Ingmar Rothe is a Researcher at the Institute for Media Research, Faculty of Humanities, Chemnitz University of Technology, and concurrently serves as a Lecturer in Social and Cultural Studies at the University of Applied Sciences Fulda. His academic foundation includes a Diploma in Speech Science and Phonetics with a minor in German Philology (2001–2009). He is presently completing his dissertation titled "Communication and Interaction at Multi-touch-systems" under Prof. Dr. Claudia Fraas, focusing on human-computer interaction in exhibition environments. Rothe's research integrates qualitative methodologies across multiple domains: Human-Computer Interaction : Analyzing user engagement with multitouch systems in public spaces. Conversation Analysis : Examining linguistic patterns in professional contexts like call centers. Applied Linguistics : Optimizing communication frameworks for service industries. Social Research : Investigating technology-mediated social behaviors. His publications emphasize practical applications of communication theory in digital interfaces and service optimization. Since 2015, he has contributed to the DFG-funded research training group "CrossWorlds" , an interdisciplinary initiative connecting virtual and real social worlds through computer science and social sciences collaborations (2012–2018). Professional timeline includes prior roles in corporate training (2007–2015) and academic assistance at Halle’s Institute for Speech Science (2004–2007). No awards or advised students are documented.
Allison Sauppe is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science & Computer Engineering department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and making CS education accessible to non-traditional groups. She has contributed to projects like Figaro (a tabletop HRI authoring tool) and explored social implications of robots in manufacturing. Education: Ph.D. 2015 (UW-Madison), M.S. 2011 (UW-Madison), B.S. 2009 (Rose-Hulman) Research interests include collaborative robotics, HRI design tools, and K-12 CS education. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining CS, psychology, and design. Notable achievements include a Best of CHI award for her 2015 paper on robot co-workers. Awards: Best of CHI award (2015) Teaching experience spans undergraduate courses like Introduction to HCI and outreach programs such as Grandparents University. She advises MSE capstone projects and collaborates on initiatives like rural K-12 CS professional learning communities. Active in the HCI Lab at UW-Madison during her Ph.D., her work bridges theory and practical applications in human-robot collaboration.
Eddo Stern is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Design Media Arts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He teaches courses on game design, computer game development, and physical computing in an artistic context. His work explores the intersection of physical existence and electronic simulation, focusing on themes like violence, memory, and identity. Stern is a leading advocate for independent game development and its potential as an artistic medium. His research interests span game design as cultural critique, digital art, and the synthesis of technology with traditional art forms. Key projects include Games After Life (2019) and Vietnam Romance (2015), which interrogate historical narratives through interactive media. Stern’s work has been exhibited globally at institutions like the Tate Liverpool, Sundance Film Festival, and the Walker Art Center. Notable awards include the Rockefeller Foundation New Media Fellowship and grants from Creative Capital and the Edith Russ Foundation. He co-founded the UCLA Game Lab, fostering interdisciplinary research in game studies. Stern’s creative practice spans installations, video sculptures, and collaborative game projects, often blending humor with critical analysis of technology’s societal impacts. Grants and collaborations include support from the Beall Center for Art + Technology and the University of California Institute for Research in the Arts. His work frequently addresses geopolitical themes, pop culture, and the commodification of history through participatory and immersive formats.
Abi Evans is a Lecturer in Interactive Media at the University of York, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the Learning Sciences. Her research focuses on developing adaptive technological tools to support skill development in programming education, particularly addressing misconceptions in novice programmers. Previously, she held a Lecturer position in Computer Science at Northeastern University (2018–2021). She earned a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Washington (2018) and a Master’s in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard University (2009). Her research interests include designing educational technologies that provide real-time feedback, fostering collaborative learning environments, and promoting equity in technology design. Notable projects include the development of the SIDE-lib tool for detecting Python programming misconceptions and the design of a supportive IDE for novice programmers. She has also contributed to interdisciplinary work on mobile translation AI and fanfiction communities as sites of distributed mentorship. Her academic output spans 17 publications, including conference papers on pedagogical frameworks for abstraction skills and a book on design for equality and justice in HCI. She is currently the Principal Investigator for an EPSRC-funded project enhancing a supportive IDE prototype (2025–2025).
Yngve Dahl is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer and Information Science of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He earned his PhD in Computer Science from NTNU and has been affiliated with the Information Systems and Software Engineering research group. His career spans academic and industrial research roles, including positions at SINTEF Digital and Telenor Research & Innovation. Education: PhD in Computer Science (NTNU) Dahl’s research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , emphasizing user-centered design , participatory design , and digital healthcare technology for clinical and assistive applications. His work explores values in design, collaborative technology, and ubiquitous computing, with a strong empirical orientation. Recent publications highlight trends in participatory design facilitation , exergame development for elderly balance training, and healthcare IT implementation . His articles span journals like Studies in Health Technology and Informatics , Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) , and Games for Health Journal , reflecting interdisciplinary engagement.
Dr. Valérie Maquil is a Lead Researcher at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) within the VISINT (Visualisation and Interaction) research group. Her work focuses on leveraging interactive technologies—such as tangible, tabletop, and large surface interfaces—to enhance collaborative problem-solving and decision-making in complex domains like logistics, construction, sustainability, mobility, and education.
Professor Marcus Carter at The University of Sydney (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) is a leading researcher in Human-Computer Interaction , currently holding an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship for his work on 'The Monetisation of Children in the Digital Games Industry'. With a BA Hons and PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from Melbourne, he directs the Sydney Games and Play Lab . Focuses on digital games, mixed reality, and social impacts of technology Expert in animal-computer interaction through projects like 'Kinecting with Orangutans' Recognized as Australia's top HCI researcher in 2021 by The Australian His research explores VR/AR ethics , player experience analysis , and immersive technology governance . Publications span game monetization, metaverse politics, and conservation applications of XR. Current projects examine disability inclusion in VR and ethics of immersive data collection. Key awards include: ARC Future Fellowship FT220100076 ($911,616) Best Paper at ACM CHI 2017 and ACM ToCHI 2017 2020 & 2021 Researcher Rising Star by The Australian Supervises HDR students in topics ranging from blockchain gaming to social VR, and contributes to industry reports like the 2024 SXSW Games analysis. Leads innovative research bridging game studies with social responsibility frameworks.
Dr. Gábor Almási is a Full Professor and Vice Dean at the Institute of Physics , affiliated with the Department of Computational Physics . His research spans Terahertz Physics , Particle Acceleration , and Renaissance Studies . Key projects include scalable THz pulse sources using lithium niobate and gallium phosphide. Investigates THz-driven electron acceleration and standing-wave ion generation. Interdisciplinary work on historical discourses of nationalism and work ethics. Recent publications focus on THz generation (2025), CO2 laser-pumped THz systems (2024), and humanist biographies (2023). Despite no listed awards, his work on terahertz technology and historical analysis remains influential. He oversees no identified student advisees but contributes to European collaborations like the TWAC EIC Pathfinder Project (2023).
Joel Fischer is a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, UK . He leads research at the Mixed Reality Lab focusing on IoT applications, disaster response systems, and human-agent/robot collaboration. His work bridges technical innovation with ethnographic insights into real-world practices. Current Affiliation: Professor, School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham Research Themes: IoT in domestic and industrial settings, disaster response coordination, ethnomethodology, collocated interaction, agent-based planning His recent projects include RoboClean (allergen-aware factory systems), The CharioT Project (energy management tools), and foundational work on human-agent collectives through the ORCHID project . Fischer’s publications span conferences like CHI, CSCW, AAMAS, and CTS, with a focus on translating field observations into system design principles. Notable achievements include a Best Paper Award at AAMAS 2015 and securing an EPSRC research grant in 2015. He collaborates with organizations such as Rescue Global and Hampshire Fire & Rescue , integrating user needs into AI-driven solutions. His work has been featured in media outlets like New Scientist and SciDevNet .
Andrea Resmini is a Senior Lecturer at Halmstad University's School of Information Technology, where he teaches and conducts research at the intersection of information architecture, blended spaces, and game design. With a distinguished career spanning academia and professional practice, Resmini has made significant contributions to the field through his publications, leadership roles, and community building initiatives. His work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in urban environments and digital-physical experiences. Resmini's research focuses on blended spaces and blended experiences, exploring how digital and physical environments intertwine to create meaningful interactions. He investigates game making as a method for exploring wicked problems and developing innovative solutions. His work on information architecture and artificial intelligence examines the ethical and practical implications of AI systems on information organization and user experience. Resmini also studies placemaking in blended environments, seeking to understand how people create meaning and connection across digital and physical contexts. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on the application of information architecture principles to emerging challenges in urban planning, AI systems, and community engagement. Resmini increasingly explores the potential of game-based methods for addressing complex societal issues and facilitating co-creation processes. There's a clear trajectory toward examining the ethical dimensions of information systems, particularly in relation to AI classification systems and their social impacts. His research demonstrates how information architecture can contribute to building more resilient, inclusive, and human-centered technological environments. While specific awards aren't detailed in available sources, Resmini's leadership roles indicate significant recognition in his field. As a two-time past president of the Information Architecture Institute and co-founder of several key organizations including the Journal of Information Architecture, Architecta (the Italian Society for Information Architecture), the Academic/Practitioner Information Architecture Roundtable, and World IA Day, his contributions have been instrumental in shaping the discipline. Resmini employs innovative, participatory methods in his work, including 'tiny pop-up living labs' and workshop-based approaches to design research. His practice demonstrates a commitment to bridging theory and practice, engaging with communities, and exploring the potential of game-based methods for addressing complex challenges in both academic and professional contexts.
Zenghu Chang is Full Professor in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa , and inaugural Canada Excellence Research Chair in Attosecond X-ray Photonics (2024–present). Previously he held named chairs at the University of Central Florida (Trustee Chair, Pegasus Professor) and Kansas State University (Ernest & Lillian Chapin Professor), and served as founding director of the Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology. An elected Fellow of both the American Physical Society and Optica (formerly OSA), he is internationally recognized for developing tabletop attosecond X-ray sources spanning the soft-to-tender X-ray range. Education: PhD, Optics – Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1988) MSc, Electron and Ion Physics – Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1985) B.E., Electrical Engineering – Xi’an Jiaotong University (1982) Dr. Chang’s research program centers on attosecond light sources , pushing the frontiers of time resolution to the sub-femtosecond regime. His team builds tabletop keV attosecond X-ray sources based on high-harmonic generation driven by state-of-the-art mid-infrared OPCPA systems. These sources enable real-time observation of electron dynamics in atoms, molecules, and solids, with direct applications to quantum materials, solar-energy conversion, and ultrafast chemistry. Recent work focuses on waveform-controlled mid-IR lasers , plasmon-enhanced harmonic generation , and cryogenically cooled Fe:ZnSe amplifiers , delivering few-cycle, multi-millijoule pulses at 2–5 µm. These advances are critical for scaling attosecond photon flux into the water-window spectral region (280–530 eV), thereby allowing element-specific attosecond spectroscopy of every atom in the periodic table. Scientific Awards & Honors: Canada Excellence Research Chair in Attosecond X-ray Photonics (2024) University Trustee Chair, University of Central Florida Pegasus Professor, University of Central Florida Distinguished Professor, University of Central Florida Ernest & Lillian Chapin Professor, Kansas State University (2009) Fellow, American Physical Society Fellow, Optical Society of America (Optica) Research Environment & Funding: Dr. Chang leads a major collaborative program supported by the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program, providing up to CAD 8 M over seven years. His laboratory at 25 Templeton Street, Ottawa, houses custom-built mid-IR OPCPA systems, cryogenic amplifiers, attosecond beamlines, and pump-probe spectroscopy end-stations. The group actively partners with national facilities and international synchrotron/free-electron-laser centers to transition tabletop attosecond sources into user facilities for materials science and chemical physics. Laboratory & Team: The Attosecond X-ray Photonics Laboratory operates in the Advanced Research Complex (ARC 537) at the University of Ottawa. The team includes post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and technical staff specializing in ultrafast laser engineering, nonlinear optics, attosecond metrology, and X-ray spectroscopy.
Deborah Szapiro is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Design and Society of the University of Technology Sydney , where she teaches in Animation Studio. Her work bridges animation, interaction design, and social robotics, focusing on embodied communication and emotional engagement in robots. She actively supervises Master of Animation (coursework) and PhD/Master’s research students , emphasizing creative industries' role in ethical technology development. Founder of Japanime Film Festival Co-director of Sydney International Animation Festival Specializes in Indigenous animation and women animation directors Research interests include: Social robotics aligned with UNICEF SDGs Human-robot emotional engagement Cultural competency in robotic design Animation as cultural resilience Her funded research with Honda Research Institute Japan spans: 2025: Target Scene C update 2024: Pediatric hospital applications 2023: Intelligent agent laws 2022: Memory Palace project 2021: The Talking Room 2019-2018: Multiple Haru robot iterations Award-winning media producer with: AFI, Dendy, ATOM, IF awards PATHE, Shell Canada, BANFF Television Award Gordon Bruce award for Humour Professional memberships include: SIRC (Socially Intelligent Robotics Consortium) IEEE ASIFA Society for Animation Studies Asia Pacific Screen Awards jury
Dr. Zachary Rhone is an Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the Studies in History, Language, and Literature department at Montreat College's Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression. He directs both the Writing Program and the Writing Center, while specializing in nineteenth- and twentieth-century British literature, fantasy, science fiction, and horror, with particular focus on J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and George MacDonald. B.A., Houghton College M.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania His research explores mythopoeic worldbuilding, interactive narratives in video games, and the pedagogical applications of technical and creative writing. Recent publications include editorial work for Children’s Literature Review and critical analyses of C.S. Lewis's educational philosophy. Dr. Rhone integrates service learning into his technical writing courses, mentoring students in web media and non-profit collaboration. His creative writing spans poetry, children's stories, and novels. He holds interdisciplinary interests in theology, linguistics, and environmental stewardship, with hobbies including tabletop game design, cooking, and outdoor activities with his family.
Sarah Lynne Bowman serves as Senior Lecturer at Uppsala University's Department of Game Design on Campus Gotland, maintaining active contact through sarah.bowman@speldesign.uu.se and Campus Gotland's Visby facilities. Her academic profile centers on the transformative applications of role-playing games across educational, therapeutic, and interdisciplinary contexts. Bowman's research investigates how role-playing systems facilitate psychological growth, community building, and identity exploration, with particular emphasis on shadow work through personal horror games, liminal intimacy in larp, and the didactic potential of RPGs in academic settings. Her scholarship bridges Jungian psychology, counseling theory, and human-computer interaction to analyze immersive experiences within role-playing communities. Analysis of Bowman's 2024-2025 publications reveals a concentrated focus on designing role-playing frameworks for transformative outcomes, including interdisciplinary research collaborations, educational larp scenarios, and therapeutic applications. Key trends show increasing methodological sophistication in synthesizing larp with HCI research while exploring the psychological mechanisms of narrative engagement, bleed phenomena, and identity transformation through structured role-play.
Michael S. Horn is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and the Learning Sciences at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, with additional affiliation at Tufts University's Computer Science department. His interdisciplinary work bridges Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, and Educational Technology, focusing on creating innovative learning experiences across formal classrooms, museums, and informal settings. His research encompasses: Design of tangible and embodied learning interfaces Computational thinking and programming education Museum and informal learning environments Integration of music and coding in educational contexts Application of artificial intelligence in educational settings Children's understanding of complex scientific concepts Horn's recent work demonstrates a significant shift toward exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, particularly how Large Language Models can support learning processes and research methodologies. His publications reveal consistent attention to making abstract computational concepts accessible through concrete, embodied interactions that connect learners with meaningful content. His notable scientific contributions include: Development of the NetLogo programming environment for agent-based modeling in education Creation of museum exhibits like DeepTree and FloTree for visualizing evolutionary concepts Innovation in music+code learning environments such as TunePad Research on children's understanding of electricity through augmented circuit exhibits Pioneering work on room-scale augmented reality for computational modeling Horn has mentored numerous graduate students who have become productive researchers in learning sciences and educational technology. His collaborative network is extensive, with particularly strong ties to Uri Wilensky (31 joint publications), Chia Shen, and other leaders in the field. His work consistently demonstrates how well-designed technological interventions can transform how learners engage with complex concepts across multiple domains.
