News release – October 2, 2025

RETIME at European Researchers’ Night 2025: The Machine that Reads Emotions

On 26 September, at Jardim do Príncipe Real in Lisbon, researchers from ISTAR-Iscte presented The Machine that Reads Emotions during the European Researchers’ Night 2025.

The interactive activity showed how artificial intelligence can interpret our feelings about climate change.

European Researchers’ Night is celebrated annually across Europe, bringing science closer to society. This year’s theme was Science for Global Challenges (see programme).

The RETIME project invited visitors to take part in Kahoot! quizzes combined with real-time AI-based sentiment analysis. Children, teenagers, and adults reflected on climate risks at home, in their neighbourhoods, and across the city.

Participants also shared short statements about climate change and other hazards. The AI system analysed these in real time, identifying positive, neutral, or negative sentiments. Results appeared instantly in dynamic charts, sparking debate on the similarities and differences between human perception and machine interpretation.

By blending playful learning with advanced technology, the activity raised awareness of climate change impacts and encouraged dialogue between researchers and the public.