The talk “Software process modeling and test automation: Introducing the Reliable Software Architectures Research Group” will be presented October the 9th, at 15:30, room B031, and will be moderated by Prof. Ana Paiva (DEI).

Abstract:

“In this talk, I will give an overview of research done by the Reliable Software Architectures Research Group at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czechia. The focus will be on analysing software process data to detect project management (anti-)patterns, where we’ll discuss the challenges in modeling software process elements in a way that is conducive to mapping onto the information gathered in project management tools. We’ll also touch the topic of analyzing software implementations to perform advanced verification and testing.”

About the Speaker:

Přemek Brada is an Associate Professor in Software Engineering at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czechia.  His research has covered the areas of software architecture consistency, interactive methods of architecture visualization, and software development methodologies including analysis of related process data.  He teaches bachelor and master level courses on object-oriented design and modeling, advanced software engineering practices, and also knowledge management. Currently he serves as the head of department, and is a member of the Board of Informatics Europe, the association of European informatics faculties and departments.

The talk ‘Networks, networks, and more networks: applications in humanities, data science, and machine learning’ will be presented on October 1st, at 14:45, in room B004, moderated by Prof. Rosaldo Rossetti (DEI).

Abstract:

“It is known that networks or graphs can be used in machine learning and data science to represent and analyze data that has complex relationships. Besides these uses, networks are also relevant to the overall AI agenda in at least two aspects. First, it relates to automated data gathering and language models in the semantic web, since the actual data have to be acquired in some manner in order to form the graphs. Second, it can be used to accelerate learning tasks, as in the case of reinforcement learning. In this talk I present examples of how data is acquired and used in applications in the Humanities (history, storytelling) in order to discover patterns and/or to investigate assumptions. Then, I discuss applications on data science and machine learning, as for instance the use of networks in reinforcement learning, with examples from urban mobility and car to infrastructure communication.”

About the Speaker:

Ana Bazzan is a Full Professor of Computer Science at the Institute of Informatics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Her research focuses on multiagent systems, in particular on agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS), and multiagent learning for the transportation domain. Since 1996, she has collaborated with various researchers in the application of ABMS and game theory to social science domains, such as the emergence of cooperation, the prisoner’s dilemma and public goods games. In recent years, she has contributed to different topics regarding smart cities, focusing on transportation, as well as on the synergies between multiagent systems, machine learning, and complex systems. In 2014, Bazzan was General Co-chair of AAMAS (the premier conference in the area of autonomous agents and multiagent systems).

The talk “Immersive Media and the Colombian Armed Conflict: Rethinking Journalism Through 360º Storytelling” will be presented July the 10th, at 16:30, na in room B010, and will be moderated by António Baía Reis (Assistant Professor and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow – Department of Sociology and Communication, University of Salamanca, Spain).

Abstract:

This talk presents research on the use of immersive media, specifically 360º video technology, as a journalistic tool for covering the Colombian armed conflict and promoting narratives of peacebuilding. Drawing on a qualitative multiple-case study, the speaker explores four immersive projects that document post-conflict experiences from the perspectives of victims and former combatants.The presentation will examine the motivations behind the adoption of immersive technologies in these contexts and critically reflect on their potential, limitations, and ethical implications. Particular attention will be given to the emotional and narrative impact of immersive storytelling, as well as concerns regarding image manipulation and journalistic independence. By highlighting good practices and identifying key challenges, this talk contributes to a broader understanding of the role immersive media can play in conflict reporting and peace communication, offering valuable insights for journalists, media professionals, and scholars interested in emerging storytelling formats. In an increasingly polarized and crisis-driven world, this research invites reflection on how immersive journalism can foster deeper engagement with complex realities.

About the Speaker:

Andrés David Castro Lotero is a teacher of Spanish language with a focus on Culture and Economics and a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Sciences at the University of Passau since 2019. He has previously studied Communication and Journalism in Colombia and did a master’s degree in Development Studies at the University of Passau. His research interest is mainly the use of new media in the development of vulnerable communities and peacebuilding, especially in Latin American contexts.

Tha talk “How to hack the Turing trap with Trustworthy AI?” will be presented June the 12th, at 18:00, in room B008, moderated by João Mendes Moreira (DEI).

Abstract:

In this talk, in addition to technical aspects (i.e., fundamentals and tools for developing and validating human-centric self-explaining technologies that are aimed at assisting in all phases of the design, analysis and evaluation of trustworthy intelligent systems), we will discuss Ethical, Legal, Socio-Economic and Cultural (ELSEC) implications of Artificial Intelligence. Special emphasis will be placed on how to certify if intelligent systems comply with European values.

About the Speaker:

José María Alonso Moral holds a M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Telecommunication Engineering, both from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Spain, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. He is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Electronics and Computation of the CiTIUS-USC, Vice-Chair of the Task Force on “Explainable Fuzzy Systems” in the Fuzzy Systems Technical Committee of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (IEEE-CIS), Associate Editor of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine (ISSN: 1556-603X) and the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning (ISSN:0888-613X), member of the IEEE-CIS Task Force on Fuzzy Systems Software, member of the IEEECIS SHIELD Technical Committee which is aimed at researching on Ethical, Legal, Social, Environmental and Human Dimensions of AI. He has published more than 190 papers in international journals, book chapters and conferences. His research interests include explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence, computational intelligence, interpretable fuzzy systems, natural language generation, and the development of free software tools, etc.

The talk has free entrance, no need to register.

The talk “Designing New Interfaces for Musical Expression: Opportunities and Challenges” will be presented on the 4th of June, at 16:00, in room B018, moderated by Gilberto Bernardes de Almeida (DEI).

Abstract:

“Computer music has a compelling history, with initial attempts to perform computer-generated music live dating back several decades. Performing sounds generated by computers presents numerous opportunities and challenges for musical expression. Though virtually any sound can be synthesized and performed arbitrarily without the inherent physical constraints of strings, membranes, and columns of air, this freedom poses unprecedented challenges to instrument designers, composers, musicians, and concertgoers.
In this talk, I will discuss the design and use of several new interfaces developed at the Input Devices and Music Interaction Laboratory at McGill University, ranging from self-contained digital musical instruments and prosthetic interfaces for dance performances to fMRI-compatible electronic instruments used in neuroscience studies. I will highlight the unique context and challenges of each development, showcasing the critical importance of interdisciplinary research in this field. Finally, I will present an overview of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (www.cirmmt.org), a leading research centre established 25 years ago, focusing on sound and music, based in Montreal, QC, Canada. CIRMMT’s mandate is to eliminate the barriers between disciplines and research domains by supporting researchers and artists from various backgrounds to interact in ways not possible in traditional academic environments.”

About the Speaker:

Marcelo M. Wanderley is Professor of Music Technology at McGill University, Canada, where he directs the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT). His research interests include the design and evaluation of digital musical instruments and the analysis of performer movements. He co-edited the electronic book “Trends in Gestural Control of Music” in 2000, co-authored the textbook “New Digital Musical Instruments: Control and Interaction Beyond the Keyboard” in 2006, and chaired the 2003 International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME03). He held invited research chairs in several European and American institutions, including Inria Lille, France, the University of Mons, Belgium, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is a member of the Computer Music Journal’s Editorial Advisory Board and a senior member of the ACM and the IEEE.

The talk entitled “Governança de Inteligência Artificial: Erros, Desinformação e Desafios Contemporâneos” will be presented (PT) on May the 16th, at 10:30, in room I-105.

Abstract:

In this double session, researchers André Lemos and Haline Maia explore, from critical and interdisciplinary perspectives, some of the main dilemmas that emerge from the growing presence of artificial intelligence in social, educational and informational life.

André Lemos focuses his presentation on the flaws and disruptions that run through algorithmic systems, discussing how AI can be not only efficient, but also precarious, uncertain and opaque. Through a socio-technical approach, he analyses AI errors as structuring elements of contemporary digital culture.

Haline Maia brings to the discussion the implications of AI in information ecosystems, with an emphasis on journalism and disinformation. Based on a study that combines participatory methodologies and ethical assessment of technological impact, she presents reflections on how to align technologies such as deepfakes and automated fact-checking with fundamental human values.

Each presentation will last 30 minutes and will be followed by a discussion with the audience.
The lecture is part of the research project Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Brazil and Portugal: Crossroads and Trends. Supported by CNPQ/MCTI/FNDCT 22/2024.

About the speakers:

André Lemos is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Communication of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and coordinator of Lab404. He holds a PhD from the Sorbonne, with postdoctoral studies in Canada, Ireland and Brazil, and is an international reference in cyberculture, technological mediations and socio-technical studies. Author of more than 15 books and winner of several awards, he is currently investigating the effects of errors, failures and instabilities in digital systems. He is a level 1A researcher at CNPq and a full member of the Bahia Academy of Sciences.

Haline Maia is a researcher affiliated with INESC TEC and CIRCLE (Lund University), as well as an Associate Professor at IPAM. She holds a PhD in Digital Media from FEUP and works in the areas of AI governance, algorithmic ethics and education. With 15 years of experience in communication, she has indexed academic publications and actively participates in international projects on automated journalism and digital strategies.

The talk “Safe Evolution of Smart Contracts Supported by LLMs and SMT Solvers” will be presented April the 24th, at 14:00, in room B006, moderated by Nuno Macedo (DEI).

Abstract:

The focus of this talk is a framework that supports the safe deployment and upgrade of smart contracts based on the design-by-contract (dbc) paradigm. The input is (i) an interface specification with invariants and pre- and postconditions for each function, and (ii) an implementation to be verified. The deployed version of a smart contract must conform to this specification. Specification evolution might involve both changing the data representation as well as extending the interface with new functions, provided the evolved specification is a refinement of the original one. A distinguishing feature of the overall approach is the automation of the verification process in a hidden formal methods style. Since developers tend to be reluctant to provide formal specifications for software components, we are investigating state-of-the-art NL processing technologies, using Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly, ChatGPT, to automatically infer formal (dbc) interface specifications from textual requirements. Also, when an upgrade involves change of data representation, we use the Alloy Analyser to automatically infer the relation between the two data representations. The applicability of the framework is evaluated in the context of Solidity smart contracts that implement some Ethereum standards. This project is a collaboration between Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Brazil), The University College Oxford Blockchain Research Centre (UK), and The Blockhouse Technology Limited (UK).

About the Speaker:

Augusto Sampaio is a DPhil from Oxford University, Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of York, Commander of the Brazilian Order of Scientific Merit, a member of the Brazilian Academy of Science, and a Professor at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. His main research interests are software engineering formal methods; formal approaches to testing; design, simulation and verification of robotic systems; and safe evolution of smart contracts. He is an Editorial Board member of Formal Aspects of Computing (ACM) and Science of Computer Programming (Elsevier), and has been a PC member of leading conferences in the field (FM, ETAPS, SEFM, ICFEM, ICTAC …). He published more than 150 papers and supervised 60 PhD and master’s students.

The talk “Cyber Security Threat Landscape in the Context of Industry 4.0” will be presented April the 14th, at 14:30 (1h), in room I-105, moderated by Pedro Diniz (DEI).

Abstract:

Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the ways in which industries function. Big data, industrial control systems, supervisory control, and data acquisition systems, smart machines, robotics, internet of things (IoT) etc., all fall under the umbrella of Industry 4.0. With the fourth industrial revolution comes new operational risks for smart manufacturers, connected devices, and digital supply networks. With increasing digital transformation and interconnected nature of industry 4.0, cyberattacks can have significantly greater effects than ever before while the manufacturers may not be prepared for the potential risks. Without the strong cybersecurity practices in place, industries can be subject to industrial property theft, production sabotage, industrial espionage etc. To address the cyber risks adequately in the era of industry 4.0, it is crucial to make the cyber security strategies secure and resilient and integrate them fully in the organizational strategies from the beginning. This talk will discuss different types of attacks smart industries can be targeted for. The talk will also recommend some techniques and cyber security practices that the manufacturing industries must adopt to protect themselves against such attacks.

About the Speaker:

Haider Abbas is the head of the R&D Department at the College of Signals, NUST, and founder of the National Cyber Security Auditing and Evaluation Lab (NCSAEL). He is a Cyber Security expert with advanced training from MIT, Stockholm University, IBM, and EC-Council, and holds a PhD in Information Security. Dr. Abbas is an editor for several renowned journals and has chaired numerous international conferences. He has authored over 130 research papers and has received multiple prestigious awards, including the NUST Best Researcher Award. He is a Fellow of the IET, BCS, and IST, and a Senior Member of IEEE. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Governors for Pakistan’s National Information Technology Board (NITB).

The talk “Towards AI-Assisted Synthesis of Verified Dafny Methods”, will be presented March the 24th, at 11:00, in room I-105, moderated by Rui Maranhão (DEI).

Abstract:

“LLMs show “great promise” in code synthesis. Can they keep the promise and ensure that the synthesized code is provably correct?
In this talk I will present our work on synthesizing formally verified Dafny methods. LLMs don’t know much about Dafny, but they learn fast with proper RAG-CoT prompts. We spent 6 weeks hand-coding 50 verified algorithms in Dafny, and then GPT4 was able to generate 103 new ones with the right postconditions and the necessary verification hints.
Md Rakib Hossain (Misu) co-led the work, with assistance from Iris Ma. Joint work with James Noble.”

About the Speaker:

Cristina (Crista) Lopes is a Professor in the School of Information and Computer Sciences at University of California, Irvine, with research interests in Programming Languages, Software Engineering, and Distributed Virtual Environments. She is an IEEE Fellow and an ACM Distinguished Scientist. She is the recipient of the 2016 Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest for her work in the OpenSimulator virtual world platform. Her book “Exercises in Programming Style” has gained rave reviews, including being chosen as “Notable Book” by the ACM Best of Computing reviews.