Stephan Schmidt is an Associate Professor at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art and Planning, affiliated with the Department of City and Regional Planning. His research bridges urban spatial patterns, planning institutions, and sustainability outcomes across Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and China. Education: PhD in Urban Planning from Rutgers University MS in Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington His work examines: land-use policy evolution in Europe; urbanization dynamics in African cities; and polycentricity trends in Chinese metropolises. Recent studies focus on climate risk mitigation through urban form, including urban heat island effects and air pollution in German regions. Key trends in his 2024-2022 publications: comparative analysis of polycentric urban systems; GIS-based spatial pattern evaluation; and institutional impacts on sustainable development. Awards include Cornell's Global Strategic Collaboration Award and German Academic Exchange Service grants. Scientific Awards: Cornell Global Strategic Collaboration Award (2024) Cornell Center for Social Sciences Accelerated Research Grant (2024) German Academic Exchange Service (2019) Advising includes mentoring graduate students like Juan Fernandez, Justin Peng, and Hassan Yakubu on projects analyzing urban morphology. His lab investigates intersections between spatial patterns and environmental outcomes, including climate change adaptation in Tanzanian cities and park fragmentation in German metropolises.
Helen Rees is Professor of Ethnomusicology at UCLA and Director of the World Music Center, specializing in Chinese musical traditions with emphasis on southwest China's ethnic minorities, ritual practices, and intellectual property frameworks within intangible cultural heritage policies. Her academic foundation includes: B.A. in Chinese, Oxford University, 1987 M.A. in Chinese, Oxford University, 1991 Ph.D. in Music, University of Pittsburgh, 1994 Diploma in flute teaching, Royal College of Music, London Diploma in baroque flute performance, Trinity College, London Diploma in recorder teaching and performance, Trinity College, London Rees's research integrates fieldwork from southwest China and Shanghai to examine tourism's impact on musical traditions, organology (instrument studies), and transnational transmission of Asian musics. Recent scholarship critically engages East Asia's intangible cultural heritage policies and material culture frameworks, reflecting deep interdisciplinary connections between musicology, anthropology, and legal studies. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on Naxi musical traditions and evolving methodological approaches—from historical analysis in Echoes of History (2000) to contemporary multimedia projects like the award-winning documentary Playing the Flute in Shanghai (2021) and the cross-cultural edited volume Instrumental Lives (2024), demonstrating expanding scope from regional studies to pan-Asian material culture networks. Through the World Music Center, Rees bridges academic research and public engagement by facilitating international cultural exchanges at venues including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, while maintaining active performance practice in Chinese flutes and recorder as integral to her scholarly methodology.
Andrew Yonelinas is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, where he directs the Human Memory Lab. He holds additional leadership roles as Associate Director of the Center for Mind and Brain and is an affiliated faculty member with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience. His research bridges cognitive psychology and neuroscience to investigate fundamental memory mechanisms and their neural substrates. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from McMaster University (1995) and a B.S. in Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto (1990). These foundational studies established his expertise in experimental methodologies and cognitive theory. Yonelinas specializes in dual-process models of memory, distinguishing between recollection (detailed contextual retrieval) and familiarity (vague recognition). His lab employs process dissociation, remember/know procedures, and ROC modeling alongside neuroimaging (fMRI, ERP) and clinical studies with amnesic and Alzheimer's patients. Recent work expands into auditory working memory, multisensory integration, and the impact of mental illness on cognitive processes, revealing hippocampal roles across memory systems. His research consistently addresses how memory fails in clinical conditions while developing unified theoretical frameworks. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications shows a strong focus on memory mechanisms across sensory modalities, with increasing emphasis on clinical applications. Key trends include hippocampal contributions to visual/auditory working memory, EEG-based biomarkers for mental illness, and the interplay between schema knowledge and memory distortion in aging populations. His work demonstrates methodological innovation through model-based EEG phenotyping and multisite clinical collaborations. His scientific recognition includes: American Psychological Society’s Shahin Hashtroudi Memorial Award University of California Chancellor’s Fellow Award European Brain and Behavior Society International Lecture Award Yonelinas actively shapes his field through editorial roles at top journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Journal of Experimental Psychology, while serving as a grant reviewer for NIH, NSF, and international funding bodies. His Human Memory Lab trains next-generation researchers in memory theory and methodology, with recent projects examining stress effects on memory precision and neural mechanisms of action slips. The Human Memory Lab operates within UC Davis's neuroscience ecosystem, collaborating closely with the Center for Mind and Brain on projects involving clinical populations and neuroimaging. Current initiatives include the CNTRACS Consortium for EEG standardization in mental illness and investigations into how stress modulates memory binding through hippocampal mechanisms.
Norman Doe is Professor of Law at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics, where he serves as Director of the Centre for Law and Religion and course director of the LLM in Canon Law. He has held significant leadership roles including Director of Research at the Law School (2011-2014) and has been instrumental in establishing key academic programs such as the LLM in Canon Law (1991) and the LLB module Law and Religion (2002). His international academic presence includes being a visiting professor at the University of Paris since 1999, KU Leuven (2013-16), and Pontifical University of St Thomas in Rome (2009). Doe earned his law degree at University College Cardiff, completed his doctorate at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and studied theology at St Michael's Theological College, Llandaff and Mansfield College Oxford University. His academic credentials include LLD (Cambridge), LLM (Wales), MTh (Oxford), PhD (Cambridge), DCL (Lambeth), and he is a Barrister (Middle Temple). Professor Doe's research focuses on Anglican canon law, comparative church law, law and religion, and the history of ecclesiastical law. His scholarly work has established foundational frameworks for understanding Christian legal systems across denominations. His book Canon Law in the Anglican Communion (1998) formed the basis for The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion (2008), while his Christian Law: Contemporary Principles (2013) contributed to the Statement of Principles of Christian Law (2016) that was launched at the World Council of Churches in 2022. His recent publications demonstrate a sustained focus on historical Anglican priest-jurists, ecclesiastical legal history, and the development of Christian legal principles across traditions. His scholarly impact is reflected in his election as a Fellow of the British Academy (2024), appointment as honorary King's Counsel (2024), and previous recognition as one of the 'top ten' law and religion scholars worldwide (2018). He has received numerous honors including election to the Council of the Selden Society (2023), becoming an Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple (2021), and being listed among the 50 most influential Anglicans in the world by The Telegraph (2008). Professor Doe serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Bangor (since 2012), functioning as president of the Diocesan Consistory Court. He has been deeply involved in global Anglican structures, serving on the Lambeth Commission (2003-2004), contributing to the Windsor Report, and working with the Anglican Communion Network of Legal Advisers. He co-founded the Interfaith Legal Advisers Network (2007) and the Law and Religion Scholars Network (2008), demonstrating his commitment to practical applications of his scholarship. His current research focuses on the history of English ecclesiastical law since the Reformation and a series of articles on clergy jurists published in the Ecclesiastical Law Journal . He is also active in multiple networks of the Cardiff Centre for Law and Religion, including the Colloquium of Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers and the Church Law History Network. His 2023 canon law play Thrice to Rome about Gerald of Wales has been performed at St Davids Cathedral and the Temple Church London, with upcoming performances planned for Canterbury and Rome.
Dr. Siobhán Dowling is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the School of Education, University College Cork (UCC), with expertise in Religious Education, Music Education, and the intersection of The Arts in Education. She earned her PhD from the University of Wales, Trinity St David, Lampeter, UK, in 2011 and has served in both teaching and administrative roles at UCC since 1998, including Director of the Structured PhD in Education. Education: PhD (2011) in Biblical and Musical Reception History, University of Wales, Trinity St David. Current Roles: Senior Lecturer, Tutor, Placement Supervisor, Director of Structured PhD in Education. Her research focuses on the reception history of biblical narratives in music , particularly themes like the Sacrifice of Isaac, Eve, and the Book of Samuel. She explores collaborative learning in teacher education and integrates creative pedagogy in Religious Education. Her work spans interdisciplinary analysis of the Bible’s influence on music, art, and cultural identity. The 15 most recent publications highlight her pioneering work on biblical stories in musical compositions (2025), visual and musical reception of Dives (2024), and peer-reviewed studies on collaborative learning (2023). Her contributions to the Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception (2025–2016) cover topics like patriarchs, psalms, and gendered biblical figures. Scientific Awards: Recipient of two book awards in the USA for co-authored work 'The Bible in Music: A Dictionary of Songs, Works and More' (2015). Research Grants and Supervision: Awarded multiple Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Grants (2023, 2014) for international training and a Kurt Weill Foundation Travel Award (2014). Supervised PhD, MEd, and PME students while serving as Internal/External Examiner. Leadership: Coordinated UCC’s Cohort PhD in Education (2001–2014) and led the MAAP in Guidance and Counseling program. Delivered invited seminars at KU Leuven, University of Tuebingen, and Trinity College Dublin.
David Armitage is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, where he serves as Chair of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies and teaches intellectual history and international history. He also holds affiliations with the Harvard Department of Government, Harvard Law School, and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and Queen's University Belfast. Previously, he chaired Harvard's Department of History (2012-14, 2015-16) and taught at Columbia University for eleven years before joining Harvard in 2004. Armitage was born in Britain and educated at the University of Cambridge and Princeton University. His academic journey includes: Undergraduate studies at University of Cambridge PhD at Princeton University Teaching position at Columbia University (1993-2004) Professorship at Harvard University (2004-present) Honorary positions at University of Sydney, Queen's University Belfast, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge Professor Armitage specializes in intellectual history, international history, and global history, with particular expertise in the history of political thought, empires, and international law. His scholarly approach emphasizes the longue durée perspective, seeking to understand historical phenomena across extended time periods rather than narrow chronological frames. He has been a leading voice in advocating for historians to engage with "big history" that spans centuries, arguing that contemporary challenges like climate change and economic inequality require historical understanding that transcends the short-term thinking prevalent in modern politics and policy. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with foundational texts and concepts in political theory, declarations of independence, civil wars, and oceanic history. Armitage's work shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly global and interdisciplinary approaches, connecting intellectual history with legal, political, and environmental frameworks. His scholarship bridges early modern and contemporary history, examining how historical concepts continue to shape modern international relations and political thought. Armitage's significant contributions to historical scholarship have been recognized with prestigious awards: Caird Medal from the National Maritime Museum (2006) for "conspicuously important work ... of a nature that involves communicating with the public" Walter Channing Cabot Fellow from Harvard (2008) for "achievements and scholarly eminence in the fields of literature, history or art" LittD from Cambridge University (2015), the university's highest degree, for "distinction by some original contribution to the advancement of science or of learning" As an advisor and mentor, Armitage has guided numerous graduate students through doctoral programs at Harvard and previously at Columbia. His scholarly leadership extends to co-editing two major book series with Cambridge University Press ( Ideas in Context and Cambridge Oceanic Histories ), serving on the Steering Committee of the Center for Early Modern Political Thought at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and contributing to various academic organizations. His work has attracted significant research funding supporting his global historical investigations. Professor Armitage is deeply involved in collaborative scholarly initiatives, particularly through his work with the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, where he serves as a Senior Scholar. His research often involves interdisciplinary teams examining oceanic histories, international law, and global political thought. He has been instrumental in developing the "Cambridge Oceanic Histories" series, which brings together scholars from multiple disciplines to explore the historical significance of oceans as connective spaces rather than barriers.
Mike Willis is an Associate Professor of Cryospheric Science, Geodesy & Remote Sensing at the Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech's College of Science. His research focuses on advancing remote sensing techniques to study Earth's cryosphere, coastal environments, and natural hazards. He leads projects on glacial dynamics, sea level rise impacts, landslide monitoring, and the application of GNSS and InSAR technologies. His work combines field instrumentation (e.g., OrangePi-GNSS systems) with satellite data analysis to address climate and geohazard challenges in polar regions and coastal communities. Education background: Not explicitly stated in provided text. Research interests include cryospheric science, geodetic monitoring, and environmental remote sensing applications. His lab group maintains a dedicated website at https://sites.google.com/view/4datvt/ . Key research themes include: Glacier and ice shelf mass balance Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise Disaster monitoring using GNSS-IR and InSAR High-resolution digital terrain modeling Recent projects highlight work in Greenland (landslide monitoring, sea level measurements), the Pacific Northwest (subduction zone hazards), and the Dominican Republic (coastal inundation modeling). His interdisciplinary approach bridges geophysical observations with computational geospatial analysis.
Dacia Viejo-Rose is a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Heritage and the Politics of the Past at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge , and serves as Deputy Director of the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre . Her research focuses on cultural heritage in contexts of armed conflict, examining its role in division, exclusion, and post-conflict reconciliation. She integrates perspectives from memory studies, political science, and transitional justice. PhD (2009) in Cultural Heritage from University of Cambridge British Academy Post-doctoral Fellow (2012–2014) Her work analyzes the symbolic and ethical dimensions of cultural heritage destruction and reconstruction, particularly in post-civil war Spain, Bosnia, and Syria. She advocates for reparations frameworks in international law and critiques the instrumentalization of heritage in global conflicts. Key publication themes include: Post-conflict justice and cultural property law Cultural violence and socio-legal approaches Memory politics and identity formation Heritage conservation and ethical interventions Scientific awards: British Academy Post-doctoral Fellowship Her exhibitions, such as the 2015 Gernika Peace Museum display , highlight the interplay between heritage and peacebuilding. She contributes to debates on democratic memorial practices and international involvement in post-conflict societies.
Peter Huybers is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University , where he investigates the climate system and its societal implications, including interactions between volcanism and glaciation , extreme temperature predictability , and climate change impacts on food production . Research interests span climate change attribution , paleoclimate reconstruction , drought dynamics , crop yield modeling , and earth system feedbacks . His work often integrates art-historical analysis with climate science, as seen in studies of 19th-century air pollution through Turner and Monet paintings . Scientific awards include funding from Harvard Data Science Initiative (2023) for projects on climate change and food supply volatility Amazon Web Services (2023) grant His 20+ peer-reviewed articles since 2020 focus on climate proxies , hydrological modeling , solar forcing , and agricultural-climate interactions , with recent work in Nature , PNAS , and Science Advances . Advising : Mentored 10+ PhD students including Parker Liautaud , Duo Chan , and Marena Lin , while leading research teams with current members like Greta Berendes and Caro Park . Former staff include Jon Proctor and Lucas Vargas Zeppetello , the latter now at UC Berkeley (2024).
Yavuz Köse is a University Professor of Turkology at the Department of Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of Philology and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna. He currently serves as Head of the Institute of Oriental Studies (since June 2024) and previously as Deputy Head (October 2022-June 2024). Before joining the University of Vienna in 2019, he was W3 Acting Professor for Turkology at the Asia-Africa Institute of the University of Hamburg (2010-2018). His educational background includes a Master of Arts in History and Culture of the Near East as well as Turkology, Psychology and Economics from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2001). Professor Köse's research focuses on social, economic and consumer history of the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, environmental and tourism history, history of science, and migration and workers' history. His work examines Ottoman social structures, economic transformations, cultural heritage, and identity formation, with particular attention to urban contexts and cross-cultural interactions. His recent publications show a strong emphasis on Ottoman social history, with particular attention to conversion narratives, cultural exchanges, and urban economic structures. The 2025 edited volume Becoming Ottoman represents a significant contribution to understanding identity formation in the Ottoman Empire. Among his notable recognitions is the Emerald Literati Award (2020) Professor Köse has supervised numerous doctoral students at both the University of Vienna and University of Hamburg, with research topics spanning cultural heritage in Turkey, migration histories, women's work and property, and Ottoman economic history. He has secured significant research funding including projects funded by FWF, DFG, and VolkswagenStiftung, such as the current 'Lebensmittelhändler von Istanbul' project examining Istanbul grocers as urban actors in supply chains. He is actively involved in academic leadership, serving as Head of the Institute of Oriental Studies and Deputy Spokesperson of the Doctoral School for Philological and Cultural Studies. He co-founded and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Diyâr. Journal for Ottoman, Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies and is a member of numerous scholarly organizations including the Society for Armenian Studies and the Society for Turkology, Ottoman Studies and Turkey Research.
Professor Mary Augusta Brazelton is a Professor at the University of Cambridge's Department of History and Philosophy of Science and a Fellow of Jesus College. She serves as Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (History and Philosophy of Science) at Jesus College (on leave 2024-2025). Her academic work focuses on the history of science and medicine in modern China, with particular attention to global health, transportation technologies, and the intersection of science and state power. Education: BA (Harvard), MPhil and PhD (Yale). Awards include the 2020 Student-led Teaching Award and the 2019 Zhu Kezhen Senior Award. She is also a Trustee and Research Fellow of the Needham Research Institute and a Council member of the American Association for the History of Medicine. Her research explores topics such as mass vaccination policies in 20th-century China, Sino-French scientific collaborations, and the history of penicillin development. Current projects include studies on the Sino-French Institute in Lyon and transnational histories of civil aviation. Publications include Mass Vaccination: Citizens' Bodies and State Power in Modern China (2019) and China in Global Health: Past and Present (2023). She actively contributes to academic discussions through media engagements and international conferences.
Professor Brian Z. Tamanaha is a distinguished scholar in jurisprudence and law and society at Washington University School of Law. With over 75 publications, his work spans legal realism, rule of law, and legal pluralism, earning international acclaim. Education: Doctorate of Juridical Science (Harvard Law School), Juris Doctor (Boston University), Bachelor of Science (University of Oregon) Research Interests: Focused on the intersection of legal theory, historical analysis, and societal impacts, Tamanaha’s scholarship critiques formalist approaches while exploring the evolution of legal systems across cultures. Scientific Awards: 2019 IVR Book Prize 2018 Prose Awards Honorable Mention Dennis Leslie Mahoney Prize in Legal Theory (2006) Herbert Jacob Book Prize (2002) Special Recognition Award (1998, Law and Society Association) Key Speaking Engagements: Cotterrell Lecture (2015), Kobe Memorial Lecture (2014), Julius Stone Address (2008), and multiple international keynote addresses. Grants & Fellowships: Ferdinand Braudel Senior Fellowship (European University Institute), Institute for Advanced Study Membership (Princeton), and Visiting Professor Fellowship (Queen Mary University).
Dominic Goodall is a Director of Studies at the French School of Asian Studies (École française d'Extrême-Orient), specializing in Sanskrit Philology, History of Śaivism, and Epigraphy. Based at the Pondicherry Research Center in India, he has been a member of the EFEO since 2000 and previously served as Director of the Pondicherry Center from 2002 to 2011. His academic journey began with studies in Greek and Latin at Pembroke College, Oxford, followed by Sanskrit (BA with Pali, 1990), and medieval Tamil at the University of Hamburg (1990-1991). He completed his doctorate at Wolfson College, Oxford under Professor Alexis Sanderson on the theological school of Śaivasiddhānta in 10th-century Kashmir. Goodall's research focuses on the critical edition and translation of previously unpublished Śaiva scriptures and theological commentaries, particularly from South India. His scholarly work bridges Sanskrit philology with epigraphic studies of Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia. He has made significant contributions to understanding the transmission of Śaiva Siddhānta traditions across South and Southeast Asia through textual analysis of both manuscripts and inscriptions. His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on early Śaiva Tantric literature, particularly the Niśvāsatattvasaṃhitā as the earliest surviving Śaiva Tantra. Goodall has pioneered the study of Cambodian inscriptions in Sanskrit, revealing important connections between Indian religious traditions and Khmer civilization. His work shows a methodological commitment to rigorous textual criticism combined with historical and religious analysis. Foreign Corresponding Member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres (2016) Co-editor of Tāntrikābhidhānakośa (Viennese dictionary of Hindu tantric terminology) Contributor to Encyclopaedia of Manuscript Cultures in Asia and Africa Goodall has supervised numerous research projects on South Asian manuscript cultures and epigraphy. His leadership in the Pondicherry manuscript project has been instrumental in preserving and making accessible important Sanskrit textual traditions. He has organized multiple international workshops on early Tantric traditions and regularly collaborates with scholars across Europe and Asia. Based at the Pondicherry Research Center, Goodall continues to direct the EFEO's efforts in documenting and analyzing South Asian religious traditions, with particular emphasis on Śaiva Siddhānta traditions as reflected in both manuscript and inscriptional evidence from India and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Philip Kirby is a Senior Lecturer in the History of Education at King’s College London’s School of Education, Communication & Society. He joined in 2020 after roles at the University of Oxford, the Sutton Trust, and the University of Exeter. His research focuses on the historical and social dimensions of specific learning difficulties like dyslexia and dyspraxia, alongside children’s culture and education policy. His notable work includes Dyslexia: A History (2022, co-authored with Prof. Margaret J. Snowling) and entries in encyclopedias like Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability . He also explores geopolitical themes in media, including film scores and video games. Recent projects include Delphi studies on dyslexia assessment and policy reform. His research spans education policy, private tuition dynamics, and the intersection of popular culture with disability ethics. He actively contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the Centre for Public Policy Research, addressing social justice in education and policy.
Niccolò Ridi is Senior Lecturer in Public International Law and Associate Director of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD) at King's College London's Dickson Poon School of Law. He joined King's in 2021 after roles at Liverpool University, Copenhagen University, and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. He holds a PhD from King's, an LLM from Cambridge, and an LLB/MA from Florence. His research focuses on international law (public/private), dispute settlement, and empirical methodologies including data mining/social network analysis. He is finalizing books on international adjudication precedent and comity principles (with Thomas Schultz). He serves as Assistant Editor of the Journal of International Dispute Settlement and is affiliated with leading legal societies. Key research areas include judicial behavior analysis, international court performance, and legal communities' practices. His recent work employs scientometrics to study legal idea propagation and network analysis of scholarly collaboration. He co-leads interdisciplinary initiatives like the Centre for Data Futures, exploring data-driven legal tools. His 2020s research emphasizes ICJ dynamics, Security Council resolution impacts, and investment arbitration innovations. He has supervised 1 PhD student and participates in global legal forums.
