Dr.  Ute Schwaibold -  University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)

South Africa–EU Partnerships in Action: Co-Creating Knowledge Across Continents

Dr.  Naeema Ahmad Ramadan Hussein El Kout - University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Circular Economy Approaches to Strengthening Disability and Rehabilitation Systems 

 
Dr. Mariem Fakhfakh & Prof. Amine Haj taieb  - University of Sfax, Sfax (Tunisia)  
A Regenerative Transformation Approach of Ulva Algae on the Southern Mediterranean Coast: From Living Design to the Design of Living

Dr Leila Deizy Parruque  -  Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo (Mozambique) - online  
Evaluation of direct fisher-tropsch synthesis from captured CO2 and solar H2  

MSc. arch.  Ilinca Maican -  University of Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania) 
Global weaving – a common language across borders

Prof. Adriana Ștefănel -  University of Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania)
Universities for Democratic Resilience: Understanding Deliberative Disintegration and Sovereigntist Migration Narratives

Dr. Alessandro Santirocchi -  Sapienza University of Rome, Roma (Italy)- online
Climate Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation: Cross-Context Implications for Africa and Europe

Dr. Nadia Cannata & Maia Wellington Sapienza University of Rome, Roma (Italy)
Linguistic Cultures and Communities in Europe Past and Present - Building the Eurotales Museum

Prof. Francesca  Manzari and  Prof. Joanny  Moulin - Aix-marseille Université, Marseille (France)
Translation Service Learning for Future Africa

Prof. Maria Impedovo - Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille (France)
Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Higher Education Practices. The INWELL Framework for Micro-Credential Design

Dr. Nathalie Mangelinck-Noël - Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille (France) - online
Durability and optimization of photovoltaic installations Impact of climatic conditions France/Cameroon

 Dr. Christèle Aubry - Université de Lausanne, Lausanne (Swizterland)
The CIVIS Open Labs : Collaborative Spaces Connecting Universities and Local Communities

 Dr. Bernand Garn  - University of Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg (Austria) 
On the use of Combinatorial Disaster Exercises to advance Disaster Preparedness targeting Stakeholder Engagement 

Abstracts

Dr.  Ute Schwaibold -   University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) 
South Africa–EU Partnerships in Action: Co-Creating Knowledge Across Continents

This poster session showcases the diversity and impact of current South Africa–Europe collaborative research projects in the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). As an active member of the CIVIS Alliance and a hub for African research excellence, the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences engages with European partners across multiple thematic areas—from climate resilience to biodiversity conservation. The session will showcase these collaborations with concise visual summaries of these joint initiatives, methodologies, and outcomes. By highlighting successes, lessons learned, and future opportunities, this session illustrates how South African and European universities can turn shared challenges into joint solutions.

Dr.  Naeema Ahmad Ramadan Hussein El Kout - University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Circular Economy Approaches to Strengthening Disability and Rehabilitation Systems  

Disability affects approximately 16% of South Africa’s population, yet access to affordable, appropriate assistive devices remains limited—one in five individuals in need cannot obtain them due to economic and systemic barriers. Concurrently, the country faces an escalating environmental challenge, producing 2.6 million tons of plastic waste annually, with only 16% recycled. This study proposes an integrated framework that addresses both health equity and environmental sustainability by linking disability and rehabilitation policy reform with circular economy innovation. The research aims to develop and validate a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for disability and rehabilitation services, piloted through the design, testing, and policy integration of low-cost assistive devices manufactured from recycled plastics. Using a mixed-methods, multi-phase approach, the study conducts policy gap analyses of the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation (FSDR) and National Health Insurance (NHI), complemented by stakeholder interviews with policymakers, rehabilitation professionals, and disability organizations. Recycled-plastic prototypes (e.g., crutches and walking sticks) are developed and tested for durability under ISO/WHO standards, followed by user-centred evaluations assessing cultural acceptability, usability, and safety. The findings will inform the design of indicators on access, quality, and equity, which will be piloted within provincial health information systems. Through cost–benefit and equity modelling, the project evaluates the feasibility of scaling community-run production hubs operated by persons with disabilities. Expected outcomes include a validated M&E framework integrated into NHI systems, policy recommendations linking sustainability with disability inclusion, and strengthened accountability mechanisms for assistive device provision. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how circular economy solutions can advance health equity, environmental resilience, and socio-economic empowerment in South Africa’s rehabilitation sector, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals on health, inequality reduction, and responsible production. Keywords: Disability policy, circular economy, assistive devices, monitoring and evaluation, South Africa, sustainability, rehabilitation. 

Dr. Mariem Fakhfakh & Prof. Amine Haj taieb - University of Sfax, Sfax (Tunisia)  
A Regenerative Transformation Approach of Ulva Algae on the Southern Mediterranean Coast: From Living Design to the Design of Living

The ambivalent relationship between design and the living world has existed for a long time. Today, this relationship is evolving at the intersection of biology and technological progress. It invites us to rethink the ways of designing and manufacturing in harmony with nature. Instead of exploiting it, the designer now works directly with living organisms—microorganisms in particular—and even synthesizes “a living being,” thus creating not only objects or materials derived from organic matter, but also a new form of life within the design process itself. This approach, known as “living design,” leads to a deep scientific reflection on how design can naturalize itself by creating in harmony with nature. This article is part of an experimental study aiming to use a material derived from Ulva algae in Meditearean africain coast, which locally presents phenomena of natural overproduction. It explores a strategy of co-fabrication with nature, seeking to contribute to the restoration and regeneration of natural systems, rather than to their degradation.

Dr Leila Deizy Parruque  -  Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo (Mozambique)
Evaluation of direct fisher-tropsch synthesis from captured CO2 and solar H2   

Technologies for carbon capture utilization (CCU) have been seeking a lot of interest in the last few days because CO2 is one of the main greenhouse gases and its emission in large quantities is the root of environmental problems such as acid rains, global warming and climate change. Among the technologies mentioned Fisher-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is one of the most investigated. This process allows the conversion of syngas (CO and H2) into liquid fuels cleaner than those obtained by the distillation of petroleum. In addition to synthesis gas, CO2 can also be used as a raw material. Generally, it is converted by the reverse water gas shift into CO which subsequently goes to FTS, but CO2 can be directly hydrogenated via FTS in one single step. This project aims to study the feasibility of the direct CO2-FTS and compare with the commonly indirect process. Two flowsheets will be designed and simulated in the COCO simulator considering captured CO2 and solar H2 from water electrolysis as the feedstock. The first process is an indirect route where the feed goes through the RWGS process and the syngas is subsequent ly converted in the FTS reactor, and the second is a route where CO2 captured is directly hydrogenated. The parametric studies will be carried out in COCO and the optimisation of the process variables will be carried out in Scilab. With this simulation is expected to analyse operational conditions of the two processes, water removal and its effect, energy requirement and total annual cost. It is hypothesised that the indirect process can be an alternative to the common CO-based process and that direct CO2 conversion may be possible without in one single step.

MSc. arch.  Ilinca Maican -  University of Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania) 
Global weaving – a common language across borders

This case study presents a synthetic argument in favor of the global exchange of craft knowledge, techniques, and narratives. I argue that crafts are among the cultural manifestations that connect people and are shared, regardless of their global positioning. I illustrate this common ground by focusing on the recurrence of a sign – concentric diamonds, stepped and seemingly straight-edged – in flat weavings around the globe, and mapping the different variations of the signs over the corresponding regions on a world map. The result reveals a path that connects communities and peoples, holding information about past trading routes, colonization, the acceptance of influence, and innovation. Moreover, I explore the possibilities of a common visual base between communities that have not interacted, examining hypotheses ranging from Jung’s collective unconscious to neuroscientific studies of hallucinations and the visual components of migraines. In an era when information and goods travel much faster, farther, and less controlled than before, I argue that craft practitioners, whether individuals or communities, can learn from one another and exchange best practices to help preserve and promote their respective work and traditions. Celebrating the nuances and diversity, as well as the reasons behind the technical choices and the variety of discourse or stories attached to each conjugation of form or color, helps us remain locally relevant and avoid unconscious uniformity.

Prof. Adriana Ștefănel -  University of Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania)
Universities for Democratic Resilience: Understanding Deliberative Disintegration and Sovereigntist Migration Narratives

This poster introduces the concept of deliberative disintegration to capture how digital populism and sovereigntist narratives weaken the foundations of democratic dialogue. In contemporary public spheres, particularly on social media, deliberation is increasingly replaced by emotional, polarizing, and simplistic frames. Instead of fostering mutual understanding, political communication often encourages outrage, mistrust, and withdrawal from democratic engagement. Migration has become a central theme in these sovereigntist narratives, frequently framed as a threat to national sovereignty and cultural identity. Such framings resonate strongly among young people, who are simultaneously the most connected generation and the most exposed to algorithmically amplified extremism. Comparative data from the European Values Survey and the World Values Survey suggest that youths in both Europe and Africa are navigating profound ambivalences: they express high aspirations for participation and mobility, while also showing vulnerability to exclusionary narratives that question the legitimacy of democratic institutions. This tension illustrates how deliberative disintegration is not confined to a single region but reflects global communicative dynamics. Against this backdrop, universities have a crucial responsibility. They are not only sites of higher learning but also engines of democratic resilience. Through collaborative and participatory research, students can be engaged as co-researchers who critically investigate sovereigntist rhetoric, disinformation, and migration-related discourses. Such initiatives provide young people with tools of media literacy, analytical rigor, and civic responsibility, enabling them to resist manipulative narratives and to contribute to inclusive dialogue. By bridging academic inquiry with civic education, universities can act as mediators between research and society. This poster highlights the importance of African–European academic cooperation in addressing deliberative disintegration, encouraging the co-creation of strategies that empower youth, foster cross-regional solidarity, and strengthen democratic practices in the face of sovereigntist extremism.

Dr. Alessandro Santirocchi -  Sapienza University of Rome, Roma (Italy)
Climate Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation: Cross-Context Implications for Africa and Europe

Climate change misinformation represents a growing global challenge, as conspiracy theories undermine trust in scientific evidence and weaken public support for sustainability policies (Imhoff, 2022). In Europe, such narratives often take the form of climate denial, claims of scientific manipulation, or accusations of hidden political agendas (Hornsey et al., 2018). In African contexts, these discourses may resonate differently, intersecting with structural issues such as colonial legacies, resource dependency, and skepticism towards Western-led green transitions. Comparative evidence shows that climate-hoax beliefs are present in African countries (e.g., 21.5% in South Africa; 13.9% in Morocco; Stockemer, (2024), within broader ecosystems of climate disinformation documented across the continent (Heffernan, 2024). This panel will examine how conspiracy narratives about climate change emerge, spread, and gain traction in different socio-political environments. It will build on recent psychological research on misinformation susceptibility and political orientation (van der Linden, 2022; Santirocchi et al., 2023), highlighting the role of cognitive biases, emotional responses, and social identity processes. Santirocchi and colleagues (2025, unpublished data) highlight that climate-related conspiracy beliefs mediate the relationship between exposure to online misinformation and support for climate policies, underscoring the central role of conspiratorial worldviews in shaping behavioural outcomes. These findings resonate with evidence on the diffusion of disinformation through social media ecosystems, where algorithmic amplification and echo chambers reinforce conspiratorial thinking and weaken resilience. The panel will also address practical implications: how can communication strategies be adapted to cultural contexts? Which interventions, debunking, prebunking, educational programs, can enhance resilience against climate misinformation? How can Africa–Europe cooperation strengthen shared responses to disinformation, ensuring inclusivity and fairness in climate policies?

Dr. Nadia Cannata -  Sapienza University of Rome, Roma (Italy)
Linguistic Cultures and Communities in Europe Past and Present - Building the Eurotales Museum

The poster will illustrate the building of EUROTALES, the first university museum dedicated to languages in Europe, since December 2024 officially recognized as part of Sapienza University’s Polo Museale. It provides a physical and digital space for documenting and preserving Europe’s (and North African) linguistic diversity. One of the project’s most innovative aspects is its methodology for data collection, which actively involves students in research-based learning. Through fieldwork, archival studies, and interactive digital templates, students contribute to the three core datasets (TRACES, RESONANCES, MILESTONES), engaging in linguistic and historical research while fostering a deeper awareness of multilingualism as the norm rather than an exception in European history. The data collection is carried out by researchers, visitors and students. By participating in real-world data collection and museum curation, students and the general public gain hands-on experience in linguistic and cultural documentation, reinforcing their understanding of language interaction, societal change, and historical continuity.

Prof. Francesca Manzari and  Prof. Joanny Moulin - Aix-marseille Université, Marseille (France)
Translation Service Learning for Future Africa

TRANSLATION SERVICE LEARNING FOR FUTURE AFRICA is a project that aims to establish a Research and Graduate Training Network and an International Translation Agency in Africa, drawing on AMU-ALLSH’s Master Translation program and the Association TRANSLATION SERVICE LEARNING FOR FUTURE AFRICA founded by African students of AMU’s Master Translation. The initiative pursues two main goals: first, to create a Translation Agency that improves access for less-favored groups—especially women—to health, education, and essential services; and second, to offer service-learning internships to master’s students in translation. The core approach centers on organizing an international, interdisciplinary conference at Makerere University (Uganda) to launch a collaborative research and training network and lay the groundwork for the Translation Agency itself. By focusing on complexity theory and Africa’s linguistic diversity, the project tackles translation needs across many languages and cultures. Conference findings and project results will be shared in free open-access journals. The project is fundamentally emancipatory, designed to break linguistic barriers for underserved communities using decolonizing, afrocentric, and user-centered methods. Service learning ensures students gain practical experience and contribute to their communities, embodying participatory, collaborative, and community-based research principles. Social innovation stems from connecting academic research with on-the-ground social service, especially by enabling students to use their training to empower others. Expected deliverables include the interdisciplinary conference, publication of its results, international agreements for translation internships, the launch of the Translation Agency, and a project website serving as a collaborative hub for translators, students, researchers, and educators involved in Translation Service Learning for Africa. The project includes a reflection on the best ways and means to use AI to improve and facilitate not only the translation processes, but also the development and research side of the project in order to devise the most efficient methods and modes of operations.

Prof. Maria Impedovo - Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille (France)
Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Higher Education Practices. The INWELL Framework for Micro-Credential Design

The INWEEL framework , output of the CIVIS funded seed funding, starts from the premise that academics, in their leading role in training future generations, have a crucial responsibility to respond to contemporary social, economic, and ecological challenges, including those shaped by digital transformation processes (Westa, 2020). Digital transformation enables new forms of international exchange and collaboration, creating opportunities to address global issues in higher education. Against this backdrop, the INWELL framework has been developed to support academics in designing and implementing educational programs that adopt a micro-credential approach in the service of sustainable education. The framework emphasizes sensitivity to the specificities of diverse cultural contexts, aiming to foster awareness and active engagement among academic staff and students on key issues such as affect, inclusion, well-being, and sustainability. By linking instructional design with participatory research methodologies, the INWELL framework provides a dynamic structure for developing innovative teaching practices and transformative curricula. This approach positions academics not only as transmitters of knowledge but also as change agents capable of advancing sustainability within and beyond higher education institutions. The integration of micro-credentials into academic programs offers flexibility and adaptability, responding to varied learner needs and institutional contexts while safeguarding quality and coherence. At the same time, it allows for the recognition of learning outcomes that are relevant across different disciplines and international settings. Through its adaptability, the framework supports the creation of a sustainable educational network within CIVIS and similar alliances, ensuring that curricula remain responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities. In conclusion, the INWELL framework contributes to rethinking the academic role in higher education, promoting inclusive and context-sensitive pathways that align with the broader goals of sustainability, digital transformation, and global collaboration. 

Dr. Nathalie Mangelinck-Noël - Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille (France) 
Durability and optimization of photovoltaic installations Impact of climatic conditions France/Cameroon

Cameroon electricity supply relies largely on its exceptional hydroelectric potential. However, the household electrification rate remains low (65.4% nationally), particularly in areas far from urban centres. There is a need to develop local electricity supply systems that can provide electricity to isolated sites or take over in the event of a power grid outage. Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is a particularly suitable solution in Cameroon and for isolated sites in general. In Cameroon, solar potential is considerable (about 5 kWh/m² per day) favouring the development of PV micro-power plants. However, PV solar panels are designed according to standards adapted to temperate climates rather than tropical climates. The conditions of Cameroon do not correspond to these standards (high air temperature, humidity, wind, sand...) and lead to underperformance, or even degradation of elements of the PV system impacting its sustainability and reliability. The scientific objectives of our project are firstly to characterize the impact of the climate of Cameroon compared to the French climate on the performance, reliability and durability of PV installations. Secondly, we aim at proposing solutions or recommendations based as much as possible on low-tech and low-cost technologies for all elements of the chain: materials for solar cells, cell technologies, robustness of electronic devices, electricity management and on-site monitoring devices. Transversally, training of researchers, engineers and technicians is another major objective. Our participation to the 1st African-European CIVIS Forum is motivated by several objectives: • Share the objectives of this project presently in its seminal state. • Beneficiate from the experience of participants to the forum. • Meet other interested partners as this subject is in essence not limited to both countries. As our project is a new initiative, we would like to share it with a poster presentation during the forum; video poster is considered.

 Dr. Christèle Aubry - Université de Lausanne, Lausanne (Swizterland)
The CIVIS Open Labs : Collaborative Spaces Connecting Universities and Local Communities

The CIVIS Open Labs are key instruments within the CIVIS European University Alliance. These dynamic structures, whether physical, virtual, or hybrid, are embedded in each member university and designed to foster collaborative projects that address societal challenges. More than just incubators, these spaces foster the development of initiatives in collaboration with citizens, local communities, and stakeholders through inclusive, participatory processes. Each CIVIS university hosts its own Open Lab, adapted to its local context, but a shared mission united each CIVIS Open Lab: connecting academia with society with projects that go beyond disciplinary and institutional boundaries. The Open Labs facilitate co-creation between researchers, students, citizens, public institutions, and private organizations, promoting inclusive knowledge production and sustainable impact. This poster presents the concept and objectives of the CIVIS Open Labs, their operating models, their methods (Participatory sciences, Service-learning, and Design Thinking) and examples of ongoing projects that illustrate their diversity and impact. It also highlights the added value of the CIVIS network, which enables cross-border collaboration and mutual learning among universities. By creating spaces for experimentation and dialogue, the CIVIS Open Labs contribute to rethinking how European and African universities engage with society and how knowledge can be co-created to respond to complex global challenges. This poster invites participants to discover how Open Labs operate within CIVIS and how they can join this dynamic ecosystem. 

Dr. Bernhard Garn -  Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg (Austria)
On the use of Combinatorial Disaster Exercises to advance Disaster Preparedness targeting Stakeholder Engagement

The aftermath of the corona pandemic has led to the strengthening of the perspective that in order to be able to deal with disasters in the future a holistic all-of-society approach is needed. In our research, we focus on transdisciplinary disaster research that bridges discrete mathematics, computer science, and disaster risk reduction. We build upon combinatorial and algorithmic methods for modeling, analyzing, and preparing for natural and human-made disasters in the context of accelerating global impact of climate change. By integrating combinatorial testing and principles from design of experiments, we have developed a framework for automated disaster scenario generation. This framework produces optimized, resource-efficient, and diverse training and simulation scenarios derived from both real and hypothetical disaster events. The resulting models enable emergency services and policymakers to test response strategies, assess vulnerabilities, and enhance operational preparedness through a structured and quantitative approach. Complementing our research, we have actively engaged in scientific outreach and policy dialogue, such as the PH-US-UNCTAD “Science, Technology, and Innovation for Disaster Risk Reduction” Workshop (Manila, 2024). Through collaboration with Austrian and international stakeholders, we promoted evidence-based governance, education, and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange on disaster and climate risk challenges. The proposed poster will highlight these activities and will be accompanied with a physical boardgame illustrating the different impacts a disaster can have for an interactive element during the presentation. We are proud to contribute towards transforming scientific knowledge into integrated, cooperative, and innovative solutions for global resilience with the aim to link mathematical rigor, digital technologies, and societal preparedness toward sustainable disaster risk reduction.