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Proceedings

Proceedings is an open access journal dedicated to publishing findings resulting from conferences, workshops, and similar events. The conference organizers and proceedings editors are responsible for managing the peer-review process and selecting papers for conference proceedings.

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2504-3900

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Vol. 150

GMFP 2026

13 articles

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Vol. 146

SIBIC 2026

126 articles

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Vol. 145

IOCES 2026

12 articles

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Vol. 144

IOCSO 2026

3 articles

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Vol. 143

Northern Constellations 2026

16 articles

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Vol. 141

IOCHI 2026

4 articles

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Latest Articles

9 pages, 197 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Fostering Scientific Literacy Through an Educational Study: Students’ Initial Perceptions of Science Communication on Social Media

by Susanna Puecher and Roberta Silva

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145012 - 15 Sep 2026

Scientific Literacy requires educational approaches across both formal and informal context, including Science Education and Science Communication (SC) on social media. This paper presents an educational research study involving Grade 5 and 8 students in Italy, focusing on their initial perceptions of SC [...] Read more.

Scientific Literacy requires educational approaches across both formal and informal context, including Science Education and Science Communication (SC) on social media. This paper presents an educational research study involving Grade 5 and 8 students in Italy, focusing on their initial perceptions of SC on social media. Data presented were collected through collaborative discussions and Padlet activity, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Data analysis and comparison with the literature showed that students possess an intuitive understanding of some key features of SC, while lacking others. These findings informed the design of teaching materials, making students actively involved in their learning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

9 pages, 1165 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Optimal Stochastic Control of Pension Asset Sustainability for Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme

by Dominic Owusu Abeyie and Gabriel Asare Okyere

Proceedings 2026, 149(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026149003 - 15 Sep 2026

Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme (Tier 1), administered by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), faces sustainability pressures from shifting pension demographics and macro-financial volatility. Using optimal control theory, we formulate a continuous-time stochastic control problem in which SSNIT jointly [...] Read more.

Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme (Tier 1), administered by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), faces sustainability pressures from shifting pension demographics and macro-financial volatility. Using optimal control theory, we formulate a continuous-time stochastic control problem in which SSNIT jointly selects investment and benefit indexation to maximize the discounted expected utility of aggregate retiree benefits subject to a solvency constraint. The fund’s dynamics combine risky and risk-free assets with stochastic net cash flows driven by a constant elasticity of variance salary process and contributor and retiree membership dynamics. We employ the dynamic programming principle, which yields the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation, with bounded controls characterized under Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions and solvency was assessed using a backward Kolmogorov survival probability. Over a 30-year horizon, the policy allocates 19.5% to equity and 80.5% to fixed income, with 9.9% benefit indexation and 96.7% survival probability. Raising the contribution rate from 11% to 11.5% increases indexation to 15% and doubles benefits, while the 12% rate mainly improves survival probability without further effect on beneficiary welfare. A 0.5% increase in contributor growth raises benefits from 26.72 to 36.24 billion local currency units (LCUs) with 12% indexation. These findings suggest that contribution-rate adjustments and contributor coverage expansion, alongside disciplined asset allocation, can jointly strengthen benefit adequacy and long-term sustainability. Full article

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11 pages, 580 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Analysis of Long-Memory GARCH-Type Model on Stock Returns and Setting Limits for Relative Risk Measures

by Modisane Seitshiro

Proceedings 2026, 149(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026149002 - 15 Sep 2026

The purpose of the article is to investigate whether considering stylized facts in financial time series leads to better estimation of risk measures. The study focuses on long-memory GARCH-type models chosen for their ability to capture characteristics of financial time series like long [...] Read more.

The purpose of the article is to investigate whether considering stylized facts in financial time series leads to better estimation of risk measures. The study focuses on long-memory GARCH-type models chosen for their ability to capture characteristics of financial time series like long memory and volatility clustering. There are periods of high and low volatility in financial markets. One of the most important ways to reduce risk is to use a time-series model to manage market risk. In comparison to long-memory GARCH-type models, such as the fractionally integrated generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity, the research study aims to determine how effective the fractionally integrated asymmetric power autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity is at producing competitive risk measures. The stock returns are assumed to follow an empirical and skewed Student-t distributions in long-memory GARCH-type models. The historical adjusted closing price time series for trading positions at the 95% and 99% confidence levels correspond to the quantiles of the empirical return distributions. Empirical results demonstrate that the FIGARCH model utilizing an empirical distribution significantly outperforms the presumptive skewed Student-t distribution in generating reliable risk measures. Full article

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6 pages, 212 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Growing Within the Family: Adolescents’ Perceptions of Family Functioning and Psychological Well-Being

by Maria Fraga, Sara Diogo Gonçalves, Maria Monteiro and Ana Caramelo

Proceedings 2026, 148(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026148006 - 14 Sep 2026

Introduction: Family functioning is closely associated with adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study examined the association between perceived family functioning and psychological well-being among early adolescents. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive–correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 48 adolescents aged 11–13 years [...] Read more.

Introduction: Family functioning is closely associated with adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study examined the association between perceived family functioning and psychological well-being among early adolescents. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive–correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 48 adolescents aged 11–13 years attending routine health surveillance appointments at a single Family Health Unit in northern Portugal. Family functioning was assessed using the Family APGAR and psychological well-being using the reduced Psychological General Well-Being Questionnaire (QGBEP-R). Non-parametric analyses included chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Spearman’s rank correlations. Results: Most adolescents (77.1%) perceived their families as highly functional. Parental living arrangement was associated with family functioning (chi-square = 8.207, p = 0.008; Cramer’s V = 0.414) and psychological well-being (U = 107.5, p = 0.003; |r_rb| = 0.548). Age was associated with family functioning (U = 119.5, p = 0.024; |r_rb| = 0.413) and negatively correlated with psychological well-being (r_s = −0.513, p < 0.001). Family functioning showed a moderate positive correlation with psychological well-being (r_s = 0.569, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Better perceived family functioning was associated with greater psychological well-being. Given the small, single-centre convenience sample and cross-sectional design, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and do not establish causality. Full article

8 pages, 818 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Is Self-Perceived Data Literacy Psychometrically Defensible? Preliminary Evidence from the Data Literacy Self-Perception Questionnaire

by Asma’ Khoirunnisa’, Heri Retnawati, Risky Setiawan, Edi Istiyono, Widihastuti, Samsul Hadi and Hanifah Mar’atush Shalihah

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145011 - 10 Sep 2026

Self-perception questionnaires offer an efficient way to map students’ data-literacy perceptions, but evidence from a single administration cannot establish broad psychometric validity. This study examined preliminary evidence for the 53-item Data Literacy Self-Perception Questionnaire (DLSPQ), which covers six dimensions: Basic Statistical Concepts, Basic [...] Read more.

Self-perception questionnaires offer an efficient way to map students’ data-literacy perceptions, but evidence from a single administration cannot establish broad psychometric validity. This study examined preliminary evidence for the 53-item Data Literacy Self-Perception Questionnaire (DLSPQ), which covers six dimensions: Basic Statistical Concepts, Basic Excel Skills, Excel Functions, Data Analysis and Visualization, Attitudes Toward Data, and Interest in Using Data. Participants were 354 Grade XI students aged 16–17 years from one upper-secondary school in Indonesia. Content evidence was examined through expert judgment and Aiken’s V, followed by item diagnostics, polychoric exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and internal-consistency estimation. Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.88 to 0.95 and McDonald’s omega from 0.90 to 0.97 across dimensions. Parallel analysis and the minimum average partial (MAP) criterion converged on a six-factor solution, and the obliquely rotated pattern was broadly consistent with the proposed domains. However, the available analysis record did not include the complete item-level loading matrix, cross-loadings, communalities, factor correlations, or numerical parallel-analysis and MAP outputs; the structural result is therefore treated as provisional rather than confirmatory. Descriptive profiles indicated stronger confidence in routine spreadsheet operations and positive attitudes than in conceptual statistical reasoning, advanced Excel functions, and scatterplot interpretation. Gender profiles are reported descriptively because measurement invariance was not tested. The findings provide preliminary, single-site evidence for group-level diagnostic use and require replication with an independent, more diverse sample and performance-based measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

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8 pages, 230 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Student Engagement, Autonomy and Teacher Support in Romanian High Schools: Evidence from a National Study

by Adela M. Țăranu and Simona A. Pascal

Proceedings 2026, 147(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026147002 - 8 Sep 2026

This study situates autonomy-related learning behaviors and forms of teacher support within the broader framework of student engagement in Romanian high schools. It presents a secondary analysis of a national mixed-methods study conducted in 2023. Quantitative analyses used responses from 3181 students in [...] Read more.

This study situates autonomy-related learning behaviors and forms of teacher support within the broader framework of student engagement in Romanian high schools. It presents a secondary analysis of a national mixed-methods study conducted in 2023. Quantitative analyses used responses from 3181 students in a two-stage cluster survey involving 237 school/specialization units; qualitative evidence came from focus groups and interviews in ten schools. Descriptive analyses, selected correlations, and an individual-level cross-tabulation were integrated with thematic findings. Personal learning methods, self-assessment, strategy adaptation, and a preference for learning independently were frequently reported, whereas learning-time management and additional self-directed learning were less common. Preferences for learning independently and for teacher explanations coexisted among 66.7% of students; teacher explanations were similarly endorsed across groups reporting higher and lower frequencies of learning better independently. Selected planning, monitoring, and strategy-adjustment behaviors were positively associated with corrective feedback, teacher explanations, or teacher-selected resources. Qualitative accounts showed how pedagogical guidance may follow independent effort and support understanding and strategy adjustment, while workload, long school days, and limited learning time may constrain responsibility for learning. The findings support guided autonomy as an analytical perspective linking student initiative with pedagogical structure, formative feedback, and relevant resources. Full article

8 pages, 188 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Teachers’ Interest, Self-Confidence, and Perceived Ability to Integrate Historical Scientific Instruments into Their Teaching

by Constantina Stefanidou, Panagiotis (Takis) Lazos, Vasiliki Psoma and Constantine Skordoulis

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145010 - 2 Sep 2026

This study investigates whether a teacher professional development programme on the educational use of Historical Scientific Instruments enhances teachers’ interest, self-confidence, and perceived ability to integrate HSIs into science teaching. The study was conducted within the Erasmus+ INSIGHT project and involved 25 primary [...] Read more.

This study investigates whether a teacher professional development programme on the educational use of Historical Scientific Instruments enhances teachers’ interest, self-confidence, and perceived ability to integrate HSIs into science teaching. The study was conducted within the Erasmus+ INSIGHT project and involved 25 primary and secondary school teachers participating in a 26 h blended professional development programme; 19 completed a retrospective pre–post questionnaire, and three participated in semi-structured interviews. According to initial findings, participants reported significantly higher post-programme scores across all three dimensions, highlighting the value of inquiry-based, hands-on, and historically contextualized learning experiences in their reported professional learning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

12 pages, 751 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Enhancing Creative Thinking Through Coding: Preliminary Evidence from an Experimental Study in Primary and Lower-Secondary Education

by Federica Pelizzari, Marta Giudici, Michele Marangi and Simona Ferrari

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145009 - 2 Sep 2026

Coding and educational robotics are increasingly promoted in schools as catalysts for creative thinking, yet recent reviews suggest that this link is not automatic and depends critically on pedagogical design. Empirical evidence from Italian compulsory education remains scarce. We report preliminary findings from [...] Read more.

Coding and educational robotics are increasingly promoted in schools as catalysts for creative thinking, yet recent reviews suggest that this link is not automatic and depends critically on pedagogical design. Empirical evidence from Italian compulsory education remains scarce. We report preliminary findings from the Coding&Learning project, a quasi-experimental study involving 291 enrolled students (138 primary, 153 lower-secondary) and 23 trainers across four Italian schools. Verbal divergent thinking was assessed pre- and post-intervention with the Divergent Association Task (DAT); complete pre–post data were available for 217 students. All four groups improved between pre- and post-test, and within-group gains were statistically significant in both experimental groups (primary: +3.27 points, p = 0.031; lower-secondary: +2.61 points, p = 0.007) and in the lower-secondary control group. When experimental and control classes were compared directly—through gain-score t-tests and ANCOVA controlling for pre-test—the between-condition differences did not reach significance, and effect sizes were small (primary g = 0.18; lower-secondary g ≈ 0), as is not unexpected for a brief, statistically underpowered preliminary study. At the primary level, a larger share of experimental students improved (66.7% vs. 52.3%). Trainers reported coherent perceived gains in dispositions adjacent to verbal divergent thinking. Findings are specific to verbal divergent thinking and should not be generalised to creativity as a broader construct. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

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2 pages, 111 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Should Biological Markers Be Included in Forensic Psychiatric Reports?

by Unn Kristin Hauvik

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150013 - 1 Sep 2026

Background: Across jurisdictions, forensic psychiatry evaluations primarily rely on clinical assessment, psychometric testing, and historical and behavioural information. Following advances in neuroscience and neurolaw, there is a growing interest in incorporating biological markers (such as structural and functional neuroimaging (structural MRI, CT, fMRI), [...] Read more.

Background: Across jurisdictions, forensic psychiatry evaluations primarily rely on clinical assessment, psychometric testing, and historical and behavioural information. Following advances in neuroscience and neurolaw, there is a growing interest in incorporating biological markers (such as structural and functional neuroimaging (structural MRI, CT, fMRI), electrophysiology (EEG)) into forensic psychiatric reports. Empirical studies indicate that courts are increasingly encountering such data, particularly in cases of homicide, severe violence, insanity evaluations, and capital sentencing. Methods/Results: Neuroimaging can document brain disease or injury that may impair cognition, affect regulation, or impulse control, important to assessment of criminal accountability, and future risk. Biological markers may corroborate psychiatric and neurological diagnoses, and as such make expert reasoning more transparent. Assessments that omit biological investigations may be considered incomplete, with a risk of undermining fair judicial process and equality before the law, as well as hampering future treatment and risk management. However, there are notable challenges that limit the use of biomarkers in forensic psychiatry evaluations. Neuroscientific findings have methodological and inferential limitations affecting their practical use in individual cases. Furthermore, there is a mismatch between the empirical nature of neuroscience and the normative legal questions such as those of criminal accountability and intent. Additional concerns include risks of over-interpretation (“brain overclaim”), “double-edged sword” effects (mitigation versus inferred dangerousness), inequitable access, and the absence of robust, jurisdiction-specific standards. Conclusions: The inclusion of biological markers in forensic psychiatry evaluations has considerable potential benefits but also raises challenges that need to be addressed in future practice, research, and guideline development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 152 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Detection of a New Reproductive Location of Twaite Shad (Alosa fallax) with eDNA in the Ter River, NE Catalonia

by Miguel A. Fuentes, Quim Pou-Rovira, Neus Mairal, Laia Nogué, Jenny Caner, Víctor Osorio, Teresa Buchaca and Marc Ventura

Proceedings 2026, 146(1), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146126 - 31 Aug 2026

The Twaite shad (Alosa fallax Lacépède, 1800) is an endangered anadromous fish listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In northern Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), the species maintains a small reproducing population in the Fluvià River, while in the Ter River only [...] Read more.

The Twaite shad (Alosa fallax Lacépède, 1800) is an endangered anadromous fish listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In northern Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), the species maintains a small reproducing population in the Fluvià River, while in the Ter River only sparse, irregular records exist and the status of the species has remained essentially unknown. This study aimed to assess the status of Twaite shad in the lower Ter River through a combined approach of scientific rod-and-reel fishing and eDNA analysis, with the specific objectives of confirming adult presence during the spawning season and detecting juveniles as evidence of effective reproduction. Water samples for eDNA analysis were collected at multiple sites along the lower Ter, across five sampling campaigns conducted between May and September 2025. Duplicate samples of mean 32 L each were filtered in situ and amplified using the MiFish 12S marker with twelve PCR replicates per site and sequenced using Illumina high-throughput technology at a 40 M read sequencing depth per sample. Complementary scientific fishing was carried out using a rod-and-reel technique with demonstrated effectiveness for Twaite shad, comprising five spring sessions (40 h of effort) and four autumn sessions (80 h of effort) at key habitat sites. The eDNA approach proved markedly more sensitive than conventional fishing. Notably, high-resolution eDNA confirmed the presence of the species below the Ullà weir, demonstrating its capacity to move upstream past the Torroella de Montgrí gauging station, most likely facilitated by elevated discharge events during spring. A confirmed eDNA detection in late August provides strong evidence of juvenile presence and, consequently, of effective reproduction in the Ter River. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that Twaite shad reproduce in the Ter River, confirming the existence of a previously undescribed breeding population. The eDNA approach demonstrated substantially greater sensitivity than conventional fishing methods for this cryptic migratory species. Priority actions include the identification of spawning grounds, the extension of eDNA surveys to reaches upstream of Ullà—now feasible given the current breach in the weir—and the genetic characterisation of this population to determine its origin, diversity, and potential introgression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The XI Iberian Congress of Ichthyology)

10 pages, 302 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Too Human to Resist: AI Anthropomorphism and Manipulation Vulnerability in Gen Z

by Veronika László, Lucia Bubrik and Zoltán András Dániel

Proceedings 2026, 148(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026148005 - 31 Aug 2026

Conversational AI has entered adolescents’ everyday routines as something more intimate than a search engine and less accountable than a human adviser. Based on a free association task with Gen Z participants and focus group interviews with high school students, this study examines [...] Read more.

Conversational AI has entered adolescents’ everyday routines as something more intimate than a search engine and less accountable than a human adviser. Based on a free association task with Gen Z participants and focus group interviews with high school students, this study examines how young users describe AI when they speak about thinking, trust, emotional safety, and influence. The findings reveal a recurrent tension: AI is valued for speed, availability, and patience while sometimes being associated with hallucination, reduced effort, dependency, and personal exposure. The article explores how perceived manipulation vulnerability may be shaped by two connected pathways: cognitive reliance on unstable knowledge and emotional trust in human-like interaction. The exploratory study draws on a free association task with 125 Gen Z participants and four focus groups with 46 high school students aged 16–18. Full article

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2 pages, 128 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Statement of Peer Review

by Valentina Berardinetti, Pierpaolo Limone and Giusi Antonia Toto

Proceedings 2026, 139(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026139030 - 28 Aug 2026

In submitting conference proceedings to Proceedings, the Volume Editors of the proceedings would like to certify to the publisher that all papers published in this volume have been subjected to peer review by the designated expert referees and were administered by the [...] Read more.

In submitting conference proceedings to Proceedings, the Volume Editors of the proceedings would like to certify to the publisher that all papers published in this volume have been subjected to peer review by the designated expert referees and were administered by the Volume Editors strictly following the policies announced on the conference website [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of Learning and Teaching Strategies Mediated by Visual Education: Horizons of Research and Action (ASTERA 2025))

4 pages, 158 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Preface: The Image as a Form of Knowledge: Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Visual Education

by Valentina Berardinetti, Pierpaolo Limone and Giusi Antonia Toto

Proceedings 2026, 139(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026139029 - 28 Aug 2026

In the contemporary landscape of educational and communication research, characterized by an increasingly visual, interconnected, and constantly evolving ecosystem, Visual Education emerges as an epistemological and operational field of transdisciplinary nature, able to integrate knowledge from pedagogy, digital technologies, visual arts, and cognitive [...] Read more.

In the contemporary landscape of educational and communication research, characterized by an increasingly visual, interconnected, and constantly evolving ecosystem, Visual Education emerges as an epistemological and operational field of transdisciplinary nature, able to integrate knowledge from pedagogy, digital technologies, visual arts, and cognitive sciences, with the aim of critically interpreting the cultural, cognitive, and social dynamics of contemporaneity [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of Learning and Teaching Strategies Mediated by Visual Education: Horizons of Research and Action (ASTERA 2025))

11 pages, 263 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Caregiver-Reported Language Skill Attainment in Arabic-Speaking Saudi Children with Cochlear Implants: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Taghreed Waslalah Alhzmi

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145008 - 28 Aug 2026

Language outcomes after paediatric cochlear implantation remain under-described in Arabic speaking contexts. This cross-sectional descriptive survey examined caregiver-reported language skill items in a convenience sample of 78 Arabic-speaking Saudi children with cochlear implants, aged 1–5 years. Respondents included parents, other family caregivers, two [...] Read more.

Language outcomes after paediatric cochlear implantation remain under-described in Arabic speaking contexts. This cross-sectional descriptive survey examined caregiver-reported language skill items in a convenience sample of 78 Arabic-speaking Saudi children with cochlear implants, aged 1–5 years. Respondents included parents, other family caregivers, two speech–language specialists, and one teacher; they completed a 28-item Arabic questionnaire developed from prior literature and refined through expert and caregiver review. Responses were scored from never (1) to always (5). Item means ranged from 2.79 to 4.68. Comparatively higher ratings were reported for distinguishing personal belongings and using eye contact, facial expressions, and body movements during play. Comparatively lower ratings occurred for several complex receptive–expressive items, including producing three- to four-word sentences, understanding age-referenced wh-questions, producing 5–10 words after implantation, answering yes/no questions, and using sounds purposefully. In exploratory, unadjusted associations based on self-reported timing categories, higher total scores were associated with longer reported cochlear implant use and younger reported implantation age category. These findings identify items with comparatively lower caregiver ratings in this sample and may inform priorities for future age-stratified research and instrument development in Saudi clinical and educational contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

9 pages, 606 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

GenAI and Epistemic Practices in Science Education: Opportunities and Didactic Challenges

by Meryem Janati Idrissi, Omar Aarab, El Houssine Mabrouk and Nabil Amri

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145007 - 28 Aug 2026

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) offers opportunities for dialogic scaffolding, scientific reasoning, formative feedback, and instructional design, while raising cognitive, epistemic, didactic, and ethical risks. This review synthesized 34 publications from 2023 to 2026 that were identified through searches of Scopus, Web of Science, [...] Read more.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) offers opportunities for dialogic scaffolding, scientific reasoning, formative feedback, and instructional design, while raising cognitive, epistemic, didactic, and ethical risks. This review synthesized 34 publications from 2023 to 2026 that were identified through searches of Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC. Guided by didactic mediation, epistemic practices, and metacognitive regulation, the synthesis indicates that GenAI’s educational contributions depend on three dimensions: learner regulation, teacher mediation, and disciplinary grounding. Six interrelated conditions are organized within these three dimensions to position GenAI as a mediating artefact rather than an epistemic authority. Given the heterogeneous and emerging evidence base, this framework constitutes an interpretive synthesis requiring empirical validation across science education contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

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2 pages, 123 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Involving Service Users in Research in Forensic Psychiatry

by Eva Drewelow and Birgit Völlm

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150012 - 27 Aug 2026

Background: The involvement of people with lived experience in psychiatric research is gaining momentum internationally, yet forensic psychiatry remains largely absent from this development—particularly in Germany. Highly regulated settings, stigma, and institutional barriers make meaningful service user involvement both rare and challenging. The [...] Read more.

Background: The involvement of people with lived experience in psychiatric research is gaining momentum internationally, yet forensic psychiatry remains largely absent from this development—particularly in Germany. Highly regulated settings, stigma, and institutional barriers make meaningful service user involvement both rare and challenging. The PART Advisory Board serves as a best practice model for conducting research not merely about service users, but genuinely with them—as co-researchers throughout the entire research process. Methods: The PART Advisory Board brings together researchers and individuals with lived experience, including current inpatients and formerly detained persons. Involvement spans all phases of research—from topic identification and study design to recruitment and data collection. Examples include structured project presentations with guideline-based feedback aimed at achieving active participation within entire projects—such as serving as an expert panel for guidelines on VR use in forensic settings. Board members also revise patient information materials, co-develop flyers, and present them as co-speakers at conferences. Results: This multi-level involvement improves research quality, relevance, and acceptance. Researchers gain practice-oriented perspectives that refine methods and strengthen interpretation. Board members experience empowerment through recognition of their expertise. Initial analyses confirm that participatory structures are feasible in highly regulated forensic contexts when roles are clear, attitudes are respectful, and communication is continuous. Conclusions: The PART Advisory Board demonstrates that participatory research in forensic psychiatry is both achievable and enriching. Successful implementation requires tailored processes, flexible structures, and individual support throughout the research journey—offering a transferable model for embedding service user involvement as a permanent part of forensic research and practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 131 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Multimodal Correlates of Aggression Potential in Early-Stage Psychosis: Integrating Brain Structure, Polygenic Risk, and Social Adversity

by Clara Weyer, Clara Vetter, Jaroslav Rokicki, Unn Kristin Haukvik, Kolja Schiltz, Peter Falkai, Nikolaos Koutsouleris, David Popovic and the PRONIA Consortium

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150011 - 27 Aug 2026

Introduction: Aggression in early-stage mental disorders imposes a substantial clinical and societal burden and is shaped by environmental, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Understanding their joint contribution could aid risk assessment and early intervention. Methods: We used data from the prospective, multicentric European PRONIA [...] Read more.

Introduction: Aggression in early-stage mental disorders imposes a substantial clinical and societal burden and is shaped by environmental, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Understanding their joint contribution could aid risk assessment and early intervention. Methods: We used data from the prospective, multicentric European PRONIA project, comprising 402 minimally medicated participants (mean [SD] age = 25.34 [5.84]; female sex = 49.5%) with clinical high-risk states for psychosis (n = 116), recent-onset depression (n = 146) or psychosis (n = 140). Multi-block sparse partial least squares (MB-SPLS) algorithm was employed within a nested cross-validation framework to detect multivariate associations between aggression potential (excited component of the PANSS), social adversity, structural and diffusion MRI, and polygenic risk. Post hoc analyses examined specificity to overall illness severity and associations with personality, emotion recognition, coping, resilience, and functional remission. Results: MB-SPLS linked higher aggression potential in recent-onset psychosis to greater discrimination, emotional and physical trauma, bullying, higher polygenic risk for anxiety, schizophrenia, tension, and bipolar disorder, ventricular enlargement, reduced fronto-parietal-temporal white matter volume, and microstructural alterations of commissural, association, and limbic tracts. This signature was related to, but not fully explained by, illness severity and was associated with lower agreeableness, impaired emotion recognition, and poorer functional remission. Conclusions: Aggression potential in early psychosis corresponds to a distinct, multilevel biotype spanning environmental adversity, genetic liability, and predominantly white matter alterations, and is related to but not reducible to overall illness severity. Associations with social cognition, personality, and functional outcome highlight its clinical relevance and potential target points for early identification and intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

8 pages, 3450 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Irregular Warfare Education: A Framework for Military Learning and Training

by Maurice Dawson and Samson Quaye

Proceedings 2026, 145(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026145006 - 27 Aug 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in contemporary military operations, yet its effective and ethical integration depends largely on how defense institutions educate and prepare personnel. While technological advancements receive significant attention, the pedagogical systems that enable responsible adoption remain underexamined. This study [...] Read more.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in contemporary military operations, yet its effective and ethical integration depends largely on how defense institutions educate and prepare personnel. While technological advancements receive significant attention, the pedagogical systems that enable responsible adoption remain underexamined. This study examines how AI can be systematically incorporated into professional military education and training for irregular warfare. Using qualitative doctrinal analysis and thematic synthesis of United States and NATO policy documents and scholarly literature, the research develops a five-layer instructional framework linking strategic alignment, doctrinal integration, operational learning, data-driven intelligence education, and human-AI governance. Findings indicate that successful AI adoption requires coordinated reforms in doctrine, instructional design, and ethical oversight rather than isolated technical training, supported by experiential learning and continuous professional development. By reframing AI integration as a pedagogical transformation rather than a purely technical upgrade, this research offers practical guidance for educators, policymakers, and training institutions seeking to enhance operational readiness while preserving transparency, accountability, and principled human judgment. The framework is intended to safeguard against the potential misuse of AI by embedding rigorous ethical governance, accountability, and appropriate human oversight throughout military education and training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Online Conference on Education Sciences)

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2 pages, 126 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Gaze Behavior Towards Children in Pedophilia and Hebephilia

by Puyan Heindl and Kolja Schiltz

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150010 - 26 Aug 2026

Background: Indirect measurement methods play a central role in the assessment of deviant sexual interests, including pedohebephilia. Among these approaches, eye-tracking paradigms that assess gaze behavior may serve as indirect indicators of deviant vs. non-deviant sexual interest. However, the diagnostic utility of [...] Read more.

Background: Indirect measurement methods play a central role in the assessment of deviant sexual interests, including pedohebephilia. Among these approaches, eye-tracking paradigms that assess gaze behavior may serve as indirect indicators of deviant vs. non-deviant sexual interest. However, the diagnostic utility of eye-tracking measures for distinguishing pedohebephilia from sexual interest in adults (teleiophilia) remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine differences in gaze behavior among individuals with pedohebephilic and teleiophilic sexual interest and to determine the extent to which eye-tracking measures can differentiate pedophilia and hebephilia from teleiophilia. Method: Gaze behavior was assessed using an eye tracker while images of children were presented alongside images of adults. Gaze measures included the time to first fixation, first fixation count and total duration of fixation. Sexual interest was determined through a clinical interview as part of a standard intake procedure of an outpatient prevention program. Results: The sample comprised men with pedophilia, hebephilia and a teleiophilic control group. Men with pedophilic sexual interest showed a significantly higher number of first fixations and a shorter time to first fixation on child stimuli compared with adult stimuli, while the teleiophilic group showed the opposite pattern. Findings for the hebephilic group were inconclusive. Total fixation duration was more evenly distributed between child and adult stimuli in the pedophilic group, whereas the other two groups showed longer fixation durations for adult stimuli [¹]. Conclusions: The findings suggest that eye-tracking may provide a useful additional approach for assessing deviant sexual interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

10 pages, 1938 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

A Reinforcement Learning Approach for Climate Change Adaptation and Policy: Using a Deep Q-Network for Multi-Sectorial Resilience in Kitui County, Kenya

by Ndinde Eya Ekolle

Proceedings 2026, 148(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026148004 - 24 Aug 2026

Climate change presents serious challenges, especially in dry and semi-dry areas, and these challenges are most severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where people are dependent on rain-fed agriculture. To address this issue, a new type of reinforcement learning (RL) mechanism that can be used [...] Read more.

Climate change presents serious challenges, especially in dry and semi-dry areas, and these challenges are most severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where people are dependent on rain-fed agriculture. To address this issue, a new type of reinforcement learning (RL) mechanism that can be used to simulate and optimize climate adaptation policies in Kitui County, Kenya, was developed. In this study, combined geospatial data encompassing several variables, such as precipitation, the health of vegetation, population, and economic indicators, were used to create a custom reinforcement learning environment. A Deep Q-Network (DQN) agent was developed to distribute restricted financial resources amongst nine climate adaptation policies over a 25-year simulation period. The findings clearly show that the artificial intelligence agent targeted the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem. In connection to this, it made the choice of agroforestry in 76.0% of its decision cycles, and at the same time, it tactically bypassed high-capital, high-latency infrastructure such as dams and opted for distributed adaptive measures. This framework provides a powerful tool to support policymakers in a data-driven manner to analyze the interdependence of urgent aid and sustainable development. The study demonstrates the possibilities of using AI-powered decision support systems in the field of climate policy planning for the areas most affected by climate change. Full article

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