The annual ELSA Network day of 2026 just took place on the 10th of February, and the AI, Media & Democracy Lab had the pleasure of organizing it! The whole day was packed with discussions, knowledge exchange, and updates from each participating ELSA AI lab, all centered around one theme: impact.
In the morning, researchers gathered for round-table sessions to brainstorm their daily routines, practices and philosophies at the core of the ELSA way of working. Here are some conclusions from each session:
- What makes an ELSA researcher? Reflexivity, anticipation, inter/multi/trans-disciplinarity, curiosity, openness, and responsiveness are some of the descriptors reported by the group. The ELSA way of working is all about collaborating closely with external stakeholders, keeping the pulse of things outside academia, and having the courage to bring up uncomfortable but needed questions.
- Interdisciplinary & creativity in research — Incorporating truly new, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches is challenging due to the generally rigid structure of academic work: project output needs to be measurable and justifiable to funders, which funnels work into the static avenues of publishing. However, space can be made for more creative approaches through clear and timely communication of goals and intentions, keeping contact with stakeholders on multiple levels to trace impact, and allowing for projects to “ferment” for their outcomes to become more tangible over time.
- How to connect meaningfully with our stakeholders? Besides respect and expectation management, leading with emotion can be a good way to help others understand the importance of research: share why you care, as a researcher. Reporting back with results is also highly appreciated, especially when it comes to citizens, as it fosters a two-way relationship and gives research participants a return on their time investment. However, challenges may arise if it appears that some stakeholders have diverging or conflicting interests, and deliberate planning and scenario consideration can aid in avoiding such situations.
- Epic ELSA failures & lessons learned — Participants of this group shared anecdotes of misalignments and various practical obstacles that have gotten in the way of their work, while also thinking more broadly about the possible shortcomings of the ELSA approach. What emerged overall was that honesty and effective communication are key, especially amidst an academic culture that tends to avoid embracing or celebrating failure. Maintaining a critical distance to the structures we are part of can be crucial to keeping a realistic perspective on how projects are being carried out and stakeholders are being involved.
- Towards a Quintuple Helix approach — Extending the Quadruple Helix, the Quintuple Helix framework adds the natural environment as a system and stakeholder to be considered when thinking about innovation. Applying this approach means remembering to consider the interests of the environment in the planning of projects, which is especially important in the case of AI research due to concerns around water and energy use.
The ELSA steering committee and PIs also met in the morning to evaluate the progress and outcomes of past, ongoing, and future projects.
In the afternoon plenary session kicked off by Claes de Vreese, we heard presentations from representatives of each lab about their most impactful projects, with concrete examples that complemented the outcomes of the round-tables:
- ELSA Lab Defence: Nathan van der Stoep showcased their latest collaborations with NATO and newly published design methodologies
- AI, Media & Democracy Lab: Laurens Naudts presented our own collaboration with the Council of Europe on a report about generative AI in politics and journalism
- ELSA Lab Northern Netherlands: Sophie de Klerk gave us a chance to trial their educational card game designed for children to learn how to identify AI-generated images, among other initiatives aimed at youngsters
- AI for Multi-Agency Public Safety: Marlon Kruizinga talked about fieldwork and multi-stakeholder workshops on technology and smart cameras within neighborhoods conducted in Rotterdam
- AI for Sustainable Food Systems: Hao Wang provided an update on their involvement on projects like Data4Food2030, and developing AI tools for veterinary applications in dairy farming
- ELSA Poverty & Debt: Gjalt-Jorn Peters showcased the lab’s work on tools for citizens and mapping causal loops of inequality
The examples of impact given by each lab representative sparked many conversations and additional questions, which suggests to us that, while work still needs to be done, the network of AI ELSA labs is feeling inspired and determined to continue thinking through the best ways to achieve impact and truly apply our best knowledge towards solving pressing ethical, legal, and societal problems. Stay tuned for more on ELSA impact in the 2026 ELSA magazine with the same theme, coming at the end of the year!
