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Abílio Almeida is a Portuguese social scientist and researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS). Holding a PhD in Communication Sciences with the highest distinction, he has since focused his work on the role of popular media in the democratisation of knowledge and the empowerment of disadvantaged populations. In 2025, he published in Nature the first “Manifesto for the Algorithmisation of the Common Good”, advocating for the integration of ethical, civic, and democratic principles in the regulation of algorithms and artificial intelligence — a text widely disseminated and praised. He is the author of the proposal “AI for Peace: Can Social Media Bots Foster Positive Peace Literacy and Reduce Digital Violence?” — currently under evaluation by the FCT — which proposes the development of the @BlueBots, ethical and mediating digital agents inspired by the United Nations Blue Helmets, designed to reduce digital violence and promote peace literacy on social networks — the new symbolic battlefield of our time. He is Editor of the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (Springer Nature, Q1), where he currently coordinates the special issue “Cultural Perspectives in Emotions Research”, and is a regular reviewer for international publishers such as Springer Nature, SAGE and Taylor & Francis. He is the author of The Future of Television (Routledge, 2024), part of the prestigious Routledge Advances in Sociology series, which proposes the creation of public-service modes within digital platforms. Abílio collaborates regularly with media outlets in several countries. His book A Cultural History of Laughter (Routledge, 2024), which analyses the role of popular media in the democratisation of positive emotions, was, for example, highlighted by the Financial Times and by various international media. His article Do Societies Have Emotions? received singular recognition as the main feature of the journal Societies (MDPI). He is also the author of numerous short essays — among them “What Is Peace?” and “A Brief Cultural History of Peace” — published in Portugal. His work brings together media history, the ethics of artificial intelligence and emotional literacy as pillars for a new culture of peace and technological responsibility.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Abílio Renato Gomes Almeida
Date of birth
1991/03/03
Gender
Male

Citation names

  • Almeida, A

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
1E1F-2B81-CAB1
ORCID iD
0000-0003-0936-3898

Telephones

Telephone
  • 253604695 (Professional)

Addresses

  • ICS, UMinho, 4710-057, Gualtar, Ed. 15, Braga, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Social Sciences - Media and Communications - Media and Socio-cultural Communication
  • Social Sciences - Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
  • Social Sciences - Media and Communications - Information Science
  • Social Sciences - Sociology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Spanish; Castilian Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2018
Concluded
 Ciências da Comunicação (Doutoramento)
Major in Sem especialidade
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
"O papel do riso nos "talk shows" matinais, em Portugal. Uma análise à programação televisiva de grande audiência." (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2010/11/01 - 2013/07/01
Concluded
 Design e Comunicação Multimédia (Licenciatura)
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Portugal
"Final Project: Development of a Social Network Prototype" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Distinction
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/01/26 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal
2016/11/01 - 2022/01/25 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024/11 - 2024/12 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil

Positions / Appointments

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2025/01 - Current Senior Member Critical Humor Studies Association, United States
Critical Humor Studies Association, United States
2024/05/29 - Current Editor Springer Nature Limited, United Kingdom
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Nature, United Kingdom

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2025/01 - Current Member of the research group 'PolObs' Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal
2023/04 - Current Member of the research group 'Passeio' Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal
2022/12 - Current Volunteer Journalist / Columnist 7 Margens, Portugal
2013/07 - 2023/12 Multimedia Design and Programming Experienced in diverse roles across media and technology companies, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2025/01 - Current PolObs – Observatory for Science, Communication, and Culture Policies
UID/CCI/00736/2013
POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007560
UID/CCI/00736/2019
Researcher
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2023/04 - Current Passeio - Art and Culture Platform
UID/CCI/00736/2013
POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007560
UIDB/00736/2020
Researcher
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2020/01/01 - 2024/12/31 Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade
UIDB/00736/2020
10.54499/UIDB/00736/2020
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal

Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2020/01/01 - 2024/12/31 Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade
UIDP/00736/2020
10.54499/UIDP/00736/2020
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal

Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade
UID/CCI/00736/2019
Universidade do Minho Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Portugal

Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book
  1. Almeida, Abílio. A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge. 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894
  2. Almeida, Abílio. The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge. 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675
  3. Almeida, Abílio. Television: An Essay. Portugal: Edições Verbi Gratia. 2023.
    Published
  4. Almeida, Abílio. A televisão: Um ensaio. Edições Verbi Gratia. 2023.
  5. Almeida, Abílio. History of Laughter. Portugal: Guerra & Paz. 2022.
    Published
Book chapter
  1. Almeida, Abílio. "Laughter in Different Social Atmospheres: The Multiple Meanings of Laughter in Different Emotional Climates". In A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894-6
  2. Almeida, Abílio. "Laughter in the Old World: How Laughter Became a Sin". In A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894-3
  3. Almeida, Abílio. "Laughter in the Modern World: How Laughter Became the Symbol of Happiness". In A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894-4
  4. Almeida, Abílio. "The Independent Life of Laughter: Introduction". In A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894-1
  5. Almeida, Abílio. "Laughter in the Progress of Media and Technology". In A Cultural History of Laughter. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003463894-7
  6. Almeida, Abílio. "New Television, New Questions: An Introduction". In The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675-1
  7. Almeida, Abílio. "The Evolution of Television: Past, Present, and Future". In The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675-3
  8. Almeida, Abílio. "The New Television: Old Ideas in a New World". In The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675-4
  9. Almeida, Abílio. "A New Era of Television: An Old Role for the Viewer". In The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675-6
  10. Almeida, Abílio. "The Future of Television: What Awaits Us?". In The Future of Television: Cultural Trajectories of Media Consumption in the Digital Age of Emotion. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2024.
    Published • 10.4324/9781003561675-7
  11. Almeida, Abílio. "London: The “Punishment” of Pakistani Girls". In The Skin of The City: Notes on Everyday Life. Portugal: CECS, 2023.
    Published
Journal article
  1. Almeida, Abilio. Corresponding author: Almeida, Abilio. "Technology leaders should ‘pay back’ society to support the common good". Nature 646 8083 (2025): 34-37. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03152-y.
    Open access • Published • 10.1038/d41586-025-03152-y
  2. Almeida, A. "What is Laughter?". HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research (2025):
    Open access • Submitted
  3. Almeida, A. "What is ‘Television’ today?". Nature - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2025):
    Open access • Submitted
  4. Almeida, A; Sousa, H. "Decoding actions and emotions in Media: a behind-the-scenes analysis". Comunicação e Sociedade (2025):
    Open access • Submitted
  5. Almeida, A; Sousa, H. "The Authoritarianism of Pop Culture: Media Emotions Shaping Social Thoughts". Popular Communication (2025):
    Open access • Under revision
  6. Almeida, A. "The Democratisation of Laughter: The Role of Media in Emotional Literacy". The European Journal of Humour Research (2025):
    Open access • Submitted
  7. Almeida, A; Sousa, H. "The Power of Laughter: Emotional and Ideological Gratification in Media". Societies 14 9 (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soc14090164.
    Open access • Published • 10.3390/soc14090164
  8. Almeida, A. "Laughing ‘With’ vs. ‘At’: Exploring Emotional Bonds in Media Strategies". Journalism and Media 5 3 (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030074.
    Open access • Published • 10.3390/journalmedia5030074
  9. Almeida, A. "Daytime television in Portugal: A look at the evolution of morning talk shows (1985-2023)". Observatorio (OBS*) 18 2 (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.15847/obsobs18220242370.
    Open access • Published • 10.15847/obsobs18220242370
  10. Almeida, A. "Praising pop emotions: media emotions serving social interests". Nature - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 11 1 (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03210-2.
    Open access • Published • 10.1057/s41599-024-03210-2
  11. Almeida, A. "Do Societies Have Emotions?". Societies 14 5 (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soc14050065.
    Open access • Published • 10.3390/soc14050065
  12. Almeida, A; Wolton, Dominique. "The Role of Television in Shaping Democracy: An Old Dream with a Big Future? (English version)". Comunicação e Sociedade 45 (2024): e024007. http://dx.doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893.
    Open access • Published • 10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893
  13. Almeida, A; Wolton, Dominique. "O papel da televisão na definição da democracia: um velho sonho com um grande futuro? (Portuguese version)". Comunicação e Sociedade 45 (2024): e024007. http://dx.doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893.
    Open access • Published • 10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893
  14. Almeida, Abílio; Wolton, Dominique. "The Role of Television in Shaping Democracy: An Old Dream with a Big Future?". (2024): https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893.
    https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893
  15. Almeida, Abílio Renato Gomes; Wolton, Dominique. "O papel da televisão na definição da democracia: um velho sonho com um grande futuro?". (2024): https://hdl.handle.net/1822/92120.
    10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4893
Newspaper article
  1. Almeida, A. "What is 'Peace' Today?", Sete Margens, 2024, https://setemargens.com/author/abilio-almeida/.
  2. Almeida, A. "A Brief Journey Through the History of Peace", Sete Margens, 2024, https://setemargens.com/author/abilio-almeida/.
  3. Almeida, A. "London: The (Online?) Cry of Minorities", Passeio's Showcase Originals, 2024, https://www.passeio.pt/en/investigador/abilio-almeida/.
  4. Almeida, A. "From the Laughter of Science to the Science of Laughter", Jornal NÓS UMinho, 2023, https://www.nos.uminho.pt/Article.aspx?id=3676.
  5. Almeida, A. "Is laughter a "short-circuit" in our brain?", Sete Margens, 2023, https://setemargens.com/author/abilio-almeida/.
  6. Almeida, A. "London: The "Punishment" of Pakistani Girls", Passeio's Showcase Originals, 2023, https://www.passeio.pt/en/investigador/abilio-almeida/.
  7. Almeida, A. "The Musicality of Peculiar Laughter", Sete Margens, 2023, https://setemargens.com/author/abilio-almeida/.
  8. Almeida, A. "The History of Laughter is Also the History of Women’s Non-Laughter", Sete Margens, 2022, https://setemargens.com/author/abilio-almeida/.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Almeida, Abílio Renato Gomes. "Daytime television in Portugal: an analysis of the role of laughter in the main morning talk shows". PhD, Universidade do Minho Instituto de Ciências Sociais, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/1822/75831.
  2. Almeida, Abílio Renato Gomes. "O daytime televisivo em Portugal: uma análise ao papel do riso nos principais talk shows matinais". PhD, 2022. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/75831.

Other

Invention
  1. TalkSci - A TV Talk Show to Make Science Accessible to Everyone. Proposed a talk show concept for CECS and RTP (Public Television) to bridge the gap between scientists and the general public. Initiated contact with television producers, potential sponsors, and other stakeholders to assess feasibility and foster collaborations. Although the project is currently on hold, its potential remains. Target Audience: The General Public and Scientific Community. 2022. Almeida, A.
Other output
  1. Londres: O choro (online?) das minorias. Nunca vi tantas manifestações como em Londres. No entanto, tenho observado, em algumas delas, certas coisas que me têm deixado a pensar nesse ato em si. A refletir do ponto de vista das dinâmicas sociais, e não ancorado a um pensamento ou tendência ideológica, ou de outro tipo.... 2025. Almeida, Abílio. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/94904.
  2. Londres: o “castigo” das meninas paquistanesas. Estudar o riso enquanto gratificação emocional despertou em mim uma atenção muito particular para com o fenómeno no quotidiano. O que partilharei de seguida é apenas uma das muitas coisas de que me apercebi, achei interessante e registei numa espécie de “diário de bordo”, que tenho vindo a completar nestes últimos anos. Alguns relatos são recentes, outros nem tanto, mas todos eles de algum modo ma. 2023. Almeida, Abílio Renato Gomes. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/93183.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/12 Emotional Language in an Emotional World: How to Communicate? 1st Scientific Seminar on Semiotics
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (Bahia, Brazil)
2024/12 Emotions, Media and AI: What the Past Can Teach Us About the Future? 1st Scientific Seminar on Semiotics
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (Bahia, Brazil)
2024/11 The Power of Laughter and the Laughter of Power in the Media 1st Scientific Seminar on Semiotics
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (Bahia, Brazil)
2024/11 Empathy: The Biggest Secret of Successful Communication General Meeting for the Preliminary Analysis of Final Projects
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (Brazil)
2024/11 Communicating for Everyone Today: The Importance of Emotional Popular Tuning in Communication General Meeting for the Preliminary Analysis of Final Projects
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (Brazil)
2023/03 The data and the proposition of my PhD thesis. Brief and informal presentation (at the invitation of Stephen Cave, Director)
Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
2023 History of Laughter – The Idea and the Research Process of the Book Several Informal Presentations
Portugal, Spain, UK, Brazil
2022/10 The PhD journey: difficulties, tips and ways to overcome constraints 9th Doctoral Conference at the University, ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2022/07 Is laughter really the best medicine? 46th PubhD UMinho 2022
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2019/10 Laughter in Morning Talk Shows in Portugal: An Analysis 7th Doctoral Conference at the University - ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2018/10 The Role of Laughter in Portuguese Television: An Analysis of Prime-Time Television Programming in Portugal 6th Doctoral Conference at the University - ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2017/07 The Role of Laughter in Audience Construction: An Analysis of Prime-Time Television and Radio Programming in Portugal Formal Presentation of PhD Projects - ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2017/01 Why So Much Laughter? An Exploratory Analysis of the Laughter Phenomenon in Television Programmes Formal Presentation in Sociology of Media - ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2017/01 Advertising: Is Humour the Facilitator of the Sexual Message? Formal Presentation in Social Semiotics - ICS
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2024/11 - 2024/12 1st Scientific Seminar on Semiotics (2024/11 - 2024/12)
Seminar (Co-organisor)
 Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role 		Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2023/11/15 Humour and Bioecological Development in Organisations (Thesis Project)
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Abbadhia Vieira (PhD)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Portugal

Ad Hoc journal article review

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2025/08 - Current Psychology, Health & Medicine (13548506) Routledge
2025/08 - Current Journal of Mobile Multimedia (15504646) River Publishers
2025/04 - Current SAGE Open (2158-2440) SAGE
2025/04 - Current Social Sciences (2076-0760) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2025/02 - Current International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (1660-4601) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2025/01 - Current Electronics (2079-9292) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2025 - Current Behavioral Sciences (2076-328X) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2024 - Current Nature - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2662-9992) Springer Nature
2024 - Current Journalism and Media (2673-5172) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2024 - Current Sustainability (2071-1050) Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
2024 - Current PLoS ONE (1932-6203) Public Library of Science
2023 - Current Observatorio (OBS*) (1646-5954) OberCom - Observatory of Communication
2022 - 2022 Revista Comunicando (2182-4037) Sopcom / LabCom

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024/11 - 2024/12 Communication, Media and Image Advertising and Propaganda (Bachelor) Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil

Evaluation committee

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization Funding entity
2025 - 2026 Main Editor of the Collection “Cultural Perspectives in Emotions Research” (Springer Nature). https://www.nature.com/collections/jbfjabfhec/guest-editors

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2025/10/05 Life is too important not to laugh at it - Humourlessness and pomposity aren’t always the best antidotes to buffoonery and despotism Financial Times
2025/06 The Liberating and Healthy Power of Laughter Visão
2025/04 Why do we laugh when we are nervous? Observador

Other jury / evaluation

Activity description Institution / Organization
2024/11 - 2024/12 1st Scientific Seminar on Semiotics Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil
Distinctions

Other distinction

2022 PhD thesis awarded the Highest Distinction
Universidade do Minho Departamento de Ciências da Comunicação, Portugal
2013 Merit Student in the 3rd Year of the Undergraduate Degree
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Portugal
2012 Merit Student in the 2nd Year of the Undergraduate Degree
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Portugal
2011 Merit Student in the 1st Year of the Undergraduate Degree
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Portugal