Department of Social Policy and Social Security Studies
Participation in the 2025 CLACSO International Conference in Bogotá
The congress took place in a tense political climate, as just two days earlier, Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay had been shot during a campaign appearance in Bogotá. The incident sparked nationwide protests and is considered one of the most serious acts of political violence in Colombia in the last years.
Despite the tense political situation, over 28,000 researchers attended the conference in person and more than 300,000 participated online. Together, they discussed topics around digitization, social justice, democracy, and the role of science in times of crisis. The debate was also followed lively on social media, with peaks of over 800 posts per hour.
Mariana Ochoa Moreno represented Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences at the conference with two projects: CrossComITS, a cross-media platform for teaching digital IT security skills to young people, seniors, and migrants, and NEBULA, an AI-supported plugin for detecting fake news. Both projects address current challenges regarding digital society and show how technology can be designed in a socially responsible and value-oriented manner. In her presentation, Ochoa Moreno presented research findings on the socially sustainable development of digital applications for vulnerable groups.
The presentation aligned closely with the conference’s main theme – rights, cultures, digital societies, and communication – highlighting the importance of an inclusive, value-driven, and practical approach to digital media literacy. During the panel, participants explored how digital applications can be adapted to the needs of young people and individuals with a migration background, with particular attention to IT security, equitable access, and cultural sensitivity. The interdisciplinary discussion underscored the value of collaboration between researchers, industry representatives, and government actors in fostering fair and inclusive digitalization. The conference also facilitated new contacts and collaborative opportunities with Latin American institutions, especially in the field of digital participation.
Participation in the CLACSO conference not only strengthened the international visibility of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences' research projects, but also provided valuable insights for the practical implementation of digital education approaches, particularly in the areas of digital citizenship skills, media literacy and cybersecurity.
Kontakt
Mariana Ochoa Moreno
Scientific Project Manager of the BMFTR-funded research project “CrossComITS,” a cross-media community platform for the promotion of personal cybersecurity skills, PhD Candidate in Democratic Digital Applications and Cybersecurity Issues, Instructor for Research Projects and Media Content Analysis on Cybersecurity and Fake News
Location
Sankt Augustin
Room
F 207
Address
Grantham-Alle 2-8
53757, Sankt Augustin
Hektor Haarkötter
Professor for Communication Science, especially Political Communication
Research fields
Location
Sankt Augustin
Room
F 205
Address
Grantham-Allee 2-8
53757, St. Augustin
Telephone
02241-865-732