Joint academic events at the University of Baghdad, January 2026

With the aim to foster academic cooperation and knowledge exchange, the team conducted a series of events at the University of Baghdad in January 2026, at the invitation and with support from the Iraqi colleagues. On January 18 and 25, dr Dorota Woroniecka-Krzyżanowska and Aleksandra Wojtaszek conducted workshops for students from the College of Excellence focusing on the critical thinking about statistics and maps. On January 28, dr Dorota Woroniecka-Krzyżanowska and Aleksandra Wojtaszek took part in the World Anthropology Day titled “Anthroinformatics: From Culture to Algorithm New Horizons for Local Development” at the College of Excellence.

 

Dr Dorota Woroniecka-Krzyżanowska: Too much data? The question of representation in contemporary anthropology. Abstract: We live in the age of big data. The data revolution has introduced new questions and challenges across academic disciplines, including anthropology. While at first glance anthropology may appear to be “the Other” of big data (Boellstorff 2013), several scholars highlighted important intersections and possible commonalities. The paper examines the potential contributions anthropology, as both a discipline and a research practice, can offer to the use and understanding of big data. These contributions include, but are not limited to, a critical approach to data production and consumption, attention to the situatedness of big data in time and space, and the social and cultural genealogies of contemporary data practices. The paper also argues that anthropology can play a key role in advancing decolonial perspectives, counter-hegemonic narratives, and ethical debates that emerge in and from the current “data moment.”

Aleksandra Wojtaszek: Youth-driven data collection in Heliopolis, São Paulo. Abstract: Community-led, youth-driven data collection is a critical approach to producing research that yields feasible and socially meaningful outcomes. While community-led research is increasingly recognized, youth occupy a distinct position within communities: they are deeply embedded in everyday urban life, disproportionately affected by policy decisions, yet often excluded from formal decision-making processes. Drawing on anthropological and participatory research traditions, the presentation argues that youth involvement transforms them from passive observers into active actors who produce context-specific knowledge that enhances the relevance, accessibility, and usability of data. A case study from Heliopolis, São Paulo, illustrates how youth-led research turns data from an academic product into a tool for community reflection, policy advocacy, and lasting social impact.

 

The activities organized in January 2026 are part of broader efforts of the “Made in Iraq” team to engage in meaningful academic cooperation, including joint research, publications and academic events.