At this year’s Woodford Folk Festival, the QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) will host several engaging discussions and workshops, shedding light on pressing topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), climate change misinformation, and political polarisation.
The festival, commencing on December 27, will be the stage for DMRC’s thought leaders to unravel the impact of AI on our daily lives, the proliferation of online climate misinformation, and the issues political polarisation pose to democracy.
AI and Society Panel Discussion
On Friday, December 29, from 11am to 12pm at The Evergreens, DMRC Director Professor Dan Angus will lead the AI and Society panel. Alongside Distinguished Professor Jean Burgess, Associate Director of the national ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, Dr Aleesha Rodriguez, and PhD student Daniel Whelan-Shamy DMRC researchers will delve into the profound impact of automation in various sectors, including generative AI, algorithmic advertising, banking, government systems, retail, and education.
Denialists, Sceptics, and Contrarians: Sowing Climate Confusion
Later that evening at 7:15 pm, Professor Angus will moderate Denialists, Sceptics, and Contrarians: Sowing Climate Confusion. The session will address the rise of climate change misinformation, particularly in Queensland, Australia, and explore fact-checking and debunking strategies. Panellists include PhD researchers Carly Lubicz, Caroline Gardam, and Ned Watt.
Political Polarisation and Polarisation, Radicalisation and Cult-Like Behaviour Discussions
On Saturday, December 30, the DMRC will host Political Polarisation with the DMRC, examining the threat it poses to democracy in six countries, including Australia. The following day, Sunday, December 31, author and podcaster Sarah Steel will host Polarisation, Radicalisation and Cult-Like Behaviour, alongside our DMRC Laureate Team, Dr Sebastian Svegaard, Dr Tariq Choucair and Dr Katharina Esau.
Play As A Digital Child Workshops
In addition to panel discussions, DMRC researchers Dr Aleesha Rodriguez, Dr Aimee Hourigan, Benson Rajan and Phoebe Matich will be running two workshops as part of the children’s festival. Play As A Digital Child workshops will be held on Thursday, December 28, and Sunday, December 31, aimed at children aged 6-15. These workshops are designed to encourage active and safe digital citizenship.
For more details on these sessions and timings, please visit the Woodford Folk Festival website.
Join QUT’s DMRC at the 2023 Woodford Folk Festival for an enlightening exploration of the intersection between digital media, society, and pressing global issues.