Professor Rachel Brooks holds dual roles as Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey. She has served as Head of the Department of Sociology and Associate Dean for the Doctoral College. Her research focuses on international student mobility, sociology of education, youth studies, and family sociology. She is an editor for Sociology and British Journal of Sociology of Education , and a member of ESRC Council. Education: BA, MA, PhD. Notable achievements include Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and presidency of the British Sociological Association. Current research explores UK-Turkey higher education partnerships, student carers in academia, and policy narratives on international student mobility. Research themes include geopolitical impacts on education, temporal challenges in widening participation, and the sociological implications of caregiving roles. She supervises postgraduate researchers in higher education policy, sociology of education, and youth studies. Awards include Routledge publications on student carers, higher education identities, and mobility studies. Her work bridges policy, practice, and theory across national and transnational contexts.
Eetu Mäkelä is a Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Helsinki, leading the research group at the Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities. He focuses on computational methods in humanities and social sciences, including datafication and interdisciplinary collaboration. He serves as Technical Director of DARIAH-FI and a Research Programme Director at the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities. Currently, he heads the preparatory group for the Helsinki Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor’s Programme. His research emphasizes technological and theoretical foundations of computational research, with notable contributions to linked open data, sociolinguistic analysis, and historical text mining. He has developed widely used tools like Recon, Palladio, and Octavo, which are employed in academic and public sectors. His work has garnered over 20 awards, including best paper and open science recognitions. Key areas of expertise include digital humanities methodologies, data integration, and open science practices. He actively contributes to teaching, designing courses such as 'Methods for Digital Humanities' and demonstrating innovative pedagogical approaches. His recent projects involve analyzing 18th-century philosophical texts and sociolinguistic change using computational methods. Awards: Multiple best paper awards, open data awards, and open science awards. Grants/Advising: Leads research initiatives funded by the Academy of Finland and other bodies. Mentors interdisciplinary research teams but no specific student names listed. He maintains active roles in academic infrastructure, including the DARIAH-FI initiative and the Helsinki Institute’s datafication program. His work bridges technical innovation with humanities scholarship, emphasizing practical, enduring systems for academic and public use.
Morgan G. Ames is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Information and serves as Associate Director of Research for the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society. She chairs the Designated Emphasis in Science and Technology Studies and is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Algorithmic Fairness and Opacity Working Group, the Center for Science, Technology, Society and Policy, and the Berkeley Institute of Data Science. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Communication with a minor in Anthropology from Stanford University (2013), an M.S. in Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley (2006), and a B.A. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (2004). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a researcher at Google, Yahoo!, Nokia, and Intel. Ames researches the ideological origins of inequality in the technology world, with a focus on utopianism, childhood, and learning. Her work critically examines how technology design practices shape identities and social structures. Current projects include 'Seeing Like a Valley: the Moral Visions of Silicon Valley,' 'Algorithms in Culture,' and 'Countercultures of Technology Use.' She has published extensively on One Laptop per Child, Minecraft, and the social implications of algorithmic systems. Her publication record shows a consistent focus on the cultural dimensions of technology, particularly examining how utopian visions shape technology design and implementation. Recent work increasingly addresses algorithmic systems and their cultural impacts, while maintaining her longstanding interest in educational technology and youth technology practices. Ames has received significant recognition for her scholarship, including: 2020 Best Information Science Book Award 2020 Sally Hacker Prize 2021 Computer History Museum Prize She advises students on interpretive research methods, particularly ethnography, and serves on doctoral committees though cannot be a primary advisor for PhD students. Her research has been supported by multiple interdisciplinary collaborations, including the 'Algorithms in Culture' conference series she co-organized through the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society. Ames leads the 'Seeing Like a Valley' research collective that brings together scholars from across UC Berkeley and Silicon Valley to examine how the region's industrial practices shape moral visions that influence global technological development and social values.
Dr. Jeremy Knox is an Associate Professor of Digital Education at the University of Oxford's Department of Education (since 2023). Previously, he served as Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and co-directed its Centre for Research in Digital Education. His research critically examines interactions between education, data-driven technologies, and societal structures, with ESRC- and British Council-funded projects exploring AI ethics, digital inequality, and global educational policies. He co-convenes the Society for Research in Higher Education's Digital University network and teaches on the MSc in Education's Digital and Social Change pathway. Education: PhD and MSc from University of Edinburgh; PGCE from University of Reading (awarded ESRC scholarship for PhD). Key Works: Authored influential books including AI and Education in China (2023), Data Justice and the Right to the City (2022), and Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Education (2019). Awards: ESRC PhD Scholarship (2014). Research interests focus on postdigital theory, AI ethics, data justice, and global educational technology dynamics. His work critiques algorithmic governance in education and advocates for participatory data practices. Recent projects analyze China's AI education policies and the socio-technical implications of datafied learning environments. Publications span topics like MOOCs, learning analytics, and the political economy of EdTech, emphasizing critical perspectives on technological determinism. His writing bridges philosophy, sociology, and education policy to address systemic inequities exacerbated by digital tools.
Dr Ulla McKnight is an Assistant Professor in Sociology (Sociology and Criminology) at the University of Sussex, School of Law, Politics and Sociology. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on racialised and gendered health inequalities, particularly in reproductive and sexual health for ethnic minority and migrant women in the UK. Her educational background includes a PhD in Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London (2016), an MA in Postcolonial Studies (Goldsmiths, 2006), a BFA in Photography (San Francisco Art Institute, 2001), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Goldsmiths, 2018). Dr McKnight’s research lies at the intersection of Science and Technology Studies (STS), Black Feminist Hauntology, and participatory methodologies. She investigates how crises such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environmental collapse, and political inequity shape health futures. A key contribution is her conceptualisation of the HIV diaspora , which captures the transnational care experiences of people living with HIV in high-resource settings. Her work critically examines the entanglements of race, infectious disease, and political uncertainty using speculative and sensory methods. Her recent publications and research projects reveal a strong focus on maternal morbidity, speculative futures in sexual health, and the social justice dimensions of AMR. She employs arts-based and collaborative methods to explore the 'unsayable' in healthcare experiences. Nominated for Education Awards 2024 Nominated for Education Awards 2025 Dr McKnight is actively involved in supervising student research and has taught courses such as 'Doing Social Research', 'Health across the Lifecourse', and 'Sociology Research Proposal'. She is a Co-Investigator on the AHRC-funded project 'Reproductive Borders and Bordering Reproduction' and collaborates with the Wellcome Trust-funded project 'Inequalities and Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Sexual Health'. She has also secured a grant from the National Institute for Health Research for an arts-based workshop on 'unsayable' experiences. She is actively engaged in academic and public discourse through invited talks, conference presentations, and peer review for journals including Sociology of Health and Illness and Journal of the International AIDS Society .
Matt Ratto is a full Professor in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto , where he also serves as Associate Dean, Research . He is a faculty affiliate of the Climate Positive Energy Institute , the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society , and an SDG Fellow with the Sustainable Development Goals Institute . His work bridges critical theory and digital innovation , focusing on the social production of knowledge through emerging technologies. His research explores critical making and socio-technical systems , with applications in 3D-printed prosthetics (deployed in Cambodia, Tanzania, and Uganda), AI-driven healthcare solutions , and climate justice in computing . He has received over $6 million in funding, including two Canada Grand Challenge grants , and founded organizations advancing equitable technology access. Ontario Minister of College and Universities’ Award of Excellence (2020) Bell Canada Usability Labs Chair in Human-Computer Interaction (2018–2023) He supervises students such as Olivia Doggett and Sarah Gram , with past advisees including Brian Sutherland and Dan Southwick . His Critical Making Lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and he teaches courses like INF2241: Critical Making and INF351: Information Design Studio .
Konrad Kollnig is an Assistant Professor at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law, specializing in the intersection of law and technology. He leads the RegTech4AI project, which combines legal and technical methods to address challenges in the AI and digital platforms sector. His academic background includes a PhD and MSc from the University of Oxford and a BSc from RWTH Aachen, with his PhD thesis winning the prestigious Stefano Rodotà Award 2024. Research focuses on market power analysis in digital platforms, ethical AI governance, and privacy-preserving technologies. He developed the TrackerControl app (200,000+ downloads) to expose app tracking practices. His work has influenced EU, OECD, US FTC, and other regulatory bodies, and been featured in Forbes, Wired, and New Scientist. Key achievements include winning the United Nations Privacy Competition 2022 and the Best Student Privacy Paper Award 2022. He holds a five-year RegTech4AI project grant (€2.1M) funding six researchers. Talks and collaborations span institutions like Georgetown University, CNIL, and the Council of Europe. His interdisciplinary approach bridges computer science, law, and policy to address systemic risks in digital ecosystems.
Lina Dencik is Professor and University Research Leader in AI Justice at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she co-founded the Data Justice Lab. Her research examines digital media's relationship to social change, focusing on data justice and AI governance. She investigates societal implications of datafication across social justice domains including welfare systems, workplace monitoring, and border controls. Her recent projects include DATAJUSTICE (ERC-funded), Data Scores as Governance, and Democracy, AI and Big Tech (ESRC/Trans-Atlantic Platform). Publications analyze collective dimensions of data governance, workplace datafication, and the politics of AI regulation. Her work appears in journals spanning media studies, policy, and computer science.
Sara Green is an Associate Professor at the Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen, specializing in the Section for History and Philosophy of Science . Her work bridges philosophy, biology, and biomedical ethics, focusing on the epistemic and social implications of datafication in healthcare and the ethical challenges of precision medicine and consumer health technologies. Green holds a PhD in Science Studies from Aarhus University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Philosophy of Science. She leads the PROMISE and COPE projects and contributes to EU-funded initiatives like DataSpace , TRANSCEND , and REDESIGN . Research Themes: Philosophy of precision medicine and data-driven healthcare Ethics of patient-derived organoids and organ-on-chip technologies Epistemic standards in consumer medicine Interdisciplinary integration in systems biology Article Trends: Recent publications explore organoid ethics , datafication in medicine , and philosophical frameworks for emerging health technologies . Key sub-fields include biobanking, cross-border data governance, and temporal dimensions of personalized medicine. Scientific Recognition: DFF Research Project 1 (2020) Semper Ardens Accellerate Grant (2023) Silver Medal, Royal Danish Society of Science and Letters (2024) Werner Callebaut Prize (2015) EU SwafS-Horizon stipend (2020) Teaching & Supervision: She teaches philosophy of science to students in biology, chemistry, and sports science, supervising projects on philosophy of biology and medicine and co-supervising science communication research. Collaborative Networks: Green collaborates across Denmark, the EU, and the U.S., particularly on cross-border health data infrastructure and reduction of animal models through organoid technologies.
Rafael Grohmann is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the Department of Arts, Culture and Media , University of Toronto. He is also affiliated with Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos University) , Brazil, as an Assistant Professor in Communication. Grohmann serves as Principal Investigator for the Fairwork project in Brazil , Coordinator of DigiLabour Research Lab , and editor of DigiLabour newsletter . His work bridges Latin American digital labor studies, AI's societal impacts, and platform cooperativism. Education: Ph.D. in Communication, University of São Paulo (2016) M.Sc. in Communication, University of São Paulo (2012) BA in Social Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (2009) Research interests include platform labor , AI and work , datafication , and worker-owned platforms , with a focus on Global South and gender perspectives . His recent work analyzes Brazilian women's hidden labor on AI platforms and labor migration in the gaming industry. Scientific awards include grants from SSHRC , CNPq , FAPESP , and COST Action . Grohmann is an editorial board member of Big Data & Society , Work, Employment and Society , and co-founder of the Platforms & Society journal. He is actively involved in public engagement, including podcasts like Tech Won't Save Us and op-eds on data sovereignty. Projects: Creative Labour and Critical Futures (CLCF) : Studies ethical approaches to AI in creative sectors. Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP) : Explores worker-owned tech solutions in Brazil and Argentina.
Dr. Yujie (Julie) Chen is an Associate Professor (on leave) at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information, affiliated with the Department of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology (CCIT). Her work focuses on digital media's political economy, platform capitalism, and digital labour studies. She authored Super-Sticky WeChat and Chinese Society , analyzing WeChat's societal integration and platform power dynamics in China. Her research critiques how labour is marginalized in datafication discourse, particularly in platform-mediated sectors like ride-hailing (DiDi) and food delivery. Key themes include algorithmic control, worker resistance, and the interplay between technology, state policies, and labour conditions in China. Dr. Chen’s work bridges sociotechnical systems analysis with critical political economy frameworks. Her recent studies explore temporal exploitation in platform labour (e.g., food delivery workers’ time management), gamification of work processes, and the 'digital utility' concept deployed by platforms to justify market dominance. She frequently presents at conferences like AoIR and ICA, emphasizing global platform capitalism’s socio-economic impacts. Dr. Chen is completing a book manuscript examining labour’s erasure in datafication narratives and advocating for analytical frameworks that foreground embodied labour experiences. Her research also intersects with global South labour comparisons, notably between China and the Philippines in platform economies.
Chinasa T. Okolo is a Research Fellow in the Governance Studies program and Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) at the Brookings Institution. A recent computer science PhD graduate from Cornell University, she focuses on AI governance, data policy, and equity issues in artificial intelligence, particularly as they relate to the Global Majority and Africa. B.A. in Computer Science from Pomona College M.S. in Computer Science from Cornell University Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University Dr. Okolo's research critically examines global equity in AI, with a focus on how African governments can develop robust AI and data governance frameworks. She investigates the geopolitical impacts of AI in the Majority World and analyzes datafication and algorithmic marginalization in Africa. Her work incorporates ethnographic methods to understand how frontline health care workers in rural settings perceive and value AI, with particular emphasis on explainability in AI-enabled technologies deployed throughout the Majority World. She has conducted significant research on the effective adoption of AI in Africa, COVID-19 misinformation spread on social networks within African communities, and the impact of generative AI within Africa. Her recent publications explore cultural encoding of gender bias in language models for African languages, AI safety governance approaches in Southeast Asia, and the impacts of generative AI within Africa. Her work spans the intersection of artificial intelligence, international development, and social justice, with publications at top-tier venues including ACM's CHI, CSCW, COMPASS, EAAMO, and FAccT conferences. Scientific Awards Named one of TIME's top 100 most influential people in AI of 2024 Honored in the inaugural Forbes '30 Under 30' AI list Recognized as one of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ Dr. Okolo has received research funding from the Social Science Research Council, MacArthur Foundation, McGovern Foundation, Kapor Center, National GEM Consortium, Oracle Corporation, North American Network Operators' Group (NANOG), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Google. She serves as editor-in-chief of ACM SIGCAS Computers and Society, is a Scientific Advisory Committee member of the Global Index on Responsible AI, and an inaugural member of the Partnership on AI's SAIGE Council. She has contributed to global AI governance efforts including serving as a consulting expert on the African Union AU-AI Continental Strategy, an expert contributing writer to the International AI Safety Report, and a drafting member of the Nigerian Federal Government's National AI Strategy. She also participates in the IEEE Standards Association working group on algorithmic bias and is a member of the ACM US Technology Policy Committee. As founder of Technēculturǎ, Dr. Okolo leads initiatives focused on critically examining global equity in AI. She recently launched the 'AI Safety and the Global Majority' series at Brookings, convening experts from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Oceania, and Southeast Asia to counter Western-centric assumptions in AI safety. She is actively engaged in current policy discussions, with her most recent work including 'AI Safety Governance, The Southeast Asian Way' report and upcoming participation in the AI Safety Asia launch event on August 28, 2025.
Professor Kieran Tranter is Chair of Law, Technology, and Future at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Law. He leads the Law, Technology and Humans journal and directs the Human Technology Law Centre. His research explores law’s intersection with technology, focusing on cultural narratives and future-oriented legal frameworks. Prior roles include Associate Professor at Griffith University and HDR Convenor. Key areas include law and technology in the Global South, First Nations justice, and automation’s societal impact. Education PhD (Griffith University) Research Interests Tranter’s work bridges law with cultural studies, science fiction, and socio-technical systems. He examines how technology shapes legal frameworks and vice versa, with a focus on: Automated vehicles and regulatory challenges Transport justice for Indigenous communities Legal semiotics in media and popular culture Awards Research Supervision Award (Griffith University, 2017) Group Teaching Citation (Griffith University, 2011) Academic Excellence Award (Griffith University, 2010) Advising & Grants Tranter supervises PhD candidates on topics like lethal autonomous weapons systems, AI governance, and First Nations transport equity. He advocates for decolonizing road safety policies and has advised on regulatory frameworks for automated vehicles. Labs/Teams Co-leads the Technologies of Justice stream at QUT’s Centre for Justice and coordinates the Datafication and Automation research stream.
Professor Roy Pea is the David Jacks Professor of Education & Learning Sciences at Stanford University, with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science. He served as Director of the H-STAR Institute (2007-2021) and founded Stanford’s PhD program in Learning Sciences and Technology Design. His research focuses on technology-enhanced learning, social foundations of human learning, and interdisciplinary applications of digital tools. Stanford University, School of Education Graduate School of Education Department Courtesy appointment in Computer Science His work spans complex domains like concussion education, climate change learning, and AI-driven mental health interventions. He co-authored the 2010 National Education Technology Plan and co-edited key texts including Video Research in the Learning Sciences and AI in Education . His NSF-funded LIFE Center (2004-2014) advanced learning science theories. Recent publications address: (1) linguistic framing of concussions and reporting behavior, (2) AI chatbots for mental health, (3) "engineering fiction" to reduce climate change abstractness, and (4) immersive AR/LLM learning experiences. His research integrates data science, psychology, and educational technology. Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019) Inaugural Fellow, International Society of the Learning Sciences (2018) Honorary Doctorate, The Open University (2018) Best Bridging Paper, EDM 2014 LAK13 Best Paper Award (2013) Roy mentors doctoral and master’s students in learning sciences, advising on topics related to technology, cognition, and equity. He contributes to digital education policy through roles on advisory boards for organizations like NSF, NIH, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. His patents include methods for digital video analysis and collaborative learning systems.
Amanda Lagerkvist is a Professor at Uppsala University's Department of Informatics and Media, and a founder of Existential Media Studies . She leads the Uppsala Informatics and Media Hub for Digital Existence and the research program BioMe: Existential Challenges and Ethical Imperatives of Biometric AI in Everyday Lifeworlds (2020-2024) within WASP-HS. Her work intersects existential philosophy with digital culture , focusing on themes like disability , selfhood , datafication , and AI imaginaries . She has authored key works including Existential Media: A Media Theory of the Limit Situation (OUP, 2022) and Media and Memory in New Shanghai (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). Recent publications (2020-2025) analyze existential ethics in AI , biometric vulnerabilities , and digital environmental data . Her 15 most recent articles address topics like AI as existential media , digital afterlife ethics , and limit situations in digital culture , reflecting her interdisciplinary approach combining media studies, philosophy, and ethics. Scientific Awards: Wallenberg Academy Fellow (2013) Research Grants and Collaborations: Currently heading the RJ project Dismedia (2023-2025) and participating in the national At the End of the World programme (2023-2028). She collaborates on INTIMATE AI (2023-2026) and hosts the Assistive AI, Disability and Norms of Being Human sabbatical project (2023). She co-leads the The Mediated Planet (2020-2025) with KTH.
