Innovation Work in Academia: SFI MediaFutures' Approach and Experience.
2026-02-04 09:00 - 10:00 (Europe/Oslo) | SV-cafeteria (Lauritz Meltzers hus, 4th floor), Fosswinckels gate 6, Bergen, 5007, Norway
We are pleased to invite you to the Academic Morning Coffee, where Christoph Senf from MediaFutures will discuss innovation work in academia and the MediaFutures approach.
Date: 4 FebruaryVenue: SV-cafeteria (Lauritz Meltzers hus, 4th floor), Fosswinckels gate 6, 5007 Bergen
Time: 9:15-10:00 (coffee and tea served from 9:00)
Abstract:
What does innovation work look like at a university research center? This conversation explores how the SFI MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology and Innovation has developed its distinctive industry-academic partnership model, and the opportunities and challenges that emerge when bridging academic research and media industry needs. We will discuss conceptual frameworks for understanding innovation, MediaFutures’ collaborative approach, and key strategic and practical lessons learned.
Dr. Christopher (‘Chris’) Senf is Innovation Coordinator at SFI MediaFutures, where he coordinates the Centre’s research-to-innovation projects with major Norwegian media companies. A political philosopher by training, Chris completed his PhD at UiB in 2023. He was a Fulbright Fellow at UMass Boston (2021) and Oxford Alumni from Saïd Business School’s Strategic Innovation Online Programme (2024).
The conversation will be in English.

Why should we consider ethical and societal aspects in the development of language models?
2026-03-04 09:00 - 10:00 | SV-cafeteria (Lauritz Meltzers hus, 4th floor), Fosswinckels gate 6, Bergen, 5007, Norway
On Wednesday, 4 March, Samia Touileb, Associate Professor at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies, will join Academic Morning Coffee to talk about: Why should we consider ethical and societal aspects in the development of language models?
Date: 4 MarchVenue: SV-cafeteria (Lauritz Meltzers hus, 4th floor), Fosswinckels gate 6, 5007 Bergen
Time: 9:15-10:00 (coffee and tea served from 9:00)
Abstract:
As language models become increasingly integrated into everyday life, the need to understand and mitigate their ethical risks grows. These technologies influence various aspects of our lives, making it important to ask questions such as: How can we measure and reduce the social and cultural biases embedded in language models? What methods exist for evaluating the safety of these systems and preventing potential harm? Is it possible to adapt language models to our ethical, cultural, and societal values while ensuring transparency and accountability? And are we capable of developing robust evaluation mechanisms?
Samia Touileb is an Associate Professor in language technology (Natural Language Processing) with research interests in bias and fairness in models, information extraction, automatic summarisation, and applications of language technology and machine learning in social science research. She received the Faculty’s Award for Dissemination in 2025 and, in the same year, became a member of the Young Academy of Norway (AYF). In this conversation, Touileb will discuss some of the most pressing concerns related to the rapid development of large language models, both globally and in the Norwegian context.
The conversation will be in Norwegian.

Samia Touileb & Lilja Øvrelid at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, Drammensveien 78, Oslo, Norway
Samia Touileb and Lilja Øvrelid from MediaFutures will participate as keynote speakers in a conversation at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, as part of the Forskning og KI (Research and AI) series. The event will focus on the themes of research sovereignty and artificial intelligence, discussing their implications for the future of media and technology. It will provide valuable insights into how AI intersects with academic research and the importance of sovereignty in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Speakers:Samia Touileb is an Associate Professor in Language Technology at the Department of Information and Media Studies at the University of Bergen. She is a member of the Academy of Young Researchers and was honored with the Communication Award by the Faculty of Social Sciences in November 2025.
Lilja Øvrelid is a Professor at the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo, where she leads the Language Technology Group. Her research focuses on text processing using machine learning techniques.
Date: 11th March 2026Location: Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
For more details, please visit the official event page.

Call for Participation: Workshop Tracking Eyes and Mind
2026-05-04 10:00 - 2026-05-06 14:30 | University of Bergen, venue TBA
From May 4th to 6th, the University of Bergen, in collaboration with MediaFutures, is organizing Workshop Tracking Eyes and Mind.
To view the updated program and register for the event, please visit the official organizer’s website.
Registration Deadline:
30.03.2026 – 23.55
Workshop Goals:
The workshop focus on demonstrations of eye tracking designs in Linguistics and Human Computer Interaction.
Introduction to Intermediate Level + Network building
Invited Poster presentations.
Target Audience:
Advanced MA students and Ph.D. Scholarship students
Researchers in Linguistics and/or Human Computer Interaction and/or
AI/NLP who want to use Eye Tracking in their Research.
Invited Lecturers:
Andrew Duchowski
Mauro Manassi
Agnieszka Konopka
Professor Andrew Duchowski is a world-leader in the field of eye tracking.
Local Team:
Christer Johansson
Morten Fjeld
Maki Kubota
Jade Sandstedt
Associate Member
Oana Geman (Chalmers)
Organizers:
Professor Christer Johansson, Department of Linguistic Literary and Aesthetic Studies (UiB)
Professor Morten Fjeld, Department of Information Science and Media Studies (UiB) and WP-leader in SFI MediaFutures
Sponsors:
the Bergen University Fund
HCI Infrastructure Grant, UiB
Accessibility Lab, UiB
SFI MediaFutures, UiB
To view the updated program and register for the event, please visit the official organizer’s website.

Nordic Media Days (Nordiske Mediedager)
2026-05-06 - 2026-05-08 | Grieghallen
Nordic Media Days (Nordiske Mediedager) is the biggest media conference in Northern Europe, bringing together journalists, editors, media leaders, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss key developments in journalism, media, and communication.
The event offers insights into both current challenges and emerging trends in the media landscape.
Nordic Media Days is relevant for media professionals, researchers, students, and others interested in the role of media in society and the future of journalism.
Date: 6-8 May 2026Location: Grieghallen, Edvard Griegs plass 1, 5015 Bergen
For more details, please visit the organisers’ website.
