Ales Popovic is a Full Professor of Information Systems at NEOMA Business School, France. He holds a PhD in Management and Information Systems. His research focuses on the value of information systems (IS) in organizations, digitalization, AI, behavioral and organizational issues in IS, and IT in inter-organizational relationships. He has published widely in journals like Journal of the Association for Information Systems and Technological Forecasting and Social Change . Dr. Popovic’s research explores topics such as fake news engagement on social media, blockchain adoption in real estate, and the impact of digital platforms on traditional media. He serves on editorial boards for journals including International Journal of Information Management and Industrial Management & Data Systems . His work bridges theoretical and practical aspects of IS, emphasizing business value creation and ethical considerations in AI. Key contributions include studies on digital transformation, crisis management technologies, and the role of privacy in technology adoption. His research frequently addresses contemporary challenges like misinformation dynamics, gig worker burnout, and healthcare AI applications.
Marko Rillo serves as the Head of MBA Curriculum at the Estonian Business School (EBS), an institution focused on business education. He holds a PhD in Management from the University of St.Gallen (Switzerland), specializing in Organizational Ambidexterity and Strategic Practices, alongside an MA in Economics from TalTech and a Bachelor’s degree from EBS. His academic career includes teaching courses such as Innovation Management, Strategic Management, and VUCA Innovation Practices. His research emphasizes workplace playfulness through LEGO Serious Play methodology and strategic leadership challenges in balancing innovation and operational effectiveness. Education Background: PhD in Management, University of St.Gallen (2020) MA in Economics, TalTech Bachelor’s Degree, Estonian Business School Advanced studies in Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD, IESE, Aarhus University, and Lappeenranta University of Technology Research Interests: His work spans organizational strategy, innovation management, change management, and leadership development. Notably, he has pioneered LEGO Serious Play methodologies in facilitation and strategic planning. His studies on ambidexterity explore how organizations balance exploration (innovation) and exploitation (efficiency) under leadership. Publications and Themes: His articles focus on strategy process dynamics, balanced scorecard applications, and workshop facilitation techniques. Recent work highlights client-centric strategies and conscious incompetence frameworks in team development. Recognition and Impact: Consulting experience with the European Commission, EBRD, and UN Developed training programs for businesses and institutions Advising and Outreach: Runs the social initiative Bright Knit l, enhancing student well-being through community engagement. No formal advisees listed, but contributes to curriculum design impacting students indirectly. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with EBS faculty on MBA program development and innovation initiatives.
Karen O'Brien is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo, where she has been a full-time faculty member since 2005. She is internationally recognized for her work on the human and social dimensions of global environmental change, with a focus on climate change, adaptation, and transformative pathways to sustainability. She currently serves as co-chair of the IPBES transformative change assessment and has contributed to major scientific assessments including the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. Her educational background includes a BA in International Relations from the College of William and Mary (1985), an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1990), and a PhD in Geography from Pennsylvania State University (1995). She completed a postdoc at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in 1996 and was a Senior Research Fellow at CICERO from 1997 to 2005. Karen O'Brien's research centers on integrative and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability, emphasizing the role of beliefs, values, and worldviews in driving social and systems change. She is a leading proponent of quantum social science as a framework for understanding and scaling transformative change. Her recent scholarly output explores youth activism, climate education, and the philosophical underpinnings of transformation in the Anthropocene. Her publications reveal a strong thematic focus on transformation, adaptation, and the intersection of climate change with social theory. Articles consistently engage with interdisciplinary frameworks, action research, and innovative methodologies such as SenseMaker, reflecting her commitment to bridging science, policy, and societal action. BBVA Foundation's Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Climate Change (2021) Member of Academia Europaea (2022) University of Oslo Student Parliament's Teaching Award (2015) Burtoni Prize for Adaptation Research (2011) AAG Meridian Book Award (2008) Shared in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as part of the IPCC Karen O'Brien has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, though specific names are not listed in the provided text. She has led significant research projects such as the AdaptationCONNECTS project and co-founded cCHANGE, an organization dedicated to sustainability transformations. Her advisory roles include membership on the Science Committees of Future Earth and Our Common Future in a Changing Climate, as well as leadership in the transition to global sustainability research initiatives. She has no reported grants listed, but her involvement in large-scale international assessments implies substantial funding support. She is affiliated with key research platforms including the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo, where she has served on the Board, and the Research Center for Socially Inclusive Energy Transition (Include). Her work is deeply collaborative, involving networks such as IPBES, IPCC, and Future Earth, and she frequently publishes with interdisciplinary teams across Europe and North America.
Ruihui Li - Academic Summary Professional Overview Prof. Ruihui Li is a faculty member at the College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University , specializing in Deep Geometry Learning , Generative Modeling , and 3D Vision . His work focuses on advancing 3D reconstruction and generation with high controllability, particularly in applications like point cloud upsampling and neural rendering. Education & Career Dr. Li earned his Ph.D. in 2021 (oral defense passed in June 2021). His career includes significant contributions to research in geometric deep learning and 3D computer graphics. He actively collaborates with institutions like the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Tel Aviv University on projects such as PU-GAN and SP-GAN . Research Interests His research spans cutting-edge topics in: Neural Wavelet-Domain Diffusion for 3D Shape Generation Topology-Aware 3D Mesh Reconstruction Camera-Based 3D Scene Completion Point Cloud Analysis and Upsampling Professional Activities Dr. Li has delivered invited talks at prestigious events such as the Asia Graphics Webinar and Peking University . He serves as a reviewer for top conferences (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV) and journals (TPAMI, TVCG). His research is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Technical Contributions Key projects include: PU-GAN : A point cloud upsampling adversarial network (ICCV 2019). SP-GAN : Sphere-guided 3D shape generation (SIGGRAPH 2021). Neural Wavelet-domain Diffusion : 3D shape generation and manipulation (TOG 2024). Labs & Teams He leads a research group at Hunan University, mentoring Ph.D./MPhil students, RAs, and postdocs. His team focuses on interdisciplinary projects combining AI, computer graphics, and geometric deep learning.
Eva Eriksson is an Associate Professor at Aarhus University, affiliated with the School of Communication and Culture and the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies. Her work bridges design, technology, and social values, focusing on participatory and human-centered approaches. Her research interests center on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , Participatory Design , and Design for Sustainability . She explores how co-design methods can empower youth, support children with learning differences like dyscalculia, and integrate more-than-human perspectives—considering non-human actors such as nature and technology—in design processes. Her work emphasizes ethical, inclusive, and reflective design practices. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in co-design with youth , XR and AR for education , sustainable technology , and methodological innovation in design research . These works span case studies, scoping reviews, and conceptual provocations, often published in top-tier venues like CHI and Interacting with Computers . Honourable Mention Award at CHI 2020 Honorable Mention, Design Space, CHI 2021 Most Cited Paper of 2021, International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction Eva Eriksson leads and contributes to externally funded research projects such as COMPILE (focused on dyscalculia and AR) and MOVA (on more-than-human values in design education), supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and Erasmus+. She supervises student projects and teaches courses such as Co-design and Bachelor Project . She also serves on international PhD examination and evaluation panels, demonstrating her active role in the global academic community. She is a core member of the Center for Computational Thinking & Design (CCTD) , a multidisciplinary research center at Aarhus University that fosters innovation in design, education, and technology.
Max Schleser is Associate Professor in Film and Television at Swinburne University of Technology, where he also conducts research with the Centre for Transformative Media Technologies (CTMT). He is an Adobe Creative Educator Innovator, Founder of the Mobile Innovation Network & Association (MINA), and Screening Director of the International Mobile Innovation Screening & Festival. His work spans academic, artistic, and community domains, with a focus on innovative screen practices. Max holds a PhD in Creative Arts from the University of Westminster, an MA in Art and Media Practice with Distinction, and a BA Hons. His research centers on immersive media, documentary film, and creative arts 4.0, particularly cinematic VR and interactive filmmaking. He investigates screen production, emerging media, and smartphone filmmaking as tools for community engagement, creative transformation, and transmedia storytelling. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating Generative AI into documentary and city film genres, exploring the 'AI eye' and computational non-fiction. He also investigates novel immersive production methods in VR, HyFlex pedagogies in film education, and collaborative mobile storytelling through workshops. His work consistently bridges creative practice with theoretical inquiry. Best Cinematography, International Cell Phone Cinema - Cannes (2025) Best Mobile Film, Nitiin International Film Festival (2024) Dean's Award for Teaching and Research, Swinburne University (2023) International Visiting Research Scholar, Auckland University of Technology (2024) Early Career Award - Research, Massey University (2012) Max leads multiple research grants focused on health storytelling, intergenerational connection, AI in screen industries, and sustainability education. He supervises creative projects and has conducted digital storytelling workshops for cultural institutes and government bodies worldwide. As founder of MINA and director of major festivals, he leads international networks in mobile media innovation. He also serves on the editorial board of the Media Practice and Education journal and has co-edited several key volumes on mobile media and storytelling.
Professor Mark Levine is a leading figure in social psychology at Lancaster University , affiliated with the Department of Psychology and multiple interdisciplinary research centers including Security Lancaster (Behavioural Science) , Cyber Security Research Centre (Psychology) , Data Science Institute , and Social Processes . His research lies at the intersection of psychology and technology, focusing on social identity, group dynamics, and prosocial behavior in public and digital environments. His research interests include bystander intervention, violence prevention, urban resilience, cybersecurity, emergency response, public safety, and the role of technology in shaping human behavior. He employs diverse methodologies such as virtual reality, CCTV analysis, smartphone data collection, and computational text analysis. His work is highly applied, informing policy and practice in policing, emergency services, and community safety. The trends in his recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining social psychology with computer science, criminology, and urban studies. His articles frequently analyze real-world behavioral data from public spaces and digital environments, emphasizing the protective role of group identity in emergencies and the feasibility of technological interventions for societal challenges. Scientific grants and projects he has led include: REASON: Resilient Autonomous Socio-cyber-physical agents (£3.3M, EPSRC) RBOC Network+: Urban resilience in 2050 (£2.25M, EPSRC) Challenging the Bystander Effect via Documentary Film (A$356K, ARC) STRETCH: Technology-enhanced support for older adults (£1.3M, EPSRC) “Being There”: Humans and Robots in Public Space (£2.4M, EPSRC) Advising and grants : He supervises 7 postgraduate research students and has secured over £15 million in research funding from EPSRC, ESRC, DSTL, NCSC, Home Office, and international bodies. He advises government departments, police forces, and city councils on public safety and prosocial behavior. His collaborative work extends to creative industries and third-sector organizations like AGE-UK Exeter. Research groups and collaborations : He is deeply embedded in interdisciplinary networks, contributing to projects involving computer scientists, roboticists, software engineers, and HCI researchers. His affiliations with Security Lancaster and the Data Science Institute reflect his central role in socio-technical research at Lancaster.
Professor Michael Clarke is a distinguished academic at the University of Huddersfield , serving as Director of IRiMaS (Interactive Research in Music as Sound) and holding leadership roles including former Dean of the School of Music, Humanities and Media and Dean of the Graduate School . His career spans over three decades at Huddersfield, where he has pioneered innovative software for music composition, pedagogy, and analysis. Education: PhD in Music (Durham University), MTC in Teaching (UCL Institute of Education) Clarke's research focuses on composition , particularly in live interactive works , and the development of software like Max/MSP for musicological analysis and sound synthesis. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals , emphasizing technological innovation in education and cultural preservation. Recent publications highlight his contributions to interactive aural analysis and fluid corpus manipulation tools. Clarke has secured major funding, including a €2.5m ERC Advanced Grant for IRiMaS and AHRC grants for collaborative projects. Awards include the National Teaching Fellowship (2011) and multiple European Academic Software Awards . Scientific Awards: National Teaching Fellowship (2011) European Academic Software Awards (record 3 wins) As a Principal Investigator , he has led projects with Prof Peter Manning and Dr Frédéric Dufeu, while actively supervising PhD students and contributing to REF assessments.
Sean Scanlan is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the New York City College of Technology (City Tech) within the School of Arts & Sciences. He joined the City Tech English Department in 2010. Dr. Scanlan earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia, an M.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa. Dr. Scanlan's academic interests center on US and world literature, gothic culture, New York City history and literature, professional editing, narration theory, science fiction, and artificial intelligence. He is particularly interested in exploring the concept of homesickness through various cultural lenses. His recent publications focus on themes of globalization, digital culture, and identity formation. He has conducted extensive research on William Gibson's works and has presented conference papers examining AI from a cultural studies perspective. As founder and editor of the interdisciplinary academic journal NANO: New American Notes Online, he has also published numerous scholarly interviews.
Dr. Janet F. Werker is a University Killam Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia , affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Department of Psychology . She directs the Infant Studies Centre and co-founded the UBC Language Sciences initiative. Her research focuses on perceptual foundations of language acquisition , studying speech perception mechanisms in monolingual and bilingual infants, critical periods of development, and neural correlates using behavioral, ERP, and NIRS methods. Recent work extends to literacy development in multicultural contexts through an SSHRC Partnership Grant. Key themes in 15 most recent articles: Infant brain development, statistical learning, speech perception, bilingualism, musical sophistication, microbiome-brain links, sensorimotor integration, voice recognition, and cross-linguistic generalization. Studies employ EEG, NIRS, and behavioral paradigms to explore early language, social understanding, and neurodevelopmental pathways. Scientific accolades include election to the National Academy of Sciences (2020) , Benjamin Franklin Institute Medal (2024) , and multiple fellowships (AAAS, Royal Society of Canada). Her work is funded by NSERC, SSHRC, NIH, and CIFAR. Dr. Werker supervises graduate students and leads international collaborations examining language acquisition, bilingualism, and developmental disabilities. She is actively involved in pandemic-era research adaptations, emphasizing online methodologies.
Karen Schramm serves as Professor in the Department of English at Delaware Valley University, where she has taught 23 distinct courses since joining this teaching-focused institution. Her academic journey spans appointments at Rutgers University, the University of Delaware, Rowan University, and community colleges, with her current role emphasizing innovative pedagogy and environmental advocacy. As a Partner in Conservation with the World Wildlife Fund, she actively supports global wilderness protection initiatives across the Amazon and American Prairie. Education: Ph.D. in English (American Literature), University of Delaware M.A. in English, Rutgers University B.A. in English, Rutgers University Dr. Schramm's research centers on environmental literature's role in American cultural identity, particularly examining wilderness narratives from the American Renaissance period. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis with conservation ethics through courses like Environmental Literature and Introduction to Literature: Creature Comforts, which explores animal representations in fiction and creative non-fiction. This interdisciplinary approach extends to her personal commitment to nature, demonstrated by her lifelong documentation of cicada emergences since childhood. Her 30+ publications reveal consistent thematic evolution from early pedagogical innovations to current environmental scholarship, featuring definitive contributions in Oxford and Cambridge University Press volumes. While haiku poetry reflects her nature-focused aesthetic, her academic work demonstrates sophisticated analysis of wilderness discourse in American literature and practical applications in educational technology. The publications collectively showcase her dual commitment to advancing literary scholarship and transforming classroom practice through creative methodology. Scientific Awards: $300 award for best article in Teaching for Success (1997) Dr. Schramm has mentored student writers through 15 consecutive years (1998-2013) as advisor and copy-editor for The Gleaner , the university's literary magazine, while developing innovative teaching methodologies like the 'Angered Porcupine' approach. Her scholarly productivity includes six biographical entries for the American National Biography and multiple book chapters addressing technology integration in education, though specific research grants aren't documented in available materials. Her conservation partnership with WWF represents significant professional engagement beyond traditional academic boundaries. No dedicated research laboratories or formal research teams are referenced in her professional documentation, with scholarly activities primarily conducted through individual publication and institutional teaching roles.
Oliver Alonzo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at DePaul University. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Computing and Information Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a B.S. in Computer Science from Creighton University with minors in Graphic Design and Musical Theatre. Prior to joining DePaul, he served as a post-doctoral assistant professor at Creighton University and completed internships at Meta (Facebook) and Adobe Research. Dr. Alonzo's research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction and Computing Accessibility, with particular emphasis on creating technologies that improve digital access for people with disabilities, especially those who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (DHH). His work spans several key areas: Design and evaluation of automatic text simplification tools for DHH readers Captioning and visualization of non-speech sounds in multimedia content Accessibility solutions for social media platforms Tools to assist American Sign Language learners Multimedia accessibility in emerging technologies like virtual reality His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on developing and evaluating accessibility technologies through rigorous user-centered design with DHH communities. His research has evolved from foundational work on text simplification and sign language interfaces to broader explorations of digital accessibility across multiple platforms and contexts. Dr. Alonzo has received notable recognition for his work, including: CHI 2025 Honorable Mention for research on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing user experiences with misinformation on social media An NSF CRII grant for a two-year project focused on making videos accessible by design for Deaf, Hard-of-hearing, Blind and Low-Vision viewers As an educator, Dr. Alonzo teaches courses including HCI 440 Introduction to User-Centered Design, HCI 445 User Research Methods, and HCI 511 Accessibility Considerations in HCI. His teaching philosophy emphasizes practical, hands-on learning experiences that connect theoretical concepts to real-world accessibility challenges. Outside academia, Dr. Alonzo is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, and is learning American Sign Language. He has a background in musical theatre and enjoys black & white photography, which informs his creative approach to accessibility research.
Hariharan Subramonyam is an Assistant Professor (Research) at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and Computer Science (by courtesy) . He serves as the Ram and Vijay Shriram Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) and is a core faculty member of Stanford HCI . His research bridges Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the Learning Sciences , focusing on augmenting human learning through AI via cognitively informed design practices, co-design with learners/educators, and transformative AI-enabled learning experiences. His work emphasizes ethical AI, responsible design, and human values in technology. He earned a PhD in Information from the University of Michigan under Eytan Adar. Current projects include Script&Shift (layered interfaces for LLM writing), AltCanvas (accessible image editing for BVI users), and CogGen (AI tutoring systems). His teaching includes EDUC 432: Designing Explorable Explanations and CS 448B: Data Visualization . Key Research Areas Cognitively Informed AI Systems Human-AI Collaborative Writing Accessible Generative AI Tools Ethical AI Frameworks Interactive Learning Environments Awards & Grants Best Paper Award (CHI 2025) Honorable Mention Award (CHI 2025) HAI Hoffman Yee Grant (2024) Cover Story in Interactions Magazine (2024) Collaborative Networks Co-organizing CHI 2025 Tools for Thought Workshop Contributor to UIST 2024 Dynamic Abstractions Workshop Advising PhD students across Stanford, Georgia Tech, and Duke Collaborations with institutions including University of Michigan, National University of Singapore, and Technical University Munich
Dorota Piekarczyk is a full Professor at the University of Marie Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland, affiliated with the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. She has served since 2002 and held the position of Deputy Director at the Institute of Polish Philology from 2013-2019. Her research focuses on the intersections of language and cognition, particularly through semantic analysis , pragmatic frameworks , and linguistic worldview studies. She specializes in paratextual elements of publications, examining how covers, blurbs, and series information shape reader expectations and societal knowledge reception. The 2020 monograph on book covers represents her most comprehensive work on paratextual analysis. Her recent publications (2020-2019) investigate paratextual persuasion techniques popular culture integration in science communication publisher-reader dynamics while maintaining long-term contributions to floral categorization studies and cognitive schemata in texts. Scientific achievements include 2014 Prime Minister's Award for 'Metafory metatekstowe' ORCID: 0000-0002-8859-7897 648 total ministerial points across 12 publications
Dr. Tim Lindgren is a Senior Lecturer in the Fashion program at the School of Design, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). With over thirty years of experience as a commercial fashion designer in Australia and China, he brings extensive industry expertise into his academic role. He is the study area coordinator for the fashion program and actively contributes to curriculum development, including the implementation of mid-year entry. He also serves as the Academic Integrity Officer and Equity Representative for the School of Design. PhD, Queensland University of Technology Master of Global Competition and Consumer Law, University of Melbourne Master of International Business (Hons), Griffith University Graduate Certificate of Research Commercialisation, QUT Tim’s research focuses on fashion in China, fashion consumption, wearable technology, policy and legal frameworks in fashion, and principles of the circular economy. His methodologies are primarily qualitative, involving field-based primary data collection. His teaching spans both practical and theoretical domains, including fashion studios, product development, and wearable technology. His recent publications (2010–2021) explore the evolving role of Chinese fashion designers, the Shanghai fashion system, branding in China, and the integration of industry experience into academia. These works reflect a consistent engagement with global fashion systems, cultural legitimacy, and sustainable innovation. Award-winning fashion label (specific awards not named) Tim supervises postgraduate research and is an expert witness in legal fashion matters. He contributes to Standards Australia and the International Standards Organization. He is also recognized for integrating equity, integrity, and sustainability into his pedagogical practice, preparing students to be ethical leaders in the global fashion industry. He leads research on the future of fashion and market failures, and his work emphasizes sustainable practices and systemic change within the fashion industry.
