Catarina Cereja – fourth-year student majoring in international affairs and political science – represented Florida State University in July of 2025 at the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights Workshop on Human Rights and New Technologies, held at Magdalen College, Oxford University.
The Oxford Consortium for Human Rights Workshop on Human Rights and New Technologies invited students to a week-long conference that studies technological revolutions in communications, medicine, governance, surveillance, education, weapons, energy, and manufacturing to explore their implications for traditional human rights to health, privacy, free speech, free association, and the laws of war.
“One of the most impactful parts of the program was hearing participants share human rights concerns happening in their own communities,” Cereja said. “Listening to how these issues play out in different cultural and political contexts made the conversations feel both urgent and grounded in reality.”
The workshop also explored how new technology is changing the human experience, attributing the shift to a highly digital cultural dynamic. Fundamental questions about the notion of the ‘human in human rights’ were discussed and debated with the intention of creating a new generation of rights and duties.
Attendees discussed the rights of elderly populations and children in an increasingly technological world, emphasizing how these groups often experience heightened vulnerability during periods of rapid change. Conversations also explored the expanding role of artificial intelligence in medicine, highlighting both its transformative potential and the ethical complexities that arise when new technologies influence life-altering decisions.
“This experience expanded the way I think about global issues, blending my academic interests with real-world applications,” Cereja said. “I’m grateful to the donors and the college for making it possible for me to take part in such a transformative program. I returned with new perspectives, stronger critical thinking skills, and a deeper sense of responsibility as I move forward in my studies and career.”
Cereja currently serves as president of the Brazilian Student Association at FSU, a registered student organization that promotes Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language, fosters a welcoming community for all students, and offers opportunities for community service, professional development, and leadership.
Cereja served as a learning assistant in the Department of Political Science at FSU during the 2024-2025 academic year. Learning assistants are undergraduate students who have completed a course and are subsequently selected by faculty to work with them in the classroom, helping current students engage with course material for better understanding.
Driven by a deep interest in cultural diplomacy, migration policy, and public service, Cereja hopes to continue working at the intersection of international engagement, policy, and community building — whether through diplomacy, nonprofit work, or cross-cultural outreach.
To learn more about each of Cereja’s programs, click the following links: Political Science and the International Affairs Program.