On the occasion of the completion of the research project on Literacy in the Media and the cultivation of critical thinking of Generation Z, focusing on scientific information and pseudoscience, the research team of the SHAZAAM project is organizing an event for the presentation of the results of the project, on Thursday 27 March 2025 at 17:30, at the KEDEA of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

SHAZAAM is an innovative research project in the field of education and communication that aims to equip young people with the necessary tools to distinguish scientific knowledge from misinformation. The project combined experiential learning with the use of modern digital tools, focusing on the needs and characteristics of Gen Z, a generation growing up in an ocean of information and misinformation.

The research was developed in two phases. In the pilot phase, focus groups were conducted in Greece and Portugal, with members of Generation Z giving their views and experiences of contact with the media and scientific information. The findings of this phase formed the basis for the development of the educational material.

In the second phase, the material was tested through training seminars in remote areas of the two countries – in Lesvos, Crete, but also in Fundao, Madeira and Porto Santo in Portugal. The aim was to reach out to communities that often have limited access to similar activities and to strengthen critical thinking.

SHAZAAM has produced a wealth of material that is already available for educational use, such as videos deconstructing pseudoscientific theories available in Greek, English and Portuguese, a digital game aimed at identifying fake news and an educational toolkit with all the activities and materials of the project.

The implementation of the project, which started in November 2023 and will be completed in April 2025, was funded by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF), coordinated by the Department of Journalism and Media of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and with the participation of international partners.

More relevant information: https://www.jour.auth.gr/news/shazaam-2025-03-27/

and more details about the specific project: www.shazaam.eu