June Conference

We invite experienced scholars, young researchers, doctoral students, students, and practitioners from the fields of education, culture, media, business, and administration, as well as individuals interested in human security in the context of digital and social transformation, to participate in the 7th International Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference organized by the Polish University Abroad (PUNO) in collaboration with the CAPHE and GUARDIAN project partners.

We live in an era where the boundaries between the “physical” and “virtual” realities are becoming increasingly blurred. The rapid development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), presents numerous opportunities in education, culture, healthcare, and social communication. At the same time, however, it raises important questions about the security of individuals and societies.

The global events of recent years, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing climate change, and the rising uncertainty and armed conflicts (including in Ukraine, Yemen, Sudan, and the Gaza Strip), demonstrate that the hybrid nature of reality—the merging of the physical and digital dimensions—directly translates into new threats and challenges. Disruptions in supply chains, disinformation, cyberattacks, manipulation in social media, the increasing automation of the labor market, and mental health crises in the era of high digitalization all call for comprehensive analysis and an interdisciplinary approach.

The aim of our conference is to initiate discussions and expand knowledge on the impact of “hybrid worlds” on broadly understood human security, as well as to identify new perspectives and strategies for addressing these phenomena. We invite representatives of various academic disciplines—including educators, sociologists, psychologists, media scholars, security experts, lawyers, economists, IT specialists, and others—to engage in reflection and exchange experiences.

The conference has an interdisciplinary nature, so we encourage submissions from various fields. Sample topics include:

• Security in the Digital World: Cyber threats, cyberterrorism, sharenting, disinformation, personal data protection, AI ethics.
• The Impact of Technology on Social Life and Individual Psychology: The phenomenon of digital exclusion, e-addictions, virtual social relationships, shaping online identity.
• Hybrid Work and Education Environments: New models of education, remote work and its consequences, the role of digital tools in developing future competencies.
• Crisis Management and Health Security: Early warning systems, data analysis in threat situations, the role of media in risk communication.
• Climate Change, Ecology, and Technology: The use of digital tools for monitoring and mitigating the effects of the climate crisis, “green” IT issues.
• Civil Society and Democracy: The impact of Civil Society and Democracy: The impact of social media on public debate, populism and radicalism in the digital age, online activism.
• Culture and Art in Hybrid Reality: Creativity in the Age of AI, the Metaverse as a New Field of Creative Interaction, AI as a Co-Creator (or Competitor) in the Field of Art.
• Ethics and Law in “Hybrid Worlds”: Regulations Concerning AI, Intellectual Property in the Virtual Realm, Legal Responsibility for Algorithmic Actions.

The above list is open-ended – we encourage the search for new, original perspectives.

Chairs

• Prof. Elżbieta Perzycka-Borowska, US (University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; Polish University Abroad, Londyn, United Kingdom)
• Prof. Grażyna Czubińska, (Polish University Abroad in London, UK)

Members

• Prof. Karina Banaszkiewicz, (University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland)
• Prof. Federico Bardazzi (Conservatorio La Spezia, Italy)
• Prof. Eunika Baron- Polańczyk, (University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland)
• Dr Wanyenda Chilimo (Technical University of Mombasa, Kenia)
• Dr Aleksander Cywiński (University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland and Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Prof. Rosita Deluigi (University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy)
• Dr Marta Gliniecka (Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Poland)
• Dr Krzysztof Łuszczek (University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland)
• Prof. Helena Elias (University of Lisbon Faculty of Fine Arts, Lisbon, Portugal)
• Dr Lidia MarekUniversity of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland)
• Dr Waldemar Lib (University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland)
• Prof. Włodzimierz Mier-Jędrzejowicz , (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Prof. Sławomir Nasuto (Reading University, Reading, United Kingdom)
• Dr Priscilla Nyawira Gitonga (Kenyatta University, Kenyatta, Kenya)
• Dr Justyna Gorzkowicz (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Prof. Jarek Janio (Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, United States)
• Dr Agnieszka Barbara Jarvoll (Nord University, Nesna, Norway)
• Prof. Barbara Kromolicka (Uniwersytet of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland)
• Prof. Aleksandra Łukaszewicz (Academy of Arts, Szczecin, Poland)
• Prof. Ramon Felix Palau Martin (University of Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain)
• Prof. John Mugubi (Kenyatta University, Kenyatta, Kenya)
• Prof. Stephen Muoki (Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya)
• Dr Ornat Turin (Gordon College of Education, Haifa, Israel)
• Prof. Sidey Myoo (Jagiellonia University, Cracov, Poland)
• Prof. Jakub Petri (Jagiellonia University, Cracov, Poland)
• Dr Ülkü Ülker (Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey)
• Prof. Wojciech Walat University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów, Poland)
• Prof. Jan Zalasiewicz (Leicester University, Leicester, United Kingdom)
• Prof. Anna Zembala (Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine, Köln, Germany)

Chair

• dr Aleksander Cywiński, (Uniwersytet Szczeciński, Szczecin,Polska; Polski Uniwersytet na Obczyźnie, Londyn, Wielka Brytania))
  

Deputy Chairs

• Małgorzata Witkowska (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)M.A.
• Dorota Hrycak-Krzyżanowska, M.A. (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)

Administration office

e-mail: june.conference@puno.ac.uk

Media Group

• Agnieszka Gapińska, M.A. (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Michał Parchimowicz, M.A.,(Polish University Abroad in London, London, United Kingdom)
• Małgorzata Witkowska (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)M.A.

Text edition/Contact with media

• Dorota Hrycak-Krzyżanowska, M.A. (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Katarzyna Karita, M.A (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)
• Aneta Witos , M.A. (Polish University Abroad, London, United Kingdom)

• Polish
• English

• Presentation (up to 15 min)

• Registration form
• Call for papers

e-mail: june.conference@puno.ac.uk

Participation in the conference is free of charge. The conference is funded within the framework of four projects:

UE Funding, No: 101086391

Acronym: CAPHE

Grant programme: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE.

Grant title: Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment.

Time: 01.01.2023-31.12.2026.

UKRI Funding, No: EP/X038572/1

Grant offer: Research Grant, Other JeS Guarantee Calls,

Grant Title: Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment.

Acronym: CAPHE

Time: 01.12.2022-30.11.2026.

UE Funding, No: 101182798

Acronym: GUARDIAN

Grant programme: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01.

Grant title: Growing online – how to protect our children in the digital world?

Time: 01.01.2025-31.12.2028.

UKRI Funding, No: EP/X038572/1

Grant offer: Research Grant, Other JeS Guarantee Calls,

Grant Title: Growing online – how to protect our children in the digital world?

Acronym: GUARDIAN

Time: 01.01.2025-30.12.2028.

Partnerzy w projektach

• Conservatorio G. Puccini, La Spezia, (CP) Italy
• Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, (FBAUL) Portugal
• Jagiellonian University in Krakow, (UJ) Poland
• Kenyatta University, (KU) Kenia,
• Miastopracownia, (MP) Poland
• Narratologies P.C., (NR) Greece
• Opera Network, (ON) Italy
• Palacký University Olomouc, (UPO) Czech Republic
• Polish University Abroad in London, (PUNO) United Kingdom
• Polskie Towarzystwo Estetyczne, (PTE) Poland
• Pwani University, (PU) Kenya
• University of Silesia (US) Poland
• University of Szczecin (USz), Poland