Rosário D. Laureano is an Assistant Professor at ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, teaching multivariate calculus, multicriteria analysis, nonlinear optimization, and modelling of complex systems in the Department of Mathematics. She has a degree in Pure Mathematics by Faculty of Science of Lisbon University, MSc. in Applied Mathematics by IST-Instituto Superior Técnico of Technical University of Lisbon, and Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods with specialization of Mathematics by ISCTE. Her research interests include synchronization and control of chaotic dynamical systems, quantum dynamics, optimization methods, complex networks, and analysis of error in maths’ learning, being an integrated researcher at ISTAR - Information Sciences, Technologies and Architecture Research Center and a member of the Executive Committee and the Scientific Council of this research center. Since 2018 she is the coordinator of the CCM - Complexity and Computational Modelling research group of ISTAR. She was a collaborator member of CFCUL (2004-2016) integrating the research line Philosophy of Mathematics and the FCT project Poincaré Philosopher of Science. She is now a member of the ISCTE Data Science Executive Group.  

António Filipe Fonseca is an engineer and complexity sciences researcher. He graduated in Electronics and Telecommunications from IST in Lisbon and holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Complex Systems Sciences from ISCTE/IUL and Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa. His main research interests are complex social systems, information dynamics and modelling and simulation of complex systems. He worked in several private companies as an engineer before joining the public service as an IT expert. Currentlys is Assistant professor in ISCTE Sintra and Integrated Researcher  at ISTAR/ISCTE -IUL Lisbon.

António Raimundo, who holds a PhD in Information Science and Technology from Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Applied Digital Technologies at Iscte Sintra, where he also coordinates the Bachelor's degree in Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence. Currently, he is an Integrated Researcher at ISTAR-IUL, focusing his research on areas such as Machine Learning / Deep Learning, Large Language Models, Computer Vision, and Data Science. With several years of teaching experience, he has had the opportunity to be a trainer in short courses, postgraduate programs, and a speaker at various business events.

Since 2022, I have taught at Iscte-Sintra — Iscte, University Institute of Lisbon, delivering the modules Graphs and Complex Networks, Mathematical Modelling, Introduction to Neural Networks, Calculus, and Mechanics and Electricity. In parallel, I serve as Coordinator of Projects in Applied Mathematics II and as Year Coordinator for the first year of the Digital Technologies and Management degree programme. Between 2021 and 2023, I also taught the modules Mathematics I and II, Physics I and II, Probability and Statistics, and Computer Science at the Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências de Lisboa. I am passionate about science and the advancement of knowledge, with research interests in mathematical modelling applied to Physics, Biology, Sociology, and, more broadly, to scientific and societal challenges. I am equally committed to education, striving to enable students to master any skill with the right guidance and effort. In this spirit, I have volunteered as a teacher of Portuguese and Mathematics for illiterate adults at a social institution, and I currently teach Mathematics at a Senior University. Beyond academia, I have experience in Data Analysis (back end and front end), Data Visualisation and dashboarding, Data Science, and Predictive Analytics. I excel at problem-solving, research, and data interpretation, applying analytical skills to develop solutions rapidly, whether through organisation, teamwork, planning, management, programming, or innovation. As a researcher, I have worked on projects that apply mathematical and computational techniques to biological, operational, social, and other data sources. In biological applications, I specifically studied the evolution of viruses in terms of mutations and virulence. Although this research did not prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, projects of this kind contribute to the scientific foundation that enabled the rapid development of vaccines. I hold a PhD from Cranfield University (UK), following an MSc in Physics from the University of Lisbon (Portugal). My doctoral thesis focused on analysing automotive supply chains and developing a synthetic network model capable of reproducing real-world supply chain structures. The model demonstrated high accuracy, enabling managers to predict supply chain structures with minimal data. In terms of soft skills, determination and hard work have been fundamental in my career. I firmly believe that success is not reserved for geniuses — anyone can achieve their goals with dedication and perseverance.

I’ve studied physics and mathematics for a while at the at the University of Lisbon, but ended up graduating in Antropology, in 1996, at the Nova University of Lisbon. Then I began working as an IT consultant for a printing company. In 2007, I left the private sector and started teaching Mathematics at the Higher School for Elementary Teachers Maria Ulrich, where I stayed for seven years. In 2014, I got my doctoral degree in Philosophy of Contemporary Thought, at the University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, with a thesis about volition and human intelligence simulation, using AI. In 2015, I joined the Centre for the Philosophy of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (CFCUL, now closed), where I came up with the wave-memory interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and started working on the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, focusing on the social aspects of AI. Recently (2022, 2024) I have co-organized the first and the second Portuguese Symposiums in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence, participated in public events and given interviews to the media about AI and society. Presently, I am a Professor in the ISCTE-Sintra School of Digital Technologies, where I teach about the societal and ethical impacts of digital technologies and AI on contemporary societies. My actual interests (and concerns) are AI surveillance and human freedom impact, political manipulation using disinformation, virtual and augmented reality design and artificial consciousness.

Professor Nuno Nunes, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon Key-Expertise: inequality, collective action, well-being, development, elites, and digital society. Homepage: https://ciencia.iscte-iul.pt/authors/nuno-nunes/cv With a Ph.D. in Sociology (since 2011), my thesis was about Social Inequalities and Collective Action in Europe. First and after my doctorate, I was a Researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte), but since 2018 I have also become Professor at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, one of the most prestigious Portuguese universities. Currently, I am teaching “Contemporary Social Inequalities”, “Sociology of Development”, “Sociology of Globalisation”, “Work, Organisations and Technology”, and “Introduction to Sociology”. I have been mainly working on the themes of inequality, class, collective action, and well-being. Today's world is much better understood from the perspective of social inequalities, which continue to decisively mark the lives of people, institutions, and societies. My scientific objectives are precisely to contribute to the strengthening of theoretical, analytical, and empirical instruments capable of understanding their multidimensionality, mechanisms, and intersections. There are multiple social phenomena influenced by inequalities, social classes, and social stratification processes and it is in this sense that I have developed my work, seeking to understand how social inequalities influence collective action and the well-being of citizens. My research has followed the approach that inequality processes are increasingly global, but that national and intra-national scales remain equally relevant. I have published 20 articles, 5 Books, 27 Book Chapters, 13 Working Papers, and 8 Proceedings of Scientific Meetings, 28 of them with internationally recognized scope. My articles have appeared in European Societies, Journal of Civil Society, Education Sciences, Sensors, Portuguese Journal of Social Science, Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas, European Journal of Engineering and Formal Sciences, Sociologia On Line, and Sociologia. I am participating or have participated in 25 research projects, 9 of them international, and 13 under my coordination (3 national coordination of international projects and 10 national projects). My research has been funded by FCT – Foundation of Science and Technology, the European Union (Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020), the Spanish National Research Council, Portuguese foundations, Portuguese municipalities, and NGOs. I have participated in 142 conferences, 63 international and 44 as a keynote speaker.  I have organized 27 scientific events, 10 of them international. I belong to the international network “International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies”. Between 2016-2023, I was the team coordinator in charge of the National Research Stream ‘Social Classes, Inequalities, and Public Policies’ of the Portuguese Sociological Association (APS). Currently, I supervise Ph.D. and master thesis on the subjects of social inequalities, class, elites, collective action, social cohesion, welfare, and digital divides.  I am a National Adviser for Horizon Europe, Coordinator of the Thematic Line “Digital Transformation” of the SocioDigital Lab for Public Policy, Member of the General Council of Iscte and the Editorial Board of “Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas” [Sociology, Problems, and Practices], and Subdirector of the Publisher “Mundos Sociais” [Social Worlds].

Patrícia Costa holds a PhD in Production and Systems Engineering (thesis in the area of statistics/psychometrics) from the University of Minho, a Master's degree in Mathematics - Teaching (thesis in the area of statistics/psychometrics) from the University of Beira Interior and a degree in Mathematics - Educational Training from the University of Coimbra. Her research focuses on Educational Assessment, Applied Statistics, Comparative Education and Psychometrics. She is an integrated member of ISTAR-IUL - Information Sciences and Technologies and Architecture Research Center. She has experience in teaching Statistics and Mathematics in Higher Education, research and providing technical support to policy makers at the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission. She is the author/co-author of several scientific articles in international journals, book chapters and technical reports and has experience in organising international scientific events.

Paulo Vieira is an invited professor at ISCTE-IUL and student researcher at LASIGE Computer Science and Engineering Research Centre. His academic background includes a 1st cycle degree in Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa. He is currently working on his PhD in Informatics from Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. His research interests focus on emotion, machine learning and information systems.  

Renato Branco Ferreira graduated in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering in 2018 from Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Portugal. He earned a master's degree in Telecommunications and Computer Engineering and completed his Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology in 2022 at ISCTE- Lisbon University Institute. In 2022, he joined ISCTE-Lisbon University Institute as an invited Professor to contribute to subjects related to Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He is a dedicated researcher at IT (Instituto de Telecomunicações), Portugal, since 2017, actively participating in numerous national  and international research projects. He was awarded the "Prêmio Revelação 2023 do ISCTE - Escola de Tecnologias e Arquitetura", recognising his exceptional performances and his potential to positively impact society. Additionally, he is one of the co-founders of Swatter Company, a Portuguese startup established in 2021. Swatter Company is making significant strides in security and defense systems research and is experiencing growth in the industry with highly qualified HR specialized in the areas of electronics, telecommunications, and IT.