Rafael Pinheiro Lopes is a PhD candidate in Communication Sciences at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon and a research fellow at the Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation.

His academic and professional background in communication has also intersected with his involvement in various social movements. His doctoral research focuses on the second wave of digital democracy in Portugal, examining the democratic impact of online participation platforms. Since late 2024, he has co-organised Iscte’s monthly seminar “Social Movements and Political Action”. He is frequently invited to teach undergraduate and master’s classes on topics such as political participation and social movements in the digital age.