ULusófona promotes reflection on digital ecology and challenges of social theory

Universidade Lusófona hosted the seminar "From the Anthropocene to the Plastocene: Infoecologies and the Challenges of Social Theory in Amazonian Contexts" on 6 July at its Porto University Centre, bringing together researchers, academics, and students to reflect on the relationship between technology, ecology, and society.

The initiative provided a forum for discussion on infoecologies, drawing on the study of digital platform models developed in the Amazon to connect local communities, biodiversity, and territories. In these contexts, the relationship between technology and nature reveals new forms of interaction between humans and non-humans, challenging traditional perspectives of social theory while highlighting the importance of ecological and connective approaches.

The seminar opened with a keynote by Professor Massimo Di Felice, from Atopos at the University of São Paulo (USP), entitled "From the Anthropocene to the Plastocene: Infoecologies and the Challenges of Social Theory in the Third Millennium". This was followed by a presentation from Professor Eliete da Silva Pereira, also from Atopos/USP, on Amazonian digital ecosystems, and by doctoral researcher Bruno Madureira (PROCAM/Atopos-USP), who presented the concept of ecoconnective platforms.

The session concluded with a debate involving academics, guests, and students from the PhD in Communication and Activisms, reinforcing Universidade Lusófona's commitment to promoting critical thinking, interdisciplinary research, and reflection on today's major social and environmental challenges.