Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Stefan Helmreich is the Elting E. Morison Professor of Anthropology at MIT, where his research examines how scientists conceptualize fundamental phenomena—especially waves—across oceanography, biology, acoustics, and computing. His interdisciplinary work bridges anthropology, science studies, and media theory. Core research themes include: Cultural and scientific constructions of ocean waves Marine microbial ecologies and alien oceans Sound studies and transduction theories Multispecies ethnography Scientific visualization practices Helmreich's publications demonstrate consistent engagement with wave phenomena as both physical forces and cultural symbols, exploring how scientific representations of waves shape environmental understanding. His award-winning books trace connections between marine science, cosmology, and media technologies. He has received numerous prestigious awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and multiple book prizes from anthropological associations. Helmreich maintains creative collaborations through projects like 'Wave Count'—a musical exploration of wave representations across genres.
Maria Fernandez is an Associate Professor at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History of Art and Visual Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and specializes in the history and theory of digital art, cybernetics, feminist media arts, and posthumanism. Ph.D., Columbia University Research Focus : Maria's work bridges cybernetics, feminist media arts, posthumanism, new materialism, BioArt, and AI in art. She investigates how women artists in new media contribute to posthumanist and new materialist discourses, with a current book project on British cybernetician Gordon Pask. Publications span digital art history, Latin American modernism, and feminist cybernetics. Her articles appear in Leonardo , Art Journal , and Third Text , with a focus on interactivity, media theory, and technological aesthetics. Scientific Awards : Arvey Book Award by the Association for Latin American Art (2015) She co-edited Domain Errors: Cyberfeminist Practices (2002) and Latin American Modernisms and Technology (2018). Her advising policy emphasizes formal departmental application reviews.
Shannon Bell is a Professor in Political Science at York University, working as a performance philosopher who integrates digital video technology with political theory. Her research examines intersections of cyberpolitics, aesthetics, and power through projects like 'Shooting Theory', which visualizes philosophical concepts through film. She has authored books including 'Fast Feminism' and 'Reading, Writing and Rewriting the Prostitute Body'. Current SSHRC-funded projects explore bioart and robotic art extremes, with residencies at Symbiotica (UWA) and international exhibitions. She teaches courses on modern political thought, technopolitics, and aesthetics. Educational background includes a PhD in Political Science from York University. Professional leadership includes directing the Resource Centre for Public Sociology.
Steven Devleminck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Technology, concurrently serving as coordinator of the School of Arts (Associated Faculty) in Brussels. His dual appointment bridges engineering and arts through the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group at Group T Leuven Campus and Unit Art & Technology in Brussels, with active membership in DigiSoc – KU Leuven Digital Society Institute. His research centers on human-centered computing and speculative design methodologies , with core expertise in tangible interaction for emotion regulation and multispecies futures. Key themes include biofuturing as co-creative response to climate crises, squeeze-based interfaces for workplace stress, and artistic AI collaborations. His work uniquely integrates computer science with choreography, film studies, and anthropology through projects like “Youth TikTok production as public pedagogy” and “Imagining the Post-Anthropocene in BioFutures Living Lab”. Analysis of recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Advancement of squeeze interaction techniques for affective computing, (2) Development of biofuturing frameworks for multispecies speculation, and (3) Critical examinations of AI's role in artistic mediumship. Cross-cutting themes include post-anthropocentric design, climate-responsive technologies, and decolonial approaches to digital pedagogy. Devleminck actively mentors doctoral candidates including Ula Sickle (choreographic exhibitions) and J. Verbesselt (cinema studies), while leading major funded projects such as: Living Corpora (2025-2029): Pioneering human-AI collaboration in digital humanities as Co-promotor Experiential Futuring (2022-2026): Co-creative methodology for social media outage response as Co-promotor Deradicalizing the City (2021-2025): Urban intervention research as Promotor He serves on the Computer Science Department Council and Doctoral Committee for the Associated Faculty of Arts. His laboratory ecosystem spans the HCI Group T Leuven Campus for technical development, Brussels-based Unit Art & Technology for artistic integration, and BioFutures Living Lab for participatory multispecies experimentation. This tripartite structure enables transdisciplinary work connecting squeeze sensor engineering with climate futures speculation and museum interface design.
Cecilia Åsberg is Professor at Linköping University (LiU) since 2005, leading the Theme Gender (TEMAG) department under Department of Theme (TEMA) . She founded the Posthumanities Hub in 2008 - a feminist research platform for interdisciplinary work across art, science, and technology. In 2013, she established The Seed Box , an international environmental humanities program. Current work includes developing ocean humanities through projects like Sea Mania. Professor at Linköping University (2005-present) Founder of Posthumanities Hub (2008) Founder of The Seed Box (2013) Developing ocean humanities and multispecies studies Her research focuses on posthumanist gender studies , environmental humanities , and AI ethics , particularly examining how technology, ecology, and embodiment intersect in contemporary society. She specializes in intersectional analysis of synthetic biology, digital citizenship, and environmental change. Recent publications address AI-generated imagery 's representational politics, multispecies storytelling , and blue humanities approaches to marine ecosystems. She collaborates with networks like the Eco- and Bioart Lab and Queer Death Studies Network . Key projects include: Sea Mania : Coastal culture and sustainable seafood practices Sociocultural implications of AI technology Checking in with Deep Time Clocks : Materializing intergenerational ethics Young Future Creators : Environmental communication for youth As a research leader, she mentors doctoral students and coordinates international collaborations across 28 institutions, funded by ERC , VR , and Formas grants.
Thierry Bardini is a Full Professor in the Department of Communication at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His office is located in Marie-Victorin, room B407. Bardini researches the history and sociology of cyberculture, focusing on the intersections between information technology and molecular biology, particularly examining the concept of post-humanity and the engineering of post-human, post-animal, and post-machine entities. His research expertise spans media theory, bioarts, science and technology studies, and research-creation methodologies. Bardini's current work explores how technologically modified animals can reveal insights about post-human futures, developing ethnographic approaches to bio-engineering practices beyond traditional bioethics frameworks. Bardini's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on cybernetic evolution and biological transformation. His book 'Junkware' examines the history of molecular biology through the lens of 'junk DNA,' while his articles explore speculative biology and the philosophical implications of cybernetic synthesis. This body of work contributes significantly to understanding technological mediation in biological contexts.
Stefan Lorenz Sorgner is a Professor of Philosophy at John Cabot University in Rome, where he teaches and conducts research at the intersection of philosophy, technology, and ethics. He is internationally recognized as a leading expert in transhumanism and posthumanism, particularly for developing the concept of Euro-Transhumanism rooted in Nietzschean thought. Sorgner holds multiple prestigious research affiliations, including Fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET), Research Fellow at the Ewha Institute for the Humanities in Seoul, and Visiting Fellow at the Ethics Centre of Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. He is the founding and current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Posthuman Studies , a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Penn State University Press since 2017. His research interests include the ethical implications of gene editing, artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, digital data, and human enhancement technologies. He is the Director and Co-Founder of the Beyond Humanism Network and serves as academic advisor to Humanity+. Sorgner is a frequent speaker at major international conferences such as TEDx, the World Humanities Forum, and the Venice Biennale, and is regularly cited in global media including Die Zeit , Il Sole 24 Ore , and Philosophy Now . Sorgner’s recent publications reveal a consistent thematic focus on the philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic dimensions of posthuman futures. His works analyze the shift from the ontology of Being to Becoming, explore the art of the hybrid and the chimera, and advocate for a pluralistic, ethically grounded approach to technological advancement. He emphasizes the importance of responsibility, empathy, and cultural critique in navigating the posthuman paradigm shift. Scientific Recognition and Influence: Described as “Germany's leading post- and transhumanist philosopher” by Rainer Zimmermann (University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf). Wolfgang Welsch (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena) identifies him as “one of the worldwide leading experts on trans- and posthumanism.” Gianni Vattimo (University of Turin) praises the “profound originality” and philosophical depth of his work. Julian Savulescu (University of Oxford) calls We Have Always Been Cyborgs “an eye-opening, wide-ranging and all-inclusive study” and “highly recommended.” Advising and Public Engagement: Academic Advisor of Humanity+, a global nonprofit supporting human enhancement. Director and Co-Founder of the Beyond Humanism Network, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on posthuman futures. Regular media commentator and public speaker, actively shaping public discourse on technology and ethics. Research Centers and Networks: Member of the Beyond Humanism Network (founder and director). Research Fellow at the Ewha Institute for the Humanities (Seoul). Visiting Fellow at the Ethics Centre, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. Fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET).
Joseph Gabriel is an Associate Professor of History with joint appointments in the Department of History and the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine. His work spans the history of medicine, pharmaceuticals, and intellectual property in the United States, with a focus on 19th-20th century developments. Dr. Gabriel's research centers on the history of drugs and pharmaceuticals, intellectual property, medical ethics, and the cultural dimensions of healing. He explores the early modern circulation of medicinal goods, aesthetics of medical practice, and the dual experiences of pleasure and suffering. Current projects include two books examining drug addiction in early America and intellectual property's role in shaping the pharmaceutical industry between World Wars I and II. His recent scholarship reveals consistent thematic threads: the evolution of clinical trial ethics, pharmaceutical regulation history, cultural narratives of intoxication, and intellectual property's impact on medical innovation. Publications demonstrate interdisciplinary rigor, merging historical analysis with bioethics, legal studies, and cultural theory to address contemporary pharmaceutical policy debates.
Sarah Franklin is Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc). A Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator, her work bridges reproductive biomedicine, gender theory, and science studies. She previously held academic positions at the London School of Economics, Lancaster University, and the University of Manchester. PhD from Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies MA in Women’s Studies (University of Kent, 1984) and MA in Anthropology (NYU, 1986) Her research explores the cultural and historical dimensions of reproductive technologies, including IVF, cloning, stem cells, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. She examines how these innovations reshape kinship, biological understanding, and societal norms, with a focus on bioethics, visual culture, and postcolonial science studies. Recent publications address embryo models, the 14-day rule, and global fertility trends. Key awards include grants from the Wellcome Trust, ESRC, and British Academy. She serves on the editorial board of Reproductive Biomedicine Online and chairs the Anne McLaren Trust. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates ethnography, feminist theory, and bioscientific analysis.
Henriikka Vartiainen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education within the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). Her academic roles include leading the Work Package in the Generation AI project, funded by the Finnish Strategic Research Council. She holds a PhD and is a Docent in Education, with research focused on design-oriented pedagogy, AI education, and technology-enhanced learning. Her work emphasizes participatory design, co-teaching models, and fostering data agency in K-12 students through innovative tools like AI-driven apps and robotics kits. Education & Awards: Vartiainen earned her Doctoral Dissertation Award (2014) from the Finnish Educational Research Association and the Young Researcher Award (2015) from UEF. Her doctoral research explored design-oriented pedagogy, a cornerstone of her subsequent projects. Research Interests: Her projects span AI literacy, boundary-crossing learning, and multi-material pedagogy. Notable contributions include developing educational frameworks for generative AI use, analyzing algorithmic bias in K-12 contexts, and co-designing digital tools for creative learning. She collaborates internationally on initiatives like the OpenBio STEAM and Forest as a Learning Environment projects. Publications & Impact: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles reflect her work in journals like IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies and International Journal of Education through Art . Her research bridges theoretical insights with practical tools, such as no-code AI platforms and interactive games to teach data traces and profiling. Current Projects: Leadership in the Generation AI project (2022–2028) focuses on AI education for security-minded K-12 learners. She also investigates bioart-making and cross-cultural learning through boundary-crossing projects. Labs & Teams: Active in research groups like OpenBio STEAM and Multidisciplinary Craft Teaching and Learning, she collaborates with institutions globally on topics like digital citizenship and ethical AI use.
Nicola Kaye is a Lecturer at the School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University (ECU), Western Australia. She serves as Deputy Lead of the Research Centre Arts, Communications, Design and Culture and Deputy Director of ECU Galleries. Her work focuses on interactive digital media, public pedagogy, and cultural identity, often in collaboration with Stephen Terry. She has exhibited globally and received the J.S. Battye Creative Research Fellowship. MA (Visual Arts), Edith Cowan University Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art, The University of New South Wales (2009) Her research spans interactive digital video , public space dynamics , and cultural identity critique , with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and creative practice . Recent publications like Art in Public: Potential Public Pedagogy Post-Pandemic (2025) highlight trends in urban cultural studies , spatial justice , and bioarts . Scientific awards include: J.S. Battye Creative Research Fellowship (2025) Research Associates at Maritime History Museum, WA (2007) Nicola has supervised over 15 PhD and MA students, exploring themes like gender fluidity , socio-political narratives , and digital technology in art . Her work engages with ECU Galleries and the Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools (ACUADS), where she was part of the 2022 organizing committee.
Bernadette Buckley is a Lecturer in International Politics at Goldsmiths, University of London, Department of Politics and International Relations, where she has been employed since 2007. She holds a PhD from Goldsmiths (awarded without correction in 2003) and previously served as a lecturer at Newcastle University and Head of Education & Research at the University of Southampton's John Hansard Gallery, securing a £5.2M HLF grant for gallery relocation. Her research explores interdisciplinary connections between art, war, terrorism, and curatorial practices. Key interests include: the ontology of curating as an 'event'; relationships between contemporary art, heritage, and education; and pedagogical approaches in gallery contexts. Recent work emphasizes art's role in conflict zones and ecological dimensions of warfare. Publications (2008-2025) demonstrate sustained focus on war representation through visual media, with recurring themes: political photobooks, Iraqi art post-invasion, experimental performance, and gendered violence. Recent scholarship (2023-2025) examines art as resistance in warfare and contemporary women artists' engagement with weaponry. Grants & Projects: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award with Tate Modern (2007) En-quire Research Project (Phases 2-3, 2006-2007): Pedagogical skill-sharing among artists Wellcome Foundation's Panacea Project (2006-2007): Academic Advisor role (£94k) Advising: Supervised PhD student Alex Hodby (Tate Modern 'new institutionalism' politics). Professional Affiliations: Board Member for Tate Papers and Journal for Museum Education ; Member of Polarts (ECPR Standing Group for Politics and the Arts).
María Teresa Vilariño Picos is a Full Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela, specializing in Digital Humanities, Comparative Literature, and Cyberculture studies. Her academic work bridges Literary Theory with technology, urban studies, and education. She coordinates the Ñínós Project for Sustainable Development education and participates in multiple academic committees within the Faculty of Philology. She is affiliated with research centers including CEFILMUS (Film Studies), CIPPCE (Emerging Processes), CEGAL (Galician Supercomputing), and international groups like NUPILL (Brazil) and Narratopedia (Colombia). Doctorate in Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature (USC) MSc in Rare Congenital Metabolic Diseases Her research explores transmedia narratives, interactive digital art, and the intersection of literature with virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and urban architecture. Key projects include Crossed Narratives (2016), Trans-Architectures (2011), and Connected but Alone (2021), which examines digital narrative's impact on education and social interaction. Her work spans cyberpoetry, video game narratives, and digital cartographies of cities. She has contributed to 15+ publications since 2001, with recent work focusing on educommunication 3.0, intermediality, and performative digital spaces. She teaches courses on Text/Image relationships and Literary Theory, and leads research on educational innovation through social pedagogy.
Mirela Alistar is an Assistant Professor at the ATLAS Institute and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. She leads the Living Matter Lab , focusing on cyber-physical systems based on biochips to revolutionize healthcare diagnostics. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, engineering, biotechnology, and bioart. Education : PhD in Embedded Systems Engineering (2010-2014, Technical University of Denmark), Postdoc in Human-Computer Interaction (2015-2018, Hasso Plattner Institute). Her research advances digital microfluidics and fault-tolerant biochips , enabling at-home diagnostic tools like OpenDrop . She also explores bioart through installations such as Semina Aeternitatis and Perfume Distillation Machine . She co-founded >top , a Berlin-based art & science project space, and advises startups digi.bio and bold.health . Her UIST'16 Honorable Mention Award highlights her innovative contributions. The Living Matter Lab under her leadership investigates interactive biodesign , combining technical precision with creative exploration of living systems.
Kristin Bergaust serves as Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University within the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design's Department of Aesthetic Subjects, specializing in Drama and Theater Communication. Appointed in 2008, she previously held a part-time professorship at the University of Agder's Faculty of Art from 2015-2017. Her academic foundation includes: Visual Arts education from the State Academy of Fine Arts Cand.mag degree in Literature and Language Bergaust's research critically examines art-technology intersections through ecological and social lenses. She pioneers work in digital media, video, and sound within media art, contemporary art, and relational aesthetics frameworks. Her focus on environmental sustainability manifests in projects like "Oslofjord Ecologies" and "FeLT," which investigate living technologies and fjord ecosystems through artistic research methodologies. This work bridges creative practice with urgent socio-ecological concerns. Analysis of her 16 scientific publications reveals consistent interdisciplinary exploration across art-science-technology domains. Key trends include bioart applications, unconventional computing approaches, and feminist perspectives on sustainable tech development. Her publications demonstrate growing emphasis on ecological crisis response through artistic intervention, particularly in marine environments and swarm robotics applications. Bergaust founded and directed Atelier Nord media lab for artists in Oslo, establishing critical infrastructure for media art since the 1990s. She currently leads the "FeLT- Futures of Living Technologies" project investigating human-organism-machine interactions, while actively participating in research groups including "Art – Practice – Research" and "Creative Practice – Interventions in Space, Place and Environment." Her work extends to major platforms like the Oslofjord Triennale and EU Green Week initiatives.
