen as a threat for its maintenance. The Catalan government has implemented several actions to uphold its promotion, principally in schools, where Catalan is often kept separate from Spanish. Today, with the massive immigration waves and multilingual proficiency, multilingual perspectives are called to integrate multilingual students. However, there is a lack of empirical studies that document current language practices for integrating multilingual speakers and many schools continue using monolingual practices, especially in Catalonia.

This research examines the current pedagogical practices used to integrate multilingual and new speakers’ repertoire in a Catalan primary school, focusing on the schoolscape and use of translanguaging. The research adopts ethnographic methods, involving observations, interviews and recording. I use nexus analysis to analyse the language and teaching practices in relation to participants’ language ideologies and the school language policy. Findings reveal the wide use of Catalan monolingual practices and a strong connection between language ideologies and teaching practices. The monolingual practices uncover several barriers faced by multilingual speakers, including limited language learning opportunities.

Speaker: Ms Laura Castañe Bassa (University of Jyväskylä)

82 A Co-creative Citizen Science Project on Linguistic Wellbeing at the Mankola school in 2024

We explore lessons learned from implementing a Co-Creative Citizen Science (CCS) project on multilingualism within the FORTHEM European University Alliance Multilingualism in School and Higher Education Lab in 2024 autumn in Jyväskylä (see [1] for developments in 2020–2023 in Jyväskylä and Opole). Since 2020, teenage pupils at Mankola School have co-created CCS projects at the Mankola school. As lead researchers, we share our experiences in designing and managing this fifth cycle of the CCS project in Jyväskylä. Examples of project outcomes related to the theme of Linguistic Wellbeing will be presented by Mankola pupils. In addition to previous accounts (see [1]), we include reflections from the University of Jyväskylä undergraduate students of the Language Aware Multilingual Pedagogy (LAMP) study program for pre-service language teachers, who facilitated the pupils’ work. We ask: What were the key benefits and challenges of this student engagement in 2024, from the students’ perspective?
Acknowledgements. The project has received funding through the University of Jyväskylä from the FORTHEM European University Alliance.
References: [1] Laihonen, P., Deutschmann, M. & Molek-Kozakowska, K. 2025. Enabling engagement and activism through Co-creative Citizen Science. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, Online early.

Speakers: Dr Mari Honko (University of Jyväskylä), Dr Maria Kautonen (University of Jyväskylä), Petteri Laihonen (University of Jyväskylä)

83 Multilingual Learning Environments: how academics and students have co-created a university course

This contribution shares insights of the development, teaching and assessment of the Multilingual Learning Environments course co-created in the FORTHEM Multilingualism in School and Higher Education Lab. The course idea emerged in 2020 and after a FORTHEM Digital Academy funded development period, the first iteration took place in Autumn 2022. Due to co-creation among academics and students and a peer review process involving both groups, the course content is in line with students’ interests and learning goals as well as contemporary research trends and education policies that foster multilingual education at all levels of education. Students also continuously develop new study units and in this way the course is evolving to meet the changing needs of students.
So far more than 100 students completed the course in five iterations. 64 of them agreed to use their submissions via the FORTHEM Digital Academy platform. The data includes responses to pre- and post-tasks of study units, reading circle notes, literature reviews, project work reports, new study units and self-reflective learning diaries.
This presentation applies discourse analysis on the self-reflective learning diaries to reveal ways in which students express their learning experience and shape recommendations on further development of the course.

Speaker: Dr Tamás Péter Szabó (University of Jyväskylä)

84 Multilingual and multicultural education

In the current context, the phenomenon of globalization requires an adaptation of the way Romanian is taught as a foreign language. Multiculturalism, interculturality and pluriculturalism are elements that we must take into account. Today, multiculturalism is understood as the coexistence of different cultures within the same society. Complementing the values of one culture with the values of another involves dialogue, interperception and comparison of two cultural systems. Pluriculturalism refers to the relationship between individuals who already master at least two languages with certain values and beliefs specific to other cultures, a situation in which we also speak of plurilingualism. The goal we must always keep in mind is to get closer and better understand the culture of the others.

Speaker: Carmen Oprișor (Universitatea „Lucian Blaga” din Sibiu)

Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts: insights from next-gen researchers: Chair: Prof. Kencis

85 Even the Rationality can be Wrong

Having as a starting point the Romanian interwar novel “Adela”, by G. Ibrăileanu, this text is a part of the doctoral thesis “Eros and Thanatos - paradigms of the development of femininity in the Romanian interwar novel on film”.
Conceived as a diary, the novel captures the failed attempts of Dr. Emil Codrescu, aged almost 40, to balance the following: on the one hand, his sensory perception, felt during the time spent with Adela (the daughter of family friends, aged 20), in her ambiguous, timid or bold responses in the dialogues they had, and on the other, the inner analysis of the messages transmitted by the young woman.
Adela wraps him in her feminine mystery, with the exuberance with which she lives every moment of life, but the mature man lets himself be dominated by reasoning and is self-peaced with the excuse that he is too old to experience love that has come too late.

Speaker: MĂDĂLINA EUGENIA CIUCU (RĂSNICEANU) (UNIVERSITY OF CRAIOVA, ROMANIA)

FORTHEM_2conference_presentation_template.pptx

86 Sexual Well-Being in Women with Heart Failure: The Psychocardiological Perspective

Sexuality is an important sphere of every person’s life. Sexual dysfunctions and sexual dissatisfaction may also be present in cardiac diseases. Individuals affected by heart failure (HF) deserve special attention since it can be the final stage of many cardiac diseases. This study was conducted online between 2019 and 2023, and 262 Polish women aged between 18 and 59 years (M = 45.48; SD = 7.65) participated in it. The Short Sexual Well-Being Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and authors’ questionnaire were used. Relationships between tested variables were verified with the use of network analysis performed with the EBICglasso estimator. Centrality assessment showed that sexual well-being had the highest values of betweenness, closeness and degree, followed by fatigue and depression measures. Sexual well-being was negatively related to the number of declared sexual dysfunctions, fatigue, stress and depression levels. Participants’ age and HF duration were not related to the sexual well-being of tested women. Multiple additional partial correlations were detected. The obtained results show that sexuality may be a central sphere of life in women with HF and that one’s sexuality should not be negated when working with cardiac patients.

Speakers: Rafał Gerymski (Department of Health Psychology and Quality of Life, Institute of Psychology, Opole University), Maria Latusek-Mierzwa (Institute of Psychology, Opole University)

87 Resilience Responsibilization: Insights from Families with Experiences of Mental Illness

The presentation explores the interplay between perceived triggers for mental illness and the resilience strategies adopted by individuals experiencing mental illness and their support persons. Drawing on 30 semi-structured interviews conducted in nine European countries during 2024, the study reveals an asymmetry between the social nature of illness triggers and the predominantly individual focus of resilience strategies.
Research participants identified various triggers for mental illness onset, including biographical events (e.g., divorce, bereavement, workplace stress), physiological factors (e.g., pregnancy, insomnia), and broader societal influences such as violence, discrimination, poverty, and socio-political upheavals like systemic collapse. While the onset of mental illness was largely attributed to social and structural dynamics, resilience strategies emphasized individual responsibility through actions like maintaining nutrition, engaging in physical activity, cultivating hobbies, and relying on family or community support.
The disproportion in addressing resilience responsibilisation mostly at individual level draws attention to consequences of such resilience strategies, especially in the context of perpetuating inequalities, stigma and discrimination.

Speaker: Jekaterina Kalēja (University of Latvia)

88 Collaborative Research Invitation: Investigating Emotional Intelligence and Ambiguity Tolerance in Students Across Countries

Individual differences significantly shape the process of language acquisition, with Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Ambiguity Tolerance (AT) emerging as key factors. Research highlights that while cognitive intelligence, measured by IQ, accounts for only a fraction of life success, EI plays a pivotal role in managing stress, fostering adaptability, and enhancing collaboration - skills critical to academic and linguistic achievement. Conceptualized as the self-perception of emotional abilities, EI is associated with heightened self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy, which positively impact learning outcomes.
Ambiguity Tolerance (AT) is the second construct, representing an individual’s capacity to cope with uncertainty and navigate complex situations. Students with higher levels of AT tend to exhibit greater adaptability, openness to new experiences, and cognitive flexibility - particularly valuable traits in mastering new languages and engaging effectively in intercultural environments.
This study aims to explore the relationship between EI and AT among students from different countries. By examining how these traits interact across cultural settings, the research seeks to uncover ways to develop and strengthen them. The ultimate goal is to provide practical insights that educators can use to create more effective, adaptive, and inclusive learning environments.

Speaker: Mrs Kamila Styś (Doctoral School University of Opole)

Collaborative Research Invitation - Exploring Emotional Intelligence and Ambiguity Tolerance in Students Across Countries - Kamila Styś.pdf

89 The Impact of Remote Working on the Hiring of Gig Workers in the IT Functions of Large Finnish Companies: A Qualitative Study

This paper addresses how remote working relates to the hiring of gig workers in organizations, and the scope of the study is the IT functions of large Finnish companies. Previous research has shown that the prevalence of both gig work and remote work have increased after the Covid-19 pandemic, but the potential relationship between the two forms of flexible work has been left largely unaddressed. We used the Gioia method to determine the extent of this relationship by analyzing findings from in-depth interviews with the CIOs and other key decision-makers in the IT functions. The study reflects a unique contribution to existing research by finding that remote work not only enables the hiring of gig workers, but also creates specific rationales for doing so, with gig work becoming an increasingly valuable asset for organizations going forward.
Since the theme of our study is centered around flexible working and its evolution in light of technological change and recent labor market trends surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe it will be a great fit to be presented within the 2nd FORTHEM Annual Conference within the cross-disciplinary session for social sciences as insight from next generation research.

Speaker: Mr Roope Tarkiainen (University of Jyväskylä)

FORTHEM_2conference_Remote Work And Gig Work_Roope Tarkiainen.pptx

90 The Russian-Ukrainian War: Multimodality and Visual Rhetorical Strategies in Romanian Media

Background: The analysed issue holds significant importance because it highlights the role that the images used in the news media related to military conflicts play in the portrayal of female actors, seen as external pawns in military conflicts.
Aim: The aim of the current study was to emphasize the importance of using multimodality as a tool of analysis in the constitution of the feminine imaginary in the Romanian mainstream media news concerning the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Methods: Visual rhetorics; Corpus-based analysis;
Results and conclusion: The analysis of the visual rhetoric in the analysed news reports highlighted the following aspects: the women are actively present in the war, both in politics and directly on the front, despite the stereotypes that associate women with passivity. Essentially, the visual rhetoric of media reinforces traditional stereotypes about women's role in the public life and perpetuates gender inequality within society. Female identity is, however, revealed in the images analysed, especially in the category of social and general news, in the role of victim and valorised by emphasizing physical beauty. The visual rhetoric helps to shape the image of women in military conflicts, as they are depicted in the images analysed.

Speakers: Denisa-Maria Bâlc (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu), Mrs Iulia-Maria Ticărău (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

91 A Rigorous Intellectual or a Manipulative Provocateur? Jordan Peterson’s Rhetorical Navigation of (Gender and Systemic) Inequality in Digital Discourse.

The development of digital communication technologies has enabled the rise of public figures influencers who have raising issues of social relevance, including feminist values, pay gaps, and gender disparities. This study explores the discursive construction of an influencer persona, focusing on the rhetorical strategies applied in their narratives. Using the Canadian psychologist and public intellectual Jordan Peterson as a case study, the analysis draws on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Neo-Aristotelian rhetoric to examine two prominent interviews he gave to Cathy Newman (Channel 4), and another to Helen Lewis (British GQ), in 2018, and his most-viewed YouTube content.

The preliminary findings show Peterson’s reframing of the gender pay gap through individual personality traits, particularly agreeableness, which he claims to affect female career choices and outcomes (salary negotiations). While acknowledging systemic bias, Peterson contests its dominance, foregrounding female agency in career and family choices. This rhetorical maneuvering enables Peterson to undermine feminist progressive affirmative action by crafting an image of a balanced thinker and polemicist, fostering credibility and relatability among his audience.

The study represents a work-in-progress seeking to interrogate the rhetorical interplay of influencers, such as Peterson, harnessed to construct public personas in shaping discourse around gender and systemic inequality.

Speaker: Artur Cedzich (University of Opole)

Cedzich Artur 29-31 January FORTHEM.pptx

92 The Impact of Sustainable Compensation and Reward Systems on Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction in Developing Countries

Sustainable compensation and reward systems are critical for enhancing employee motivation, job satisfaction, and retention in developing countries, where economic stability and employee engagement are vital for organizational success. These systems align monetary and non-monetary rewards to address challenges unique to resource-constrained environments (Alrazehi et al., 2021; Zayed et al., 2022).
This study explores the impact of sustainable compensation and reward systems on employee motivation and job satisfaction, focusing on their role in fostering organizational sustainability and engagement in developing countries.
This literature review analyzed case studies exploring compensation practices across various industries in developing countries, highlighting their impact on employee motivation, job satisfaction, and organizational outcomes.
Sustainable compensation systems significantly enhance employee satisfaction and motivation by addressing intrinsic and extrinsic needs. Equitable pay and performance-based incentives improve financial stability, while non-monetary rewards like recognition and professional development foster inherent motivation. Tailored reward systems reduce turnover, improve engagement, and bolster organizational performance across sectors.
Integrating sustainable compensation practices aligns organizational goals with employee satisfaction, fostering a high-performance culture. This approach overcomes economic and cultural barriers, supporting long-term commitment and sustainable development in resource-constrained settings.

Speaker: marjan entekhabi (PhD student in Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu)

FORTHEM_Marjan Entekhabi.ppsx

93 History and Evolution of the Concept of Landscape in Albania until the end of World War II 1945

This research aims to find and document the evolution of the concept of landscape in the Albanian language, based on literature published until 1945. The literature is mainly focused on periodicals that are found in the archives of the National Library. The research method according to the Dóra Drexler model on the selected material within the specified period of study is based on two main aspects: 1) finding the word landscape used directly; 2) in the absence of finding the word used, finding and documenting data that testify to the way the concept of landscape originated in the Albanian language. The data for each case studied are presented in a unified manner for each material, also in two forms: 1) documenting the number of cases of finding the word used in the literature and 2) notes with the author' own findings on the circumstances of the use of the concept with substitute words according to the semantic context in which they were used. While the word "landscape" is not found to have been used in the literature searched during this research, the linguistic articulation used in the publications reviewed reflects on the possible paths of origin of the word itself.

Speaker: Hermis Mele (Agricultural University of Tirana)

Mele, History and Evolution of the Concept of Landscape.ppt

Cultural exchanges and integration in the 21st century Europe: Chair Dr. Barbara Curylo

94 Negotiating Tradition and Diversity in Religious Education

Over the past twenty years, educators and policy makers increasingly see religious education (RE) as an arena to teach and foster diversity, dialogue, and democracy. In the ensuing debate over RE as ‘intercultural education’, supporters agree with a contemporary emphasis in the name of diversity and civic virtues, while sceptics stress the importance of history in conserving and promoting national culture. Variations on this debate occur across Europe, but here I follow it in Norwegian religious didactics. Specifically, I investigate first how the two positions are negotiated in the 2020 RE curriculum. Then, I examine how it is implemented in RE textbooks, as applied curriculum. I find that the curriculum and policy documents show an attempt at balancing the two, but with a contemporary emphasis. The textbooks, however, show a more conservative approach, retaining more of the topics and goals from previous curricula. This presumably reflects a stronger connection with the traditional research disciplines, among the textbook authors. Broadly, this case shows that official curricula are only part of what influences govern teaching in public schools, and specifically that the curricular push towards intercultural education in European RE is slowed down by other factors, like research fields and disciplinary identity.

Speaker: Nils H. Korsvoll (University of Agder)

95 “Estonian” CIT and allocation of cash for investments in the opinion of representatives of selected enterprises in Poland

Subject of tax benefits in the context of investment is of key importance for the innovativeness of the economy. Tax system may be an incentive to make decisions about involving capital in investment projects. A form of corporate taxation that may increase the value of cash held and subsequently stimulate decisions to involve capital in economic processes may be the so-called taxation of distributed profits. The Polish version of taxation in the form of DPT is available from 01.01.2021 (lump sum on corporate income, “Estonian” CIT, E-CIT).
The study will show whether taxation in the form of E-CIT will contribute to an increase in investments of selected enterprises.
The research in the form of an anonymous online survey was conducted among 5,580 respondents. The survey questionnaire was completed by 30 respondents.
The results indicate that the effect of the change in the taxation form is the implementation of investments/innovations at a relatively moderate level. It is worth noting, however, that this is only information about the current state. Of the planned investments, 48.8% are long-term, 34.4% medium-term and only 16.8% short-term.
Many respondents intend to allocate the money saved by switching to the Estonian CIT for long and medium-term investments.

Speaker: Anna Dada (University of Opole, Faculty of Economics)

96 Beyond spectatorship: performativity, interactivity and social transformation in the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS)

While performativity stands as a fundamental cornerstone of theatrical arts, shaping everything from the actor-audience relationship to the creation of theatrical meaning itself, empirical research has often overlooked its centrality. Contemporary studies focus on more readily quantifiable aspects of theatrical production and reception, thus creating a significant gap between theoretical frameworks and evidence-based studies that could validate and enrich our understanding of how performativity actually functions in contemporary theatrical practice. Drawing on Fischer-Lichte's theoretical framework, which positions performativity at the intersection of aesthetic and social dimensions, we examine the extent to which the organizers of FITS configure the foundations of a performative arena. The research objectives reside in understanding the festival's curatorial vision and programming strategies, as well as its approaches to audience engagement and participation. This includes the implementation of interactive elements in performances and festival activities, the festival's impact on local and international communities, and its envisaged contribution to social and cultural development. The findings reveal how FITS serves as a laboratory for experimenting with new forms of theatrical expression and audience engagement, while balancing artistic innovation with community development goals. The festival's programming demonstrates a strategic approach to fostering intercultural dialogue and social transformation through performing arts.

Speaker: Andreea Ciortea (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

FORTHEM_CIORTEA_Andreea_Beyond_spectatorship.pptx

97 Is it necessary to codify deliberative democracy in the framework of EU democracies in the digital era?

The aim of this study was to show that innovations in deliberative and participatory democracy triggered by digitalization and new technologies need to be institutionalized and codified in the legal systems of member states according to a set of legal standards that stem from the EU acquis in order to maintain democratic cohesion.
This research had an evidence-based component. Data collection and data analysis were the bulk of this research. Data collection relied on literature, and selecting readings, which included legal texts, EU Court of Justice rulings and official reports from the Council of Europe and European Union institutions. Data analysis was based on legal reasoning.

Speaker: Dr María Jesús García García (UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA)

98 BLUEGREEN GOVERNANCE PROJECT

The BlueGreen Governance (BGG) project, promoted within the Horizon Europe framework, addresses the multi-level fragmentation between institutions and political sectors to enhance the management of oceans, seas, and coasts. The project aims to develop innovative land-sea governance schemes based on scientific evidence, involving citizens in decision-making processes. Specific objectives include identifying institutional barriers and enablers, co-designing innovative governance schemes in collaboration with scientists and other stakeholders, and implementing policy experimentations in various European regions and sea basins. Additionally, the project seeks to promote institutional change and policy reforms in land-sea governance beyond policy experimentations. A notable case study is the creation of a connected network of wetlands in the Valencian Community. The BGG project aims to link marine policies with the management of land and inland waters, drawing lessons on how to trigger and facilitate institutional change and policy reforms for better marine policies. This comprehensive and participatory approach promises significant advancements in environmental governance and the sustainability of coastal ecosystems.

Speaker: Irene Luján Climent (Universitat de València)

99 Use of Implication and Psycholinguistics in Political Campaigns

Political campaigns in the modern world face the challenges of globalization and digitalization, necessitating new approaches to voter communication. The recognition of language's ability to influence political processes has emerged relatively recently. Postmodern discourse considers identity as subjective and dynamic, making it adaptable to sociocultural changes, which is crucial for the success of political campaigns. Incorporating psycholinguistics and implication strategies allows campaigns to address the fluidity of voter identities, ensuring relevance and resonance with their narratives.

Speaker: Halyna Mykhailenko (Department of International Relations, Poltava State Agrarian University)

Presentation Macron.pptx

Natural and Life Sciences: insights from next-gen researchers: Chair: Dr. Laura Stein

100 Advanced Materials Design for Energy Technologies

Modern energy technologies, such as water electrolysis, fuel cells, photovoltaics and batteries require advanced materials which combine high performance, stability and economic viability. This presentation will highlight how materials science contributes to the development and technological deployment of materials using examples with industrial relevance. The presentation will specifically focus on technologies for the sustainable production of “green” hydrogen using water electrolysis driven by electricity obtained from carbon-neutral sources, e.g. sunlight or wind. The presentation will establish the general concepts required to develop a green hydrogen economy and critically assess which areas of technology will benefit from hydrogen, and where hydrogen is not a viable alternative.
In terms of materials development, the presentation will focus on the design of technologically viable electrocatalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution. We will assess physical, chemical, economic and environmental requirements for materials selection, study the state-of-the-art, and explore the major bottlenecks for materials development and deployment. Also, the current status of electrochemical water splitting industries will be highlighted based on selected examples.

Speaker: Prof. Carsten Streb (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

101 Optimizing Antioxidant Activity of Enzyme Mimetics via Pyridine Electron-Density Tuning

According to the WHO, over 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2023, with associated health care costs reaching $1 trillion. Projections suggest these figures will double every two decades, highlighting a critical global health challenge. Advances in life sciences are expected to play a pivotal role within an increasingly aging population. [1]
The dysfunction of the nervous system seen in various neurodegenerative conditions has been attributed to the imbalance of free metal ions and oxidative stress. For instance, in Alzheimer's disease, elevated levels of copper and iron within beta-amyloid plaques are believed to contribute to increased oxidative damage in specific brain regions. Current studies aim to mitigate these effects by sequestering transition metals to prevent protein aggregation and by converting their harmful oxidative properties into beneficial antioxidant activities. [2]
A class of tetraaza-pyridinophane macrocycles that can bind Fe(II) and Cu(II) has been synthesized, and their antioxidant capabilities have been explored. Their superoxide dismutase and catalase/peroxidase activities has been modulated by adjusting the pyridine electron density with different substituents ranging from COOMe to OH groups. [3, 4]

Speaker: Pablo Navarro Madramany (Universidad de Valencia)

102 Usage of Neural Networks U-Net & GANs in image segmentation, a study case with application

This study examines U-Net and GAN architectures for image segmentation, focusing on remote sensing applications. U-Net excelled in structural segmentation, while GANs proved superior in texture reconstruction. Their integration offers a powerful solution for precise and complex segmentation tasks.

Speaker: Georgian-Cristian Chivu (Universitatea "Lucian Blaga" din Sibiu)

103 The structure of the toric locus of a reaction network

We consider toric dynamical systems, which are also called complex-balanced mass-action systems. These are remarkably stable polynomial dynamical systems that arise from the analysis of mathematical models of reaction networks. Given a reaction network, we study the moduli space of toric dynamical systems generated by this network, also called the toric locus of the network. The toric locus is an algebraic variety, and we are especially interested in its topological properties.

Speaker: Dr Miruna-Stefana Sorea (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania)

104 Linear operators applied in image processing

This study aims to investigate neural network operators and their role in enhancing network performance, contributing to the development of advanced technologies, particularly in the field of medical diagnostics.

Speaker: Ilina Mihai (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania)

105 Fat recovery in date seed residue after heating-stirring with hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvent extraction of biocompounds.

Date seeds, which constitute 10-15% of the fruit's weight, are often discarded, representing a missed opportunity for economic and nutritional benefits. This study explores the extraction of biocompounds from date seed residue using hydrophobic Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), which are environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional solvents. The primary objective was to determine the fat content in date seed residue following a heating-stirring (HS) extraction process. Optimal extraction conditions were established using response surface methodology, involving a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1/3 (w/v) for 45 minutes at 45 ºC. After centrifugation, the supernatant and pellet were separated, with the pellet washed to eliminate residual solvents. The total fat content was quantified using the Soxhlet method. Three different hydrophobic NADES were tested: Menthol:Lactic acid (1:2), Caprylic acid:Lauric acid (3:1), and Caprylic acid:L-Proline (2:0.5), with hexane as a control. Results indicated that the date seed residue retained significant fat content post-extraction, with 60% remaining after using Caprylic acid:L-Proline, compared to 34% and 31% for Menthol:Lactic acid and Caprylic acid:Lauric acid, respectively. Hexane yielded 42%. Further research is needed to optimize the balance between biocompound extraction and fat retention in the pellet.

Speaker: Anna Ferrandis (Universitat de València)

106 Development of a Plant-Based Alternative to Animal Milk from Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

The growing interest in consuming plant-based milk exceeds the issue of lactose intolerance, which has led manufacturers to look for other alternatives such as legume.
In this work, we studied an innovative extraction of a plant-based milk based on chickpeas.
An optimization of soaking and cooking temperature and time of chickpeas was made, via an experimental design, with a composite central response plane, to reduce anti-nutritional factors with maximum of protein. The model showing best conditions corresponds to soaking for 24 hours at 21°C followed by cooking at 71°C for 15 minutes.
After extraction of the chickpea milk, physico-chemical, biochemical, functional and rheological were made.
Chickpea milk has a high nutritional value, especially in terms of protein content (3.2%) (Kjeldahl method). Carbohydrate profile shows that the majority of sugar is stachyose followed by sucrose. We also proved the effectiveness of various process optimizations in reducing anti-nutritional factors content, notably phytates (192.35 μg /100g), and condensed tannins (9.93 mg ECAT/ g), which demonstrates a significant improvement in the nutritional quality of milk. This milk is also characterized by a rheofluidification behaviour similar to soy milk.
These results highlight the potential of chickpea milk as a nutritious alternative to dairy drinks.

Speaker: sarra sammoud (Laboratory of Innovation and Valorization for Sustainable Food Industry, Higher school of food industries of Tunis (ESIAT))

séminaire 2nd FORTHEM Annual Conference.pptx

107 Biorefinery solutions to obtain natural dyes and improve their stability through co-pigmentation

ChromaQuest aims to explore innovative ways to stabilize natural colourants from various biorefinery-derived biomass, aiming to replace synthetic dyes with safer, more sustainable alternatives for the food industry. By optimizing extraction and using co-pigmentation techniques, the project focuses on enhancing colour stability, while also tapping into the antioxidative and cytotoxic potential of these natural dyes. The goal is to provide the food industry with vibrant, environmentally friendly colour solutions.

Speaker: Alise Zommere (University of Latvia)