WiTaR Lunch Salon #4 – inTRUSTED: Cultivating Trust and Inclusivity in 6G-Era Digital Ecosystems through Artistic Intelligence

Date & Time:

• Thursday 30 April 2026
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (CEST)
• The registration is open below: here

Overview:

As new technologies like advanced AI and future 6G networks become part of everyday life, we rely on them more and more – in communication, work, healthcare, transport, and public services. But for these technologies to truly benefit society, people need to understand them, feel included in their development, and trust that they are fair and safe. Traditional approaches to trust often focus only on technical safety and security. However, this is no longer enough. Trust is also about transparency, understanding, values, and inclusion.

 The inTRUSTED project brings together researchers, artists, engineers, and communities to explore how we can build digital systems that people not only use but genuinely trust. By combining technology, creativity, and public engagement, inTRUSTED aims to help shape a digital future that people understand, feel confident in, and actively participate in.

About the speaker:

Dr. Susan Rea is Director of the Nimbus Research Centre at Munster Technological University, where she leads strategic research programmes in trusted and distributed infrastructure management, cyber-physical systems, and secure digital transformation. Her work focuses on the design, orchestration, and governance of large-scale, distributed and networked systems, with particular emphasis on resilience, security, and trust in next-generation digital ecosystems.

She is a Principal Investigator within the Research Ireland CONNECT Centre for Future Networks and the Research Ireland ADVANCE Centre for Doctoral Training, contributing to nationally coordinated research in advanced networking, distributed intelligence, and future communications infrastructures. Dr. Rea also serves on the board of the European Technology Platform for Software, Services and Data (NESSI), supporting European research and innovation strategy in software and digital services.

Dr. Rea holds a Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering from Cork Institute of Technology. Her research interests span Internet of Things (IoT) architectures, edge–cloud integration, distributed systems management, cybersecurity for large-scale networked environments, and the socio-technical dimensions of digital trust. Her work integrates engineering innovation with human-centred and design-led methodologies to address complex technical and societal challenges.

In parallel with her research leadership, Dr. Rea is an advocate for women in STEAM and actively advances gender equality initiatives within higher education and research environments.

 

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About WiTaR:

The Women in Telecommunications and Research (WiTaR) Working Group (WG) focuses on promoting gender equality, inclusion, and empowerment within the 6G Research & Innovation (R&I) community. Established as part of the European flagship project Hexa-X in February 2021 and expanded to the broader 5G Infrastructure PPP community in June 2021, the WiTaR WG continues to grow its influence. Launched in Fall 2023, WiTaR is dedicated to closing gender gaps and increasing the participation of women in the 6G R&I community.

Our mission:

WiTaR seeks to close the gender gap by fostering an inclusive environment, breaking down barriers, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in telecommunications and research. The group’s efforts are focused on creating a more equitable and diverse workforce in these essential sectors, ensuring women have equal opportunities and recognition for their contributions.

More information: https://6g-ia.eu/witar/