In a seminar centered on co developing data with communities, Flávia F. Feitosa, Associate Professor at UFABC and Innovation Coordinator at the Centro de Estudos da Favela (CEFAVELA), shared a clear message at NOVA IMS: data should be built with people, not just about them.

Held on January 26, the event brought together around 20 participants, from professors to students, for an active discussion on how data is collected, who controls it, and whose realities it represents. The seminar, hosted by MagIC, explored emerging approaches that challenge conventional data production models and place communities at the center of the process.

Feitosa’s contribution aligned with broader debates calling for a shift from a data revolution to data justice. Despite advances in satellite technologies, machine learning, and real time analytics, favelas, home to more than 16 million people, remain largely absent from official data systems. As Feitosa noted, the growing volume of data does not necessarily translate into information that reflects community needs or priorities.

At the core of her talk were two platforms, BDC‑Favelas and METAFAVELA, developed to rethink how data is produced. Rather than extracting data from marginalized communities, these initiatives are built with and for them. By combining open access satellite and drone imagery with shared geospatial metadata, the platforms aim to support residents in understanding, representing, and defending their territories.

Beyond presenting the platforms, Feitosa encouraged critical discussion. The seminar evolved into an open exchange, with MagIC participants raising questions about algorithmic bias, data ownership, and the role of researchers working with vulnerable communities. Data sovereignty emerged as a central theme, focusing on who owns data, who can use it, and how trust is established before technological solutions are applied.

Her message resonated strongly within a data science context focused on purpose and impact: data detached from people risks becoming an extractive practice rather than a tool for social change.

Beyond sharing her work, Feitosa invited researchers and students to explore collaboration with CEFAVELA and to co develop future research. The conversation continued after the seminar, with exchanges around new projects, data analysis, and joint research opportunities.

The seminar was part of the MagIC Seminar Series, which brings external researchers to NOVA IMS to share their work with the academic community. More than presenting results, these sessions aim to foster dialogue, inspire new research directions, and encourage a critical view of data as a tool for social impact.