Ben Matthews

Associate Professor Ben Matthews is affiliated with The University of Queensland (UQ), holding positions in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology) and as an Affiliate of the Centre for Communication and Social Change (Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences). He leads research in design processes focusing on collaborative and participatory methodologies, with expertise in healthcare technology, educational tools, and community resilience.

Education: BEng (Hons) and PhD from UQ. His research spans three core domains: designing advocacy for marginalized groups, participatory design materials, and augmenting professional expertise through technology. Key projects include designing for mental health stakeholders, wearable displays in healthcare, and bushfire resilience frameworks.

Research Interests: Interaction design, participatory design, technology ethics, and human-centered innovation. His work emphasizes inclusive design processes that amplify user agency in technology development. Recent studies include VR analytics for mental health, energy use transparency, and emergency medical AR systems.

Grants: Current funding includes ARC projects on AI-driven recruitment and trauma patient pathways. Past grants involve wearable tech for high-tempo work and passport processing research. Over 100 publications span journals like International Journal of Human-Computer Studies and conferences such as OzChi.

Advising: Supervises PhD candidates on topics ranging from augmented reality in education to language learning applications. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across healthcare, education, and urban planning.