A new research collaboration beginning at the Monash Prato campus next month will bring together partners across Italy, the Netherlands and Germany, along with researchers spanning Monash’s International Campus Network to strengthen young people’s ability to recognise and resist disinformation.
Supporting European Youth Engagement against Disinformation (SEED) is a two‑year project funded under the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.
SEED responds to growing concerns about the impact of misinformation on democratic participation. The project will engage educators, youth workers and local authorities to deliver practical tools, training programmes and youth‑designed civic engagement activities that support critical thinking and digital resilience among young Europeans.
At the centre of the partnership is the Monash University European Research Foundation (MUERF), which will lead all SEED activities in Prato, Italy. Working closely with the Municipality of Prato, local schools and community groups, the team will map the ways disinformation circulates in local communities and co‑develop initiatives that help young people build trustworthy information networks. Monash researchers will also contribute to the project’s theoretical and evaluation framework, drawing on the deep expertise in political theory, political science, public policy, participatory research and media analysis housed within the university.
SEED’s foundations grew from a 2024 workshop called Disinformation in Cities, hosted at the Prato campus by Associate Professor Matteo Bonotti from the Faculty of Arts. Supported by MUERF, the event brought together colleagues from Monash University Indonesia, Italy’s Institute for International Economic Cooperation (ICEI) and representatives from city councils in Jakarta, Milan and Reggio Emilia to explore how disinformation moves through urban spaces and how local governments can respond.
“The workshop highlighted the urgent need to move beyond purely academic work on disinformation and collaborate with key stakeholders on the ground,” says Associate Professor Matteo Bonotti.
“We decided to focus on cities because cities are the level of government most accessible to the people. As such, they are particularly vulnerable to disinformation and its consequences but, at the same time, also offer unique opportunities to leverage in designing policy interventions.”
The workshop proved catalytic. It strengthened Monash’s relationships with European organisations working on democratic resilience, led to participation in the STAND project (Strengthening Towns’ Activation for new Narratives on Diversity) – also in collaboration with ICEI – and ultimately created the trusted partnerships that produced the successful SEED application.
Dr Matteo Dutto is the Senior Manager, Research and Research Fellow at MUERF, and a Chief Investigator on the project. He believes SEED is a standout example of Monash’s international campus network working as intended.
“Part of Monash’s appeal in Europe is our connections across the Indo-Pacific, through our campuses and other research and educational collaborations,” he says. “They provide a bridge to the world’s fastest-growing and most consequential region. These sorts of global networks are vital to successfully tackling shared global challenges like disinformation in societies.”
The project brings together complementary expertise that reflects the complex nature of the disinformation challenge:
- A/Prof. Matteo Bonotti – Politics & International Relations, Faculty of Arts (Monash Clayton)
- Dr Matteo Dutto – Monash University European Research Foundation (Monash Prato)
- A/Prof. Zareh Ghazarian – Politics & International Relations, Faculty of Arts (Monash Clayton)
- A/Prof. Ika Idris – Public Policy (Monash Indonesia)
- Dr Nazirul Hazim A. Khalim – Malaysia School of Business (Monash Malaysia)
MUERF continues to play a pivotal role in opening European opportunities for Monash researchers. As an Italian legal entity, MUERF enables full participation in programmes such as CERV and Horizon Europe, something few Australian institutions can access directly. Beyond eligibility, MUERF helps researchers establish partnerships, build consortia, navigate the complexities of EU project development and delivery, and serve as an active research partner.
This combination of access and on‑the‑ground strategic support was essential in securing Monash’s place in SEED, and it positions the University strongly for future collaborations across Europe.
The project will officially launch on 10–11 March 2026, at a meeting hosted at the Monash Prato campus. Following the kick‑off, MUERF will establish Prato‑based working groups involving educators, youth workers and municipal representatives, using the city as a vibrant testing ground for innovative, community-driven responses to disinformation.
As SEED begins, it signals not only a major new research opportunity but also a strengthening of Monash’s role in global conversations about democracy, digital transformation and youth engagement.
With MUERF exploring upcoming European calls and expanding its networks, Monash researchers across all campuses are encouraged to consider how their work might align with future European partnerships.
From a single workshop in 2024 to a multi-country CERV project launching in 2026, SEED illustrates what becomes possible when Monash’s global campuses collaborate.
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