On April 8, 2025, I was honoured to lead a masterclass on qualitative methods and ethical challenges in the study of the urban night, held at the amphitheatre of the Institut National d’Aménagement et d’Urbanisme (INAU) in Rabat, Morocco. Titled “Explorer la nuit urbaine: méthodes qualitatives et enjeux éthiques,” this session was organized in collaboration with the research laboratory LAPSIS.Continue reading "Night Research and Ethics in Practice: A Masterclass at INAU, Rabat"
Exploring the Urban Night in Casablanca: A Conference on Night Sociology
On April 7, 2025, I was invited to deliver a conference titled “Sociologie de la nuit: interactions, politiques publiques, culture et transformation urbaine” at Université Hassan II de Casablanca. The event was hosted by the Laboratoire de Recherche LADSIS and the Master in Social Institutions Dynamics (DIS). In my talk, I shared insights from recent research into how the urbanContinue reading "Exploring the Urban Night in Casablanca: A Conference on Night Sociology"
The Night as a Space of Experience: Light, Migration, and Nostalgia
I’m happy to share that my work on Mi-e dor de tine has been featured in Gaceta UNAM. This luminous installation—created in Romania and later reactivated in other cities—has served as the foundation for my reflection on how light becomes a carrier of transnational emotions. In this case, the phrase Mi-e dor de tine (“I miss you” or more poetically,Continue reading "The Night as a Space of Experience: Light, Migration, and Nostalgia"
Speaker at TALKFEST 2025
Excited to share that I participated as a speaker at the 13th edition of TALKFEST – Music Fest Summit! Held on March 21, 2025, at the Hotel Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto, the summit brought together leading voices in the music and events industry for a day of thought-provoking debates and shared experiences. I contributed with a talk titled “MassContinue reading "Speaker at TALKFEST 2025"
ICNS.LX 2025
Global Night: Past, Present, and Future The 6th International Conference on Night Studies (ICNSLX) invites scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts to explore the multifaceted dynamics of the global night. This year’s theme, Global Night: Past, Present, and Future, seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogues on nighttime as a social, cultural, and economic phenomenon that shapes our world acrossContinue reading "ICNS.LX 2025"
Towards Safer and More Inclusive Nights: Final Conference of the CRISSCROSS Project
On February 21, 2025, I had the honour of contributing to the final conference of the CRISSCROSS Project, held at the Centro de Informação Urbana de Lisboa (CIUL) and streamed online. The event brought together researchers, activists, policy experts, and community stakeholders to reflect on inclusive models of care and collaborative responses to gender-based violenceContinue reading "Towards Safer and More Inclusive Nights: Final Conference of the CRISSCROSS Project"
Talking About the Invisible Faces of the Night at the VII Cultural Geography Meeting
On February 14, 2025, I was honoured to speak at the VII Trobada de Geografia Cultural, hosted by the Universitat de les Illes Balears under the vibrant theme “Anem de festa!” (“Let’s party!”). This annual gathering brings together researchers, students, and cultural practitioners to reflect on the spatial, symbolic, and social dimensions of festivity and popular culture. My presentation, delivered duringContinue reading "Talking About the Invisible Faces of the Night at the VII Cultural Geography Meeting"
Exploring Lisbon’s Night Histories
On February 8, 2025, I had the pleasure of joining the course A História da Noite de Lisboa, coordinated by Rosa Maria Fina, with a guest lecture focused on the dramatic changes that Lisbon’s nightlife has undergone from the 1980s to the present day. My talk, titled "Cidades noturnas, cultura e transformação: experiências contemporâneas de estudo daContinue reading "Exploring Lisbon’s Night Histories"
Reimagining Night Governance: NIGHT(S)-Science at Vienna After Dark
On November 14, 2024, I had the honour of joining the panel “NIGHT(S)-Science: An Academic View on Nightlife”during the Vienna After Dark conference. Held at Sass Club and co-curated by the NIGHT(S) network, this session brought together international scholars to reflect on the growing field of night studies and its relevance for understanding contemporary urban transformations. My interventionContinue reading "Reimagining Night Governance: NIGHT(S)-Science at Vienna After Dark"
New Article: Mi-e Dor De Tine – Light Festivals and the Romanian Diaspora
I'm excited to share that my paper, "Mi-e Dor De Tine: Light Festivals, Emotional Narratives, and the Romanian Diaspora," has just been published in the latest thematic issue of the Philosophy of the City Journal! In this article, I explore how the Mi-e Dor De Tine light installation has transcended its artistic form to become a powerful emotional and symbolicContinue reading "New Article: Mi-e Dor De Tine – Light Festivals and the Romanian Diaspora"
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 