Partnering for public data literacy: QUT DMRC at Woodford Folk Festival 2024
At this year’s Woodford Folk Festival, QUT’s Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) created “Data Mystics”—a public-facing activation designed to foster digital self-awareness and ethical data literacy. Just like a tarot card reader at Woodford, QUT DMRC researchers ‘read’ festival goers donated data to offer guidance and insights, helping individuals explore their digital past, digital present, and potential digital future!
Set within one of the festival’s most interactive spaces, the Data Mystics stall invited participants to contribute small samples of personal data—such as social media ad interests or streaming preferences—under strict ethical protocols. In return, they received interpretations of their “digital self,” delivered through a set of carefully constructed personas. These conversations encouraged reflection on how platforms collect, categorise and shape our identities through algorithmic systems.
Partnering with ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+S), AIO and QUT DMRC’s collaboration represents a shared commitment to advancing public understanding of digital platforms. The stall formed part of a broader DMRC-led presence at Woodford, which included panel discussions on online safety, cinema in the digital era, and children’s experiences with digital media.
For AIO, the initiative aligned closely with our mission to support research infrastructure that enhances transparency and observability in digital environments. Projects like Data Mystics demonstrate how data research can move beyond institutional settings and engage the public in meaningful, accessible ways.
We are pleased to support work that bridges the gap between critical research and public engagement. To learn more about QUT DMRC’s presence at the festival, read their full event summary here: https://research.qut.edu.au/dmrc/2025/05/13/data-mystics-and-digital-media-take-centre-stage-at-woodford-folk-festival-2024/
#DataForGood #DigitalSelf #PublicTechEthics #DataMystics #QUTDMRC #ADMSCentre #AIO
