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David Germano is Professor of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia's College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Religious Studies. He also holds a Clinical Professor appointment in Nursing and serves as Director of multiple centers including the Tibet Center, the Contemplative Sciences Center, and SHANTI (Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Network of Technological Initiatives). Since 2000, he has directed the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, establishing himself as a leading figure in Tibetan studies and digital humanities. Germano earned his B.A. from Notre Dame University in 1984 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1992. His academic career at UVA progressed from Assistant Professor (1992-1998), to Associate Professor (1998-2011), and finally to Professor (2011-present). His research focuses on the Nyingma and Bön lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly tantric traditions and Buddhist philosophy from the eighth to fifteenth centuries. He also studies Tibetan history and literature, contemporary Tibet (especially regarding religion, education, and technology), and digital humanities. Germano is particularly interested in engaged scholarship that inserts higher education into a socially transformative role across various sectors. Germano's publications reveal a consistent focus on Tibetan Buddhist traditions, with particular emphasis on Dzogchen (Great Perfection) teachings, visionary movements, and the intersection of traditional practices with contemporary contexts. His work spans religious studies, anthropology, digital humanities, and Tibetan cultural studies, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Tibetan Buddhism and its modern manifestations. As a leader in digital humanities, Germano has pioneered numerous initiatives including the Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library, the Tibetan Unicode Project, the Tibetan Literary Encyclopedia, and the Tibetan Language Learning Resources initiative. He has also co-directed the UVa-Machik Geotourism Initiative and the Tibetan and Himalayan Historical GIS project, demonstrating his commitment to innovative approaches for preserving and disseminating Tibetan knowledge.

• Tibetan Buddhism
• Bön lineages
• Tantric traditions
• +7 more

Cathy Cantwell is an Associate Professor and Associate Faculty Member at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies , University of Oxford, and a fellow at Wolfson College. Her research focuses on the rNying ma tantric tradition, critical editing of Tibetan texts, Dunhuang tantric manuscripts, and contemporary Tibetan ritual practices, particularly within the Dudjom gter ma tradition. She has extensively studied the works of Nyang ral Nyi ma’od zer and Gu ru Chos dbang, contributing to the AHRC-funded project on authorship and innovation in Tibetan revelatory traditions. Co-authored significant publications including Dudjom Rinpoche's Vajrakīlaya Works (2020) and A Noble Noose of Methods, the Lotus Garland Synopsis (2012). Teaches Issues in the Study of Tibetan Religion (Lecture series, 2020). President of the U.K. Association for Buddhist Studies (2015-2019), with earlier roles as Acting President and Secretary. Her scholarly work spans the analysis of Dunhuang Phurpa texts (2010), longevity rituals in Bon Phurpa tradition (2015), and methodological challenges in editing Mahāyoga texts from Dunhuang (2009). Publications include co-edited studies on the rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum and contributions to History of Science in South Asia and Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies . Her 2017 article on Rasāyana and bcud len practices explores Tibetan tantric medicine, while her 2019 work on sensory engagement in sgrub chen rituals bridges textual and experiential dimensions of Tibetan Buddhist practice. Key electronic publications include The Medicinal Accomplishment (sman sgrub) Practice in the Dudjom Meteoric Iron Razor Tradition (2015) and The Rig 'dzin Tshe dbang nor bu Edition of the rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum: An Illustrated Inventory (2002). Her research also addresses the transmission of Tibetan texts through manuscripts like the sGang steng-b rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum from Bhutan (2006).

• Early rNying ma tantric tradition
• Critically editing old Tibetan texts
• Dunhuang tantric texts
• +5 more

Dr. Johannes Penner is a Researcher at the Museum of Natural History Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany. His work focuses on the Macroecology of West African Amphibians , analyzing biogeographical patterns, niche modeling, and conservation strategies. He is deeply involved in the EU BON project for biodiversity data integration and the BIOTA West project, collaborating with institutions like TU Berlin and Humboldt University Berlin. Academic Affiliation: Museum of Natural History Berlin Key Collaborations: Technical University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin, IUCN Specialist Groups Research Interests include: Biogeography and conservation of amphibians/reptiles Niche modeling under climate change scenarios Biodiversity data analysis via remote sensing Taxonomic studies on West/Central African species His scientific contributions span 15 recent publications on amphibian diversity, taxonomy, and climate change impacts, with a focus on niche modeling and conservation frameworks. Notable scientific awards include the 2001 Chimaira Science Award (2nd place) for his diploma thesis on Malagasy reptile communities. Fieldwork spans West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Benin), Cameroon, Guinea, and Namibia. He serves as a Subject Editor for journals like ZooKeys and as a Red List Authority Coordinator for the IUCN Viper Specialist Group.

• Macroecology
• Biogeography
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +5 more