GROUND Workshop in Genoa

The GROUND workshop (advancing GROup UNderstanding and robots‘ aDaptive behavior) took place for the third time on 30 June 2025 as part of the IAS 19 conference in Genoa, Italy. This full-day event focused on robotics in multi-party scenarios and human-robot interaction in groups. The possibilities of adaptivity and personalization were particularly in demand. The workshop provided a unique platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, explore new approaches, and network with a passionate community working at the intersection of social interaction and robotics. After Giuilia Pusceddu’s introduction, three keynotes took place. Prof. Dr. Silvia Rossi (University of Naples) talked about „Personalization and Context-awareness in Service Robotics: from Individuals to Groups“, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business) about „Robots, Chatbots, and Voice Assistants in the Classroom“, and Prof. Dr. Isabel Neto (University of Lisbon) about „Fostering Inclusion among Mixed-Ability Children through Social Robots“. The short paper presentations and a tutorial by Lorenzo Ferrini took place in the afternoon.

Fig.: Giulia Pusceddu’s introduction

GROUND Workshop at IAS 19

The GROUND workshop (advancing GROup UNderstanding and robots‘ aDaptive behavior) is back for its third edition and will take place on June 30, 2025, as part of the IAS 19 Conference in Genoa, Italy. This full-day event focuses on robotics in multiparty scenarios and human-robot interaction in group settings. It offers a unique platform for researchers and practitioners to share ideas, explore new approaches, and connect with a passionate community working at the intersection of social interaction and robotics. Participants can look forward to inspiring keynotes and talks by Prof. Dr. Silvia Rossi, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, and Dr. Isabel Neto, along with a hands-on tutorial led by Lorenzo Ferrini. The workshop invites short contributions (2–4 pages plus references) that present innovative strategies for advancing group-robot interaction. Key dates to keep in mind: the submission deadline is May 31, 2025; notifications of acceptance will be sent out on June 17, and the final camera-ready papers are due by June 22. For more information, visit the workshop website, the IAS-19 conference page, or go directly to the submission portal. Questions can be directed to: groundworkshop@gmail.com.

Fig.: A street in Genoa