The research project LOCUS “sociaL media, yOuth, and Consumption of cUltural Spaces,” which is funded by the “3rd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Postdoctoral Researchers,” and implemented at the Department of Communication, Media, and Culture, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, with Konstantinos Theodoridis as Principal Investigator, organised on 22 October 2024 the Final Conference.
The main objective of the Final Conference was the LOCUS Research Team to present the overall findings of the research project. In addition, there was an opportunity to disseminate the key points of the research to the cultural organisations – case studies of the project. As part of the activities during the conference, a policy forum was organised as a thematic session bringing together academics, researchers and cultural organisations.
During the opening speeches, the President of the Scientific Council of the H.F.R.I., Xenia Chryssochoou, who highlighted the importance of the Foundation’s actions and the funding of projects for young researchers, especially in a time when a collective effort is being made to halt the phenomenon of brain drain, as well as the Associate Professor, Angeliki Gazi and member of the Advisory Board mentioned about the relevance of the research project and the value of its multi-methodological approach.
Finally, as part of the LOCUS project activities, there was an opportunity to invite Professor in Sociology Steven Miles, Manchester Metropolitan University and also member of the Advisory Board as a Keynote Speaker with the title of his presentation being “You just wear what you want don’t yer?: Some reflections on the impact of consumption on young people’s identities in times of social and cultural instability”.