Keynote speakers


MEET THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Bart Wernaart
Ethics & co-design

Dr Bart Wernaart

Fontys University of Applied Sciences | Netherlands

Keynote presentation

Crowd Sourced Ethics: How Can We Involve Citizens in The Co-Design of New Technology?

Explores practical approaches to engaging citizens directly in the ethical co-design of emerging technologies, ensuring that technological progress aligns with human-centered values.

About the speaker

Bart Wernaart is a Professor of Moral Design Strategy and Chair of the Center of Expertise for Sustainable and Circular Transitions at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. As an author and researcher specializing in international human rights law, moral design, and business ethics, he focuses on developing innovative methodologies for crowd-sourced co-design of new technology based on value friction. In addition to his academic work and his role as a member of the Ethics Committee for the urban region of Brabant, he is also a professional drummer, conductor, and composer.

Dr Boris Eldagsen
AI & authenticity

Dr Boris Eldagsen

Photographic & media artist | Germany

Keynote presentation

Authenticity: The AI-Antidote?

Addresses the rapidly shifting boundaries between traditional photography and AI-generated media, examining how the concept of authenticity serves as a critical framework in an era dominated by synthetic images.

About the speaker

Boris Eldagsen is an internationally acclaimed Berlin-based photographic and media artist and a leading global expert in AI-generated imagery („promptography”). Having studied fine arts and philosophy, his award-winning work has been exhibited at major international institutions, galleries, and festivals worldwide. Named the „poster boy of the AI debate” after declining a Sony World Photography Award in 2023 to spark a global conversation on synthetic media, he is an appointed member of the DFA and DGPh, a founding member of the German Photographic Council’s AI working group, and an active educator teaching the master „AI for Creatives” at LABASAD Barcelona.

Nathalie Dalle Molle
Materials & sustainability

Nathalie Dalle Molle

Politecnico di Milano · POLI.design | Italy

Keynote presentation

Why Matter (Still) Matters: Materials, Meaning, and Transition

Delves into how sustainable and biofabricated materials shape cultural meaning and drive systemic transitions from experimental design to viable market adoption.

About the speaker

Nathalie Dalle Molle is a Brazilian Industrial Engineer, innovation consultant, and PhD Candidate at Politecnico di Milano, affiliated with the Department of Management Engineering and the Department of Design. Building on a decade of industry experience consulting for multinational corporations and social entrepreneurs, she now contributes to academia through the coordination team of the Master in Design for Sustainability and Regeneration at POLI.design. Her research focuses on biofabricated materials, supporting their strategic transition from laboratory development to industrial scale without compromising their environmental benefits.

Dr Borjanka Đerić-Dragičević
Language & inclusion

Dr Borjanka Đerić-Dragičević

University of East Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina

Keynote presentation

One Classroom, Many Englishes: Language, Inclusion and Belonging in a Superdiverse Medical Classroom

Highlights how linguistic and cultural diversity shapes classroom communication, participation, and a sense of belonging in modern multicultural higher education.

About the speaker

Borjanka Đerić-Dragičević is an Assistant Professor of English at the Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo, specializing in English for Specific and Medical Purposes (ESP/EMP). Working extensively with international students within English-medium medical programs, her teaching and research focus on language in academic and clinical contexts, English-Medium Instruction (EMI), inclusive pedagogy, and culturally responsive teaching. Alongside her work in applied linguistics, she also conducts research in contemporary British literature and narratology.

Dr Bogdan Pătruț
AI & research publishing

Dr Bogdan Pătruț

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași | Romania

Keynote presentation

Beyond the Paper: AI, Diversity, Ethics, and New Ways of Sharing Research

Explores the future of academic publishing and discusses how artificial intelligence and digital connectivity can transform static research papers into dynamic, interconnected knowledge environments.

About the speaker

Bogdan Pătruț is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, and Editor-in-Chief of BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. Holding doctorates in both Computer Science and Accounting, he has authored and edited numerous books with international publishers such as Springer and IGI Global, covering topics ranging from deep learning and medical decision-support systems to digital education. His current research focuses on transforming traditional scholarly publishing by integrating AI-assisted knowledge graphs, interactive applications, and digital ecosystems into peer-reviewed research.