Dissemination

CIAC celebrates the Opening of the Interface Lab at the University of the Algarve


On October 9, CIAC – the Center for Research in Arts and Communication – marked the official opening of INTERFACE – the Digital Translation Laboratory, considered the Center’s greatest achievement and most strategic infrastructure in recent years.

Funded with 473,800 euros by the EQUIPAR+2 program of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), INTERFACE is a pioneering laboratory focused on translating and visualizing complex scientific knowledge for the general public and the creative industries.

Scientific Translation, Immersive Production, and AI

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology for immersive production and interactivity, INTERFACE was designed to empower researchers and students at the University of the Algarve to develop engaging visual narratives. As CIAC coordinator Bruno Mendes da Silva points out, “INTERFACE will serve as a specialized laboratory capable of transforming complex scientific data – for example, from the field of health sciences – into accessible and engaging visual narratives.”

In addition to the main facility at UAlg, the project includes the creation of AI Studio, a branch located at the CIAC campus at the Santarém Polytechnic Institute. This campus focuses on artificial intelligence and digital literacy and is equipped with inclusive devices (such as Braille displays and voice commands) to ensure full accessibility.

With its official opening, INTERFACE solidifies CIAC’s position at the forefront of transdisciplinary research, promoting digital media art, technological innovation, and the dissemination of science to society.

Additional information:

CIAC researchers and students interested in learning more about the space or submitting project proposals to the Interface Lab should contact the Center’s secretariat by email at secretaria.ualg@ciac.pt.


“This laboratory is funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project «UID/04019/2025 – CIAC» DOI: 10.54499/UID/04019/2025 and by European funds under the projects «UID/PRR/04019/2025» DOI: 10.54499/UID/PRR/04019/2025 and «UID/PRR2/04019/2025» DOI: 10.54499/UID/PRR2/04019/2025.”

Esta publicação também está disponível em: Portuguese (Portugal)