2024 Graduate Forum on Image Studies and Global Communication Concludes at SISU

 

By Zhang Zhaofeng

Shanghai, June 30, 2024 – The 2024 Graduate Forum on Image Studies and Global Communication concluded successfully at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) on June 30. Held at SISU’s Hongkou campus, the event brought together over 30 doctoral and master’s students from across China to discuss the evolving role of image studies in global communication, particularly in the context of AI.

The forum opened with a welcoming address by Professor Chen Peiqin, Associate Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), who highlighted the forum’s importance as a platform for academic exchange and encouraged participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and build scholarly networks.

International experts delivered keynote presentations that sparked thoughtful discussions. Professor Thaiane Oliveira from Fluminense Federal University in Brazil explored the political, social, and psychological dimensions of environmental misinformation in her talk, “Exploring Belief Systems: Understanding the Challenges of Environmental Disinformation in Brazil and Latin America.” She compared environmental and climate issues in Brazil and China, offering insights into potential areas for further research.

Following Oliveira, Associate Professor Manuel Goyanes from Carlos III University of Madrid discussed the use of ChatGPT in qualitative research. His talk, “Thematic Analysis of Interview Data with ChatGPT,” outlined the benefits of using AI tools for data analysis, including increased efficiency and transparency, while also acknowledging AI’s current limitations in capturing the nuances of human intuition.

The forum featured five thematic subforums, each focusing on key areas of image studies and global communication and each witnessing robust academic engagement.

The forum concluded with Lecturer Xia Qi announcing that 88 papers were reviewed, with 33 selected for presentation after a rigorous evaluation process by a panel of experts. In her closing remarks, Professor Chen Peiqin reflected on the forum’s growth over the past six years and encouraged participants to continue upholding academic integrity and striving for excellence in their research.

The forum was a valuable opportunity for students to engage with emerging trends in image studies and global communication, offering a platform for scholarly exchange and collaboration.