GenAI & Me: Creative Computing and Emancipatory AI

GenAI & Me: Creative Computing and Emancipatory AI is a participatory outreach and engagement project under the Connecticut/Baden-Württemberg Human Rights Research Consortium (HRRC). The project combined the co-creation of new educational tools by science educators and a workshop series to empower adolescents aged 14-16, particularly from underserved communities, to explore AI-driven creativity for social justice, equitable education, and STEM engagement. Combining cutting-edge digital technology with everyday materials, participants created interactive projects that bridge the digital divide.

The workshops, facilitated by NEXUS Experiments and creative educator Ryan Jenkins, included a  session with researchers and educators to co-create the educational approach for thoughtful design and impactful learning outcomes. The workshop with the adolescents included hands-on exploration of generative AI tools, microcontrollers, and visual coding platforms alongside physical prototyping with accessible materials.

The series culminates in GenAI & Me, an interactive exhibition showcasing AI-powered graphic novels created by participants. These works integrate facial recognition features and generative AI elements to engage viewers while addressing ethical questions surrounding AI. Themes range from science fiction to social issues, reflecting the creativity and critical thinking of young creators.

The project aims to inspire broader exploration of emancipatory AI in education, fostering inclusivity and advancing technological literacy. In the future, we hope to continue the dialogue on AI's role in empowering communities and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement.

GenAI & Me
A project by NEXUS Experiments in collaboration with Ryan Jenkins 

Funded by:
Connecticut / Baden-Württemberg 
Human Rights Research Constortium (HRRC)

Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg

Project Partners:
University of Connecticut
Wonderful Idea Co.
Pestalozzi Realschule
City Library Freiburg 
Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies - FRIAS
Responsible and Scalable Learning for Robots Assisting Humans (ReScaLe)
University Medical Center Freiburg 
BrainLinks-BrainTools

Participants:
Aaron
Anton
Colin
Diego
Daniel
David
Ernad
Ian
Micha
Nikita
Noah
Sebastian
Suleiman
Vasyl

Video:
Sebastian Lucht

Camera:
Sebastian
Aaron
Diego
Ian
Vasyl

Special Thanks to:
Carima Cornelsen
Lara Sophie Faber
Nick Heppert
Ryan Jenkins
Rebecca König
Houman Masnavi
Fabian Schmidt
Heiko Spiegler
Michelle Voland 
Ingo Wangler