Members of the BrAIn Project Research Team Present at Conference in Toronto

At the SRA 2026 Biennial Meeting titled “Each of Us, All of Us: Adolescent Thriving in an Interconnected World,” held in Toronto from 15 to 18 April, Dr Ana Žulec Ivanković and Prof. Marina Merkaš, PhD, presented part of the research findings from the BrAIn project. 

Two papers were presented at the conference. The first, “Digital Risks, Empathy, and Social Skills: Findings from the BrAIn Project in Croatian Schools,” examined how students’ perceived exposure to digital risks is related to their social skills and empathy. The second paper, “Risky Digital Technology Use, Digital Risks, and Digital Stress: Findings from the BrAIn Project in Croatian Schools,” explored the relationship between risky use of digital technologies, digital risks, and stress.

The papers are the result of the collaborative work of the research team members: Ana Žulec Ivanković, Marina Merkaš, Lovro Knežević, Lana Batinić, Mario Pandžić, Marija Šakić Velić, Mateja Bodrožić Selak, Josip Ježovita, Lana Ciboci Perša, Ana Haramina, Snježana Mališa, and Toni Ćosić.

The findings highlight the importance of developing digital literacy, as well as the social and emotional competencies of children and young people, as key protective factors in an ever-evolving digital environment. The research is part of the BrAIn project implemented by CARNET.