Ted Carden is a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at Northumbria University's School of Design . With a career spanning both academia and industry, he studied at Glasgow School of Art and worked for award-winning design consultancies and as Design Manager/Art Director at HarperCollins Publishers for a decade. Current academic role: Year Tutor and co-author of the Publishing Design pathway External Examiner at Staffordshire University (2008–present) His research focuses on visual communication and design theory, particularly through publications exploring: Cultural identity in traditional craft practices Generative principles in digital typography Visual rhetoric as a tool for social identity analysis Key themes include pattern configuration, design ethics, and the intersection of cultural heritage with modern design practices.
Lisa Sugiura is an Associate Professor in Cybercrime and Gender at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth, within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. She leads research on online gender-based violence, technology-facilitated sexual violence, incel communities, and the intersection of gender and cybercrime. Her work is supported by major funders including the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Home Office, and Ofcom. PhD in Web Science - Health Sciences, University of Southampton (2016) Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Web Science Undergraduate Law degree Her research interests include online gender-based violence, domestic abuse facilitated by technology, incel and manosphere communities, online harassment, and the ethical challenges of digital research. She employs an interdisciplinary socio-technical approach with a strong feminist lens to examine how misogyny, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia manifest online. Her recent publications focus on the technification of domestic abuse, incel radicalisation, TikTok’s role in spreading misogynistic ideologies, and ethical dilemmas in researching online extremism. These works highlight trends in understanding how digital technologies enable and amplify gendered violence, while also addressing methodological and ethical challenges in studying such phenomena. Scientific awards include: Excellence in Teaching Award (student nomination, 2015) TRIF Fellowship (awarded competitively, 2019) Lisa Sugiura supervises PhD students and has advised on projects involving cybercrime, domestic abuse, and online ethics. She has led funded research projects with institutions including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. She is an active member of the academic community, serving as Editor for the International Journal of Police Science and Management , Associate Editor for Criminology and Criminal Justice , and member of the editorial board for the Crime and Justice in Digital Society book series. She is Chair of the Board and a Fellow of the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and currently serves as vice-chair of the Force Strategic Independent Advisory Group (FSIAG) for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. She frequently contributes expert commentary to national and international media, including the BBC, The Guardian, and The Conversation.
Hannah Ringler is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Humanities at Illinois Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Lewis College of Science and Letters. She serves as Director of the Communication Across the Curriculum program, overseeing communication curriculum development and disciplinary writing instruction. Her research focuses on hermeneutics in computational text analysis and STEM communication education. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University. Ringler’s work bridges rhetoric and digital humanities, emphasizing interpretive frameworks for computational models and strategies for teaching writing to STEM students. Her projects include analyzing large-scale textual data, rethinking communication pedagogy in the AI era, and supporting faculty in integrating communication into technical disciplines.
Gudrun Reijnierse is an Assistant Professor of Language & Communication at the Department of Language, Literature and Communication, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She holds affiliate roles in the Network Institute. Her primary research focuses on science communication, metaphor analysis, and linguistic methods. Current affiliations include teaching in BA/MA Communication programs and supervising three PhD projects on climate tech metaphors, primary education metaphor competencies, and quantum science communication. Research Themes: Language of science communication across journalism, education, and healthcare Metaphor use/effects in expert-public discourse Development of computational tools for metaphor analysis (e.g., MSDIP method) Key Projects: NWO-funded metaphor in science reporting project Network Institute research on climate tech communication EU Horizon 2020 postdoc collaboration with Nynke Bos Teaching includes courses on communication & cognition, genre design, and document design. She has developed influential methods like MSDIP for metaphor coding and contributed to Dutch fact-checking corpora. Lab/Team Affiliations: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations through the Network Institute and EU/NWO projects. Leads metaphor analysis initiatives with global academic partners.
Jasbeer Musthafa Mamalipurath is a Lecturer at the School of Arts, English and Languages, Queen’s University Belfast. His research focuses on the intersection of media, culture, and society with emphases on misinformation, digital media’s role in marginalized communities, and critical studies of race, religion, and global inequality. He holds a PhD in Media and Cultural Studies from Western Sydney University (2021), complemented by a Master’s in Communication Studies and a B.Sc. in Computer Science. Key research areas include socio-cultural impacts of misinformation, media’s role in diasporic communities (especially Indian-Australian contexts), and decolonial approaches to media studies. He has led projects funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC), including studies on digital inclusion among low-income families and heritage practices among migrants in Parramatta. Teaching includes modules like Media & Misinformation and Media Audiences at Queen’s University. Previously, he taught at Western Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney, and AMC Institute in India. He collaborates with civil society and policymakers to address digital exclusion and media literacy challenges, co-leading the Platform for Civic Media Literacy at Western Sydney’s Institute for Culture and Society. His work bridges academia and activism, emphasizing culturally specific interventions against harmful narratives. Notable contributions include analyzing TED Talks’ portrayal of Islam and studying transnational Shia Muslim discourses in India.
Chandrika Rathee is an Assistant Professor at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, affiliated with the Department of Technology and Operations Management. She holds a PhD in Business Studies from IE University, Spain, awarded cum laude, and has earned the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO) from Erasmus University Rotterdam. PhD in Business Studies (Cum Laude), IE University, 2023 Master’s in Research, IE University, 2018 Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), Delhi Technological University, 2006 University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO), Erasmus University, 2024 Her research lies at the intersection of innovation, creativity, and information disclosure, with applications in digital platforms like YouTube, Bollywood, and clinical research. She employs text-based and computational methods to study organizational innovation and the societal impacts of digitalization and AI. Her work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and technological innovation. Her recent publications appear in top journals such as Strategic Management Journal and Research Policy , focusing on topics like gatekeeping in digital cultural markets, competitive dynamics in R&D disclosures, and the evaluation of creativity. These works reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research combining management, technology, and cultural studies using innovative methodological approaches. She has received several academic honors: Winner, Best PhD Paper (KI Group), Strategic Management Society (SMS) 2021 Finalist, Best PhD Paper (Technology and Innovation Management), Academy of Management (AOM) 2020 Chandrika is actively involved in research, presentations, and national initiatives, including participation in the Dutch national funding plan on the societal effects of digitalization. She has presented her work at major academic conferences and continues to contribute to the advancement of innovation and technology management. While no formal advisees are listed, her collaborative research indicates strong mentorship and team engagement. She has delivered oral presentations at international conferences including SMS 2021, AOM 2020, and JASEIN 2024, focusing on nepotism in Bollywood, digital gatekeeping, and R&D disclosure strategies, showcasing her active role in academic discourse.
Dr. Julie Bates is an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Writing, Languages, and Cultures at Millikin University. She holds a PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and Technical Communication from Illinois State University, an M.A. in Liberal & Integrative Studies from the University of Illinois-Springfield, and a B.A. in Magazine Journalism and English Writing from Drake University. Her research focuses on activist, environmental, feminist, and digital rhetorics; technical communication; cultural historical activity theory; and publishing practices. She co-edited Grassroots Activisms: Public Rhetorics in Localized Contexts (2024) and her dissertation won the 2019 CCCC Outstanding Dissertation Award. Dr. Bates serves as Book Review Editor for Rhetoric Review and Contributing Editor for Decatur Magazine , while advising Millikin's BURST magazine. Recent presentations include panels at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2023), Conference on College Composition & Communication (2023), and Computers & Writing Conference (2022) Teaches courses like Freelance Writing, Professional Editing, and Environmental Writing Her work emphasizes intersectional approaches to writing pedagogy and community engagement through activist archiving, multimodal composition, and environmental interventions.
Davide Picca is a Lecturer (MER 2) at the Section of Language and Information Sciences, Faculty of Letters, University of Lausanne since 2016. His academic journey includes a PhD in Computer Science and Mathematical Methods (2010, University of Lausanne) and a degree in Philosophy of Science (specializing in Cognitive Science, 2003, University of Bologna). Research focuses on formal ontologies and semiotic theories , particularly applied to computational hermeneutics, moral foundation prediction, and cultural heritage digitization. Collaborations include Columbia University, ISTC-CNR Rome, Yahoo! Research Barcelona, and IBM Research. Key contributions span Emotional analysis in classical literature (Dostoevsky, Homer, Shakespeare) Ontology-based systems for Project Gutenberg texts and legal corpora Interdisciplinary methods combining fluid dynamics and emotion modeling Recent work explores AI ethics through semiotic lenses, moral prediction frameworks, and computational approaches to intangible cultural heritage preservation.
Eedan Amit-Danhi is an Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities and Media at the University of Groningen, specializing in the study of political communication through data visualizations and infographics. Previously, they held postdoctoral fellowships at Leipzig University (2021) and the University of Groningen (2022–2024), focusing on topics such as pandemic projections and cross-national visualization reception. Eedan earned their PhD in Communication and Journalism from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under Prof. Limor Shifman. Research interests include digital politics, visual communication, user engagement, and future-oriented rhetoric. They have explored how political actors use visualizations to shape public discourse, particularly in elections and policy-making contexts. Current projects investigate the interplay between political identities, group dynamics, and learning processes in relation to digital visualizations in Germany and Israel, supported by an Israeli Science Foundation fellowship. Key contributions include defining infographics in political communication, developing frameworks for predictive visual analysis, and analyzing future discourse in Israeli elections. Their work bridges media studies, rhetoric, and computational methods, with publications in journals like Convergence , First Monday , and International Journal of Communication . Awards: Israeli Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023), Most Engaging Visuals Video Award (AoIR 2020) Collaborations: Prof. Christian Pentzold (Leipzig), Prof. Limor Shifman (Hebrew U) Labs/Teams: Leading projects on automated visualization tools and co-production of pandemic projections
Brian McKernan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University. His work bridges sociology, communication, and digital media, focusing on political communication, conspiracy theories, and the societal impact of video games. Education: PhD in Sociology, University at Albany, SUNY (2013) MA in Sociology, Fordham University (2006) BA in Criminal Justice, Saint Anselm College (2004) McKernan's research explores how digital platforms shape political persuasion, misinformation, and cultural narratives. He investigates the role of video games in moral reasoning, social discourse, and political engagement, often using cultural sociology and narrative analysis. His work also addresses information literacy, cognitive biases, and the design of tools to improve reasoning in intelligence and journalism contexts. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in interdisciplinary research combining communication, sociology, and human-computer interaction. Key themes include the analysis of election conspiracy theories, media coverage of historical games, digital political advertising, and the development of crowdsourced reasoning platforms like TRACE. His scholarship frequently involves collaboration with experts in psychology, information science, and game design. McKernan teaches courses such as Media, Culture, and Society; Digital Cultures; and Political Communication, reflecting his expertise in media and sociopolitical dynamics. While no formal students are listed, his collaborative projects suggest active mentorship and team-based research. He has contributed to major interdisciplinary projects focused on serious games and analytical reasoning, indicating involvement in funded research initiatives. His research is supported by work in labs and teams focused on digital media analysis, serious game design, and intelligence reasoning, including the TRACE and CYCLES projects. These efforts emphasize user-centered design, cognitive training, and the mitigation of cognitive biases through technology.
Dr. Sebastian Wasiuta is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Textology and Polish Language Grammar, Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. His work focuses on cognitive ethnolinguistics, paremiology (proverb studies), and systemic text analysis. Education: Magister in Polish Philology (teacher and theater studies specializations), PhD in Humanities (Linguistics) under Prof. Jerzy Bartmiński Technical Expertise: LaTeX, PageMaker, InDesign, CorelDRAW, CSL citation styles, Zotero integration Research interests include: Cognitive ethnolinguistics (language-culture interfaces) Proverbs as minimal text structures Discourse pragmatics and stereotyping Textological methodologies for print/digital media Annotation of ethnolinguistic bibliographies iSybislaw Slavic linguistics database collaboration Scientific achievements: 2021 Medal for Long Service (III Class) from the President of Poland 2023 Medal of the National Education Commission 19+ publications including monograph Przysłowie jako tekst minimalny (2021) Contributions to annotated bibliographies of Lublin ethnolinguistics
Professor Marek Hetmański is a faculty member at the University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland, serving as Head of the Department of Ontology and Epistemology within the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology. His academic career spans over four decades, with a habilitation in humanities (2000) and a formal professorship since 2016. His research bridges philosophy, cognitive science, and information theory through interdisciplinary analysis. Academic Background: M.A. in Philosophy (1979, UMCS) Ph.D. in Philosophy and Sociology (1988, UMCS) Habilitation in Humanities (2000, UMCS) Research Interests: Professor Hetmański specializes in naturalized epistemology using analytical philosophy and neopragmatism. His work examines: (1) cognitive processes and states, (2) computational mind theories, (3) communication models, and (4) technology's epistemic conditioning. Recent projects focus on metaphorical cognition, embodied metaphors in art, and epistemological frameworks for expert knowledge. Scientific Contributions: With 25+ publications and an h-index of 4 (Google Scholar), his 2018 monograph Rationality and Decision Making: From Normative Rules to Heuristics and 2021 co-authored work Metafory ucielśnione demonstrate sustained scholarly impact. His 15 most recent articles (2014-2020) reveal consistent focus on metaphor theory, cognitive systems, and information epistemology across disciplines. Grants & Projects: Currently leads three major projects: (1) Philosophy of Science, Epistemology, Semiotics, Logic, and Axiology (NPRH Universalia 2.1, 2020-2022), (2) Embodied Metaphors in Choreographic Problem-Solving (NCN Preludium-19, 2020-2022), and (3) Epistemological-Cognitive Analysis of Expert Stereotypes (Diamentowy Grant, 2019-2023). Professional Involvement: President of Polish Philosophical Society (Lublin branch) Board member of Polish Cognitive Science Society Member of International Society for Knowledge Organization Media Ecology Association member
Izabela Domaciuk-Czarny is a Professor at the Department of Semantics, Pragmatics, and Language Theory within the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS). She specializes in onomastics, fantasy literature analysis, and digital communication studies. Key research areas: Onomastics, Stylistics, Computer Game Studies, and Virtual Micronations Major publications: Nazwy własne w prozie Stanisława Lema (2000), Nazwy własne w przestrzeni literackiej i wirtualnej typu fantasy (habilitation, 2015) Active in international onomastic conferences Her work explores proper names in science fiction, fantasy literature, and computer games, particularly MMORPGs like Kroniki Fallathanu 2 . She analyzes how naming conventions construct virtual worlds and examines linguistic structures in social media, e-mail marketing, and business communication. Recent publications focus on fantasy topography in Polish TV series Ranczo , persuasive email strategies, and micronation naming systems. Current projects include studying onomastic patterns in CRPG texts and investigating stylistic elements of digital persuasion. Her research bridges traditional literary analysis with modern digital humanities approaches.
Gesche Joost is a German design researcher and Professor of Design Research at Berlin University of the Arts since 2011. She serves as President of the Goethe-Institut since 2024 and leads the Interactive Textiles research area at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence . Her affiliations include the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, the Einstein Center Digital Future, and supervision roles at SAP and ING-DiBa. Education: Architecture (Technical University of Braunschweig), Design (Cologne International School of Design), Rhetoric (Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen) with a 2007 doctorate Her research spans human-machine interaction , gender and diversity in communication technology , wearable computing , and social sustainability . Recent work focuses on digital sovereignty , inclusive digital society , and design research methodologies . Articles address digital education , data ethics , and participatory design across 15 entries from 2008–2018. Scientific recognitions include the iF Product Design Award (2010) , 100 Köpfe von morgen (2006) , and the Nachwuchs-Wissenschaftspreis (2008) . She was named one of Germany's 50 most influential women in tech (2021) and holds an honorary membership in the German Designer Club . Gesche Joost has advised on EU digital transformation as Germany's Internet Ambassador and contributed to policy frameworks through the German Advisory Council on Consumer Affairs . She co-founded Calliope gGmbH to distribute free Calliope mini microcontrollers for digital education in schools.
Ilo Alexandre is an Assistant Professor at Lusófona University and holds visiting assistant professor positions at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and Universidade Europeia. He serves as a research scientist at CICANT (Lusófona University) and is a research member at iNOVA Media Lab (ICNOVA) and UT Austin's Computational Media Lab. Education: Ph.D. in Digital Media (specializing in Journalism) from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UT Austin Program), Portugal Master's in Novos Media e Práticas Web Bachelor's in Comunicação Social - Jornalismo His research focuses on data journalism and audience interaction with data visualizations in news media, combined with digital methods for innovative media analysis. Key areas include performance evaluation of data-driven journalism, historical development of data journalism in Portugal, and contemporary social media dynamics in political communication. Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal three dominant trends: computational analysis of social media during global events (World Cup, protests), data visualization performance metrics in journalism, and historical studies of data journalism in 19th century Portuguese press. His work spans Portuguese media contexts with increasing focus on TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter analytics. Scientific awards: None mentioned in the provided text. Advising and grants: No information about students or research funding in the source material. Research labs: CICANT (Communication and Society Research Centre) at Lusófona University iNOVA Media Lab (ICNOVA) Computational Media Lab at UT Austin
