Izabela Szafarczyk

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About

Izabela Szafarczyk is a researcher working at the intersection of human-robot interaction, participatory design, and inclusive education. Her work focuses on developing innovative technological solutions to address social stigma and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly children living with epilepsy. Szafarczyk's most recognized contributions center on the co-design and development of a robot capable of demonstrating an epileptic seizure, intended as an educational tool to improve teachers' responses to seizure events and foster more supportive attitudes toward affected students. Through her participatory design methodology, she actively involves end-users and stakeholders in the creation process, ensuring that resulting prototypes are both practically meaningful and socially sensitive. Her 2019 publication on this work has garnered 4 citations, while the earlier 2018 conference paper introducing Project Fantom has received 2 citations — modest but meaningful recognition within a specialized field. Szafarczyk's research stands out for its humanitarian motivation, bridging robotics and social advocacy to tackle real-world challenges faced by children with neurological conditions. Her work serves as an inspiring example of how technology can be thoughtfully applied to combat stigma and promote educational inclusion.