Information Science Public Lectures

Poster:  - PDF [2.9 MB]

The flood of disinformation and misinformation flowing through social media today is a widespread societal concern. Artificial Intelligence is making the problem worse. What to do? In the Alan H. MacDonald Information Science Public Lecture, Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, one of Canada鈥檚 leading social media scholars, will offer insights on how students, faculty, and the public can develop resilience to address this growing concern.

Title:  From Prompt to Propaganda: How Generative AI Fuels Disinformation and Misinformation and What We Must Do

Speaker: Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, Professor and Director of Research, Social Media Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University

Date/Time: Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 4:00 pm

Location: Ondaatje Theatre, McCain Arts & Social Sciences Building, 鲍鱼tv University, 6135 University Avenue

Social platforms now algorithmically remix news, memes, and AI generated content, blurring the line between fact and fiction, and obscuring traditional credibility cues (e.g., source reputation, visual authenticity, consensus). According to a new report, The State of Generative鈥疉I Use in Canada鈥�2025, from the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, 59 percent of Internet users distrust political news online because it may be fake or manipulated, with two-thirds fearing that generative AI could sway elections. Yet paradoxically, students and faculty are embracing these same generative AI tools for study and research support. This apparent disconnect between public concerns and uptake of these tools demands closer scrutiny. The talk will examine the features that enable the rapid adoption of generative AI tools by the public on the one hand, and how those same features allow bad actors to create and disseminate dis- and misinformation at scale on the other. The talk will conclude with a call for actionable research and policy focused on strengthening 鈥渆pistemic resilience鈥� among students, researchers, and the broader public through critical digital literacy, robust verification practices, and institutional safeguards that ensure the safe and ethical use of generative AI.

Speaker Biography: Anatoliy Gruzd is a Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management and the Director of Research at the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. As a computational social science researcher, he investigates how social media affects the way people and organizations communicate, collaborate, and share information, including misinformation. His expertise lies in studying online communities and social networks, as well as in developing new computational methods and tools to analyze public discourse across various domains. Most recently, he has been examining the spread of pro-Kremlin narratives, propaganda and disinformation related to the Russia-Ukraine war. Anatoliy鈥檚 innovative approach to studying social media has led him to be named a Canada Research Chair in 2015 and inducted into the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017.

This event is virtual, free, and open to all. Please share throughout your networks.

SPEAKER:
Lucas Maxwell (MLIS鈥�07)
Librarian, Glenthorne High School & Author

TITLE: Using Dungeons & Dragons for well being and developing a sense of community

EVENT DETAILS:

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Monday, February 2, 2026
3:30 鈥� 5:00 p.m. AT 鈥� Lecture (Online)

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ABSTRACT: Lucas Maxwell has been running Dungeons & Dragons in the high school library he manages in London, UK, for over seven years. During that time he鈥檚 observed and written about the mental health benefits the game has had for both students and staff alike. After speaking to a wide variety of mental health professionals in both the UK and North America, it became clear that the game has therapeutic benefits that not only create a sense of community in and around the school, but also builds important social and interpersonal skills. It also helps struggling students engage with reading and creativity and has helped Maxwell with his own wellbeing and mental health. In this presentation, Maxwell will discuss how he started the game with only five student players and how it blossomed into a school-wide phenomenon that led to his students developing D&D sessions for neurodivergent youth in literary festivals around London and in one of the largest libraries in the world.

SPEAKER BIO:

Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Lucas Maxwell grew up on Nintendo, comic books and Dungeons & Dragons. He has been working in libraries for over fifteen years and is passionate about providing safe and welcoming library spaces for everyone. In 2017 he was named the UK鈥檚 School Librarian of the Year and in 2024 he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to libraries. His debut Young Adult novel, A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once, will be published by Chicken House Books in April 2026. He is proud to be a neurodivergent writer and grateful to be adding his voice to the world of literature. He currently resides in the UK with his amazing family and Biscuit the chocolate lab.

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