Find Academic Supervisors

• Interactive Media
• Urban Design
• Digital Placemaking
• +8 more

Dr Luke Hespanhol is a Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. He is affiliated with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and Sydney Nano Institute, and previously served as a guest researcher at Aarhus University's Department of Aesthetics and Communication. His work focuses on interactive media installations that foster reflection on human-environment relationships, blending urban design, technology, and social engagement. He holds a PhD in interactive media architecture from the University of Sydney's Design Lab, with research exploring user-centred hybrid urban environments. His doctoral work laid the foundation for his current interests in digital placemaking, urban informatics, and smart cities. Research Interests: - Designing technology-infused public spaces - Media architecture as a tool for inclusive urban development - Ethical implications of AI and blockchain in cultural contexts - Temporal and spatial dimensions of urban interaction design - HCI methodologies for multiperspectival cultural heritage interpretation - Antifragile city frameworks integrating citizen participation His recent publications highlight trends in reimagining urban futures through speculative design, ethical AI systems, and autonomous vehicle interaction paradigms. While no specific scientific awards are listed, his work often addresses critical societal issues like decolonization in technology and climate-resilient infrastructure. Grants and Collaborations: - 2025: 'Waste to Resilience: Sanitation Against Stunting and Climate Vulnerability in Informal Coastal Areas' (Sydney Southeast Asia Centre) - 2022: 'The Metaverse as Vehicle for Aboriginal Digital Inclusion, Wellness and Self-Determination' (Facebook Research) Dr Hespanhol is actively involved in the Media Architecture Institute and contributes to cross-disciplinary initiatives uniting technology, art, and urban planning. His research emphasizes co-creation processes with communities to ensure equitable technological integration in urban systems.

Karyn MoffattView profile

Associate Professor

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Accessibility
• Social Computing
• +3 more

Karyn Moffatt is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Studies at McGill University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Inclusive Social Computing. As Graduate Program Director for the PhD program, she leads the Accessible Computing Technologies Research Group (ACT Lab), focusing on designing inclusive computing applications that support social engagement across diverse lifespans and abilities. Her work bridges human-computer interaction, accessibility research, and real-world community impact. Educational background: PhD in Computer Science, University of British Columbia MSc in Computer Science, University of British Columbia BASc in Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia Research Interests: Dr. Moffatt's work centers on inclusive social computing with emphases on aging populations , disability access , and intergenerational communication . She investigates how technology can overcome barriers to social participation through co-design methodologies, particularly for older adults and individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities. Current projects explore AI-enhanced aging support, dementia-friendly social platforms, accessible financial technology, and respite care coordination systems. Her approach integrates participatory design with rigorous usability testing to create solutions that address real-world challenges in healthcare, finance, and community engagement. Publication Trends: Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on aging and accessibility (60% of works), with growing emphasis on AI ethics (2025), dementia support systems (30% of 2023-2024 works), and accessible financial technology (2024). Methodologically, 75% employ co-design or participatory approaches, while 40% involve longitudinal field studies. Key venues include CHI (33%), ASSETS (20%), and ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (27%), demonstrating leadership in top-tier HCI and accessibility forums. Scientific Awards: Multiple Best Paper Awards from ASSETS, CHI, and CSCW conferences Canada Research Chair in Inclusive Social Computing Advising and Grants: Dr. Moffatt currently supervises PhD candidates Chong Hu and Muhe Yang, having graduated four students since 2022 including Maurício Fontana De Vargas (2023) and Carrie Dai (2023). Her active grants include: NSERC Discovery Grant (2024-2029) as PI: Ethical AI for active aging Canada Research Chair renewal (2022-2027) as PI McGill Nursing Collaborative grant (2023-2025) as Co-I: iRespite mHealth app for palliative care Labs and Teams: She directs the ACT Lab, which partners with healthcare providers, public libraries, and community organizations to develop and deploy inclusive technologies. Current initiatives include the QuickPic AAC system for speech therapy, dementia-focused social programs with Montreal libraries, and Quebec-wide respite care coordination tools, all developed through interdisciplinary collaboration with clinicians, caregivers, and end-users.

• Urban morphology
• Urban design
• Street layout and network structure
• +5 more

Stephen Marshall is Professor of Urban Morphology and Urban Design at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. He also served as Visiting Professor at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, Italy from 2019 to 2021. With over twenty-five years of experience in the built environment fields, initially in consultancy and subsequently in academia, Professor Marshall has established himself as a leading expert in urban morphology and design. His educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy from University College London (2001), a Postgraduate Diploma from Edinburgh College of Art (1995), a Master of Science from the University of Leeds (1989), and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Glasgow (1988). Professor Marshall's principal research focuses on urban morphology and street layout, examining their relationships with urban formative processes including urban design, coding and planning. His work bridges urban design theory with practical applications, exploring how cities evolve through complex interactions of physical form, social processes, and planning interventions. He has written or edited several influential books including 'Streets and Patterns' (2005), 'Cities, Design and Evolution' (2009), and 'Urban Coding and Planning' (2011). His recent publications reveal a growing interest in applying complexity science to urban morphology, with particular attention to biological analogies for understanding self-organizing cities. He has pioneered research on digital participation methods in urban planning, exploring how online platforms can enhance public engagement in urban space design. His work consistently bridges theoretical urban morphology with practical applications for contemporary urban challenges like pandemic adaptation and sustainable transport. Professor Marshall has served as Chair of the Editorial Board of Urban Design and Planning from its launch to 2012, and is now co-editor of Built Environment journal. His editorial work has significantly shaped scholarly discourse in urban planning and design. He leads several significant research initiatives including the Incubators of Public Spaces project, which explores digital platforms for co-creating urban spaces, and the Self-Organising Built Environment project, which investigates biological analogies in urbanism. These projects reflect his interdisciplinary approach to understanding and shaping urban environments, connecting with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Darian Marie TottenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Classical Archaeology
• Roman History
• Mediterranean Studies
• +4 more

Darian Marie Totten is an Assistant Professor & Director of Classical Studies at McGill University's Department of History and Classical Studies. Her research focuses on Roman archaeology, environmental history, and the intersection of ancient and modern placemaking. She holds a PhD from Stanford University and specializes in Mediterranean regions from 2000 BCE to 600 CE. Education: PhD in Classics/Archaeology from Stanford University (thesis not specified). Research interests include Roman infrastructure, comparative imperial systems (e.g., Han China), urban resilience strategies, and the material culture of labor and exchange. She directs fieldwork at Salapia-Salpi in Apulia, Italy, exploring late antique urbanism and environmental adaptation. Her scholarship bridges archaeological material analysis with historical interpretation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to ancient economies, landscapes, and cultural transitions. Recent work highlights cross-cultural comparisons between Rome and Han China, as well as the long-term dynamics of Mediterranean coastal settlements. Her publications consistently engage with methodological innovation in field archaeology, particularly in paleoenvironmental reconstruction and ceramic sourcing. She also critiques modern uses of Roman heritage in national identity formation, reflecting a commitment to critical archaeology. Current projects include ongoing excavations at Salapia, analysis of Apulian salt production networks, and investigations into late antique glass trade routes. She teaches courses on classical archaeology (CLAS 240) and specialized topics (CLAS 349).

Ava Fatah gen. SchieckView profile

Professor

• Media Architecture
• Urban Digital Interaction
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +7 more

Dr. Ava Fatah gen. Schieck is a Professor of Media Architecture and Urban Digital Interaction at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL) , where she has been affiliated since 2001. She teaches in the MSc Architectural Computation program, focusing on embodied interactions and urban digital experiences. Education: ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow (UCL, 2008) Certificate in Learning and Teaching (UCL, 2007) Master of Science (UCL, 2001) Her research explores the intersection of architecture, digital media, and urban spaces. Key themes include: Mediated spatial experiences in museums and public environments Embodied interactions through dance, movement, and performative design Urban screens and community-centered digital installations Smart city critiques focusing on marginalized communities Pervasive computing's impact on social dynamics Her publication corpus (149+ outputs) predominantly addresses media architecture, HCI, museum technology, and sensory interactions , with recent work emphasizing olfactory interfaces, pandemic urbanism, and heritage digitization. Awards & Honors: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA, 2023) Projects & Grants: As Principal Investigator for the EPSRC-funded 'Screens in the Wild' , she examines networked urban screens for community engagement. She previously led the 'SCREAM' project (UrbanBuzz program) and contributed to EPSRC's 'Urban Design and Pervasive Systems'. She reviews grants for EPSRC, UKRI, SNSF, and other international bodies. She directs research through UCL's Space Research Group and VR Centre for the Built Environment , collaborating globally. As program chair for the Media Architecture Biennale (2012-2020), she fosters interdisciplinary dialogue across architecture, HCI, and interaction design.

Geertje SlingerlandView profile

Assistant Professor

• Participatory design
• Community-driven research
• Human-computer interaction
• +10 more

Geertje Slingerland is an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Her work focuses on developing and studying participatory and co-design methods in urban contexts, with a mission to increase awareness of excluded groups in participation processes and develop methods to involve overlooked residents. Dr. Slingerland obtained her PhD entitled 'Together we make places: Designing connections in urban spaces' at the Technology, Policy and Management Faculty of TU Delft. Prior to rejoining TU Delft as an assistant professor, she worked at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences as a senior researcher. She was also part of TU Delft's Participatory Systems initiative. Her research interests span participatory design, community-driven research, human-computer interaction, citizen participation, and urban studies. With a background in Interaction Design, she investigates how design can contribute to positive behavioral change in people and ultimately systemic change in society. Her expertise includes co-design, participatory design, urban communities, qualitative research, research-through-design, and citizen empowerment and engagement. She focuses on the smart and social city, using participatory approaches to work with residents and local organizations to address neighborhood and city challenges through playful, creative, and digital methods. Dr. Slingerland's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on participatory urban design, with particular attention to digital engagement, climate action, and inclusive city-making. Her work bridges urban studies, human-computer interaction, and community engagement, often examining how technology can facilitate more inclusive participation in urban planning processes. She has conducted case studies in Rotterdam, The Hague, and Cork (Ireland), developing frameworks for participatory placemaking that connect citizens with each other and their environments. Scientific Awards: Best Student Paper Award (2022) Dr. Slingerland actively engages with the public through media contributions on urban design topics, particularly focusing on gender-inclusive urban spaces. Her recent media appearances have addressed designing public spaces with women, unsafe places for women, urban safety for young women, and how streets and public spaces are typically designed according to men's preferences. She has participated in significant academic events including serving as Chair of the Programme Committee for the 182nd Dies Natalis & Delta Week in 2024, and has been involved in projects related to citizen voices in climate action.

Charlotte BaskervilleView profile

Researcher

• Composition
• Choral Music
• Creative Placemaking
• +3 more

Charlotte Baskerville is a postgraduate researcher at the University of York (School of Arts and Creative Technologies) and Head of Choral Music at Warwick School. Her PhD research explores placemaking through composition, focusing on community engagement and shared musical identity. She holds a BA from Christ’s College, Cambridge (2015) and a master’s thesis on music cognition under Prof. Ian Cross. Her work bridges composition, choral performance, and community projects with groups like dementia care groups and schools. A prize-winning clarinetist and choral scholar, she actively performs with choirs in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury. Her research interests center on creative placemaking via collaborative composition processes, leveraging local musical heritage to foster community identity. Her compositional output spans liturgical works, seasonal carols, and secular choral pieces, emphasizing accessibility and communal participation. Recent publications reflect her dual focus on sacred music traditions and innovative community-driven projects. Education: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Christ’s College, Cambridge (2015) Master’s thesis on music cognition under Prof. Ian Cross Sir Jack Lyons Research Scholar, University of York Awards: Christ’s College Charles Blackham Memorial Recital Competition (2016) Professional Roles: Head of Choral Music at Warwick School Clarinetist with multiple ensembles Active choral singer in multiple locations Her compositional output emphasizes collaborative creation with communities, particularly through workshops and participatory performances. Current projects involve primary/secondary schools, professional choirs, and dementia groups, aiming to strengthen communal bonds through shared musical experiences.

Linda Ryan BengtssonView profile

Associate Professor

• Digital Culture
• Media Studies
• Cultural Industries
• +5 more

Linda Ryan Bengtsson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Media and Communication at Karlstad University. She holds roles as a research advisor and collaborates with public/private entities, including Hagfors municipality, Visit Värmland, and Uddeholm. Her work focuses on geomedia studies, exploring the interplay between place, media practices, and digital culture within cultural industries and tourism. Education: She completed her doctoral dissertation on public art installations and interactive experience in 2012. Teaching includes undergraduate and advanced courses in visual culture, digital design, and design methodology. Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary research combines human geography, tourism studies, and business administration. Key projects include the 'Bruksort 2.0' ecosystem initiative (2024-2025) and the 'Music Ecosystems' EU project (2018-2021). She co-edits the book Geomedia Studies: Spaces and Mobilities in Mediatized Worlds (2017/2018). Collaborations: She serves on boards for the Baltic Sea Foundation and Visit Värmland, emphasizing strategic research environments and funding. Recent articles (2024) address geomedia futures in tourism, pandemic impacts on music industries, and virtual reality immersion. Awards: No specific prizes mentioned, though her work receives grants from Vinnova, EU, and regional agencies. Her research environment development focuses on co-creation with industry partners. Advising/Grants: As a research advisor, she strengthens funding opportunities and national/international collaborations. Projects like 'Experience Industry: Geomedia Technologies for Live Performance' highlight her focus on applied research. Labs/Teams: Central to the Geomedia Studies Research Group, she leads projects like 'Digital Place-Based Experiences' and 'Crisis Communication' initiatives in rural tourism sectors.

Monika PalmbergerView profile

Research Fellow

• (Forced) Migration and Citizenship
• Digital Cultures and Digital Ethnography
• Gender and Generational Studies
• +5 more

Monika Palmberger is a Senior Scientist at the University of Vienna's Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Visiting Professor at the Central European University (CEU), and Associate Research Fellow at KU Leuven. She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford (2011) and has held prestigious fellowships including the Elise Richter and Hertha Firnberg. Her research focuses on migration, digital ethnography, care, memory, and post-socialist studies. Education: PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford (2011), long-term fieldwork in post-war Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Research interests include forced migration, digital cultures, gender, social inequality, transnational care, and qualitative methods. She leads major projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), such as studies on digital citizenship and ageing in crises. Her articles explore digital ethnography, refugee care practices, and memory narratives. Awards include fellowships from the Austrian Science Fund and the Max Planck Institute. She advises researchers on projects like 'Enacting (digital) citizenship' and 'Ageing and Subjectivity.' Co-founder of the Digital Ethnography Initiative, she collaborates on editorial boards and networks like the Memory Studies Association. Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing participatory and innovative research methods.

Larissa HjorthView profile

Professor

• Digital Ethnography
• Mobile Media Studies
• Ageing and Technology
• +7 more

Distinguished Professor Larissa Hjorth is a digital ethnographer and ARC Future Fellow leading research on mobile media, grief, and ageing at RMIT University's School of Media & Communication. Her work explores intergenerational connection, digital kinship, and loss in the Asia-Pacific. She has directed major initiatives like the Design & Creative Practice ECP Platform and co-founded the Digital Ethnography Research Centre (DERC). With over $8M in grants, she collaborates with ACMI, Intel, and international networks like Aging in Data. She supervises 20+ PhD students and advises global grief research networks. Recent projects include studies on QR codes in public spaces, co-designing ICT strategies for older adults, and digital rituals around death. Research interests span mobile media ethnography, playful urban design, and ethical digital practices. Her ARC Future Fellowship (2023-2027) investigates mobile media mourning rituals, while her Aging in Data project examines older adults' data experiences. Teaching spans 20 years across design, art, and media disciplines. Awards: ARC Future Fellowship, Japan Foundation Fellowship, Asialink Residency Key Collaborations: SSHRC (Canada), Concordia University, DORS (death online network) Labs: DERC, Museum Digital-Social Futures project Grants: 7+ ARC grants, Young and Well CRC, CCI CoE Notable outputs include works on pandemic-era QR code placemaking, WeChat's role in intergenerational care, and co-designed risk strategies for older adults' ICT use. Her creative projects like The Children's Sensorium blend art and mindfulness to support youth well-being.

• Policing
• Private Security
• Security Governance
• +4 more

Dr. Adam Aitken is a Lecturer at the School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Manchester, UK. His career spans over a decade in criminology and security studies, with prior roles as a Criminology Lecturer at De Montfort University (2017-2021) and Assistant Lecturer at the University of Glasgow (2013-2017). Education: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (2023-2024), University of Salford PhD in Criminology (2013-2017), University of Glasgow MSc in Applied Social Research in Criminology (2011-2012), University of Stirling BSc (Hons) in Criminological Studies (2004-2008), Abertay University Research Interests: Adam's work focuses on security governance , police legitimacy , private security dynamics , and community resilience , particularly in contexts like sporting mega-events and environmental disasters. His current BA/Leverhulme-funded project examines placemaking and rural resilience to UK flooding. Publication Trends: His recent articles (2024-2025) address digital policing, community resilience, and semiotic approaches to security signals. Earlier works analyze mega-event security, democratic governance, and environmental harms. Scientific Awards: Shortlisted 2nd Place (2015) for poster on mega-event policing at SIPR Postgraduate Student Symposium PhD Supervision: Adam has supervised PhD completions (Michael Mathura, 2020) and is primary supervisor for Brian Roberts' ongoing work on AI in UK policing. He contributes to the Centre for Research on Inclusive Society and aligns with UN SDGs for health, urban sustainability, and climate action.

Seyed Hadi MirvahediView profile

Assistant Professor

• Critical Sociolinguistics
• Sociology of Language
• Language Policy
• +7 more

Seyed Hadi Mirvahedi is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, specializing in Critical Sociolinguistics and Language Policy. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Victoria University of Wellington (2014), followed by postdoctoral research at Nanyang Technological University (2017–2019) and the University of Oslo (2020–2023). His research focuses on multilingualism in globalized contexts, exploring family language policies, sociolinguistic ideologies, and the intersection of language with race, policy, and identity. Notable projects include studies on Afghan refugee families in Norway, Malay families in Singapore, and transnational families in Italy/China and India/Iran. Teaching includes undergraduate and graduate courses in sociolinguistics, multilingualism, and language policy within the Minorities & Multilingualism program. He supervises BA/MA theses on topics like language maintenance, education, and policy implementation. Publications span peer-reviewed journals (e.g., International Journal of Bilingualism , Language Policy ) and edited volumes, addressing themes such as demographic agency in family language policy, raciolinguistics in refugee contexts, and transnational language practices. His work integrates ethnographic methods with sociological theory to analyze multilingualism at micro- and macro-scales. Current research emphasizes phenomenological approaches to race and language in refugee families, as well as the role of demographic factors in family language decision-making. He advocates for interdisciplinary frameworks to understand language policies' real-world impacts in diverse settings.

Hossam HewidyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• multicultural planning
• placemaking
• power dynamics in planning
• +4 more

Hossam Hewidy is a Senior University Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Aalto University's Department of Architecture, where he serves as Head of Major in Architecture for the Master’s Programme and Head of the Minor in Urban and Regional Planning. With dual expertise as an architect and urban planner, he bridges professional practice and academic research in Nordic urban contexts. His educational background includes a DSc, MSc, and BA in Architecture. Research interests span multicultural planning, placemaking, power dynamics in planning, spatial justice, land use and climate change mitigation, planning education, and public libraries as urban hubs. His work critically examines immigrant entrepreneurship, ethnic retail landscapes, and spatial justice through Helsinki case studies. Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal three dominant trends: (1) Analysis of public libraries as social infrastructure across Nordic cities, (2) Investigation of spatial justice in Helsinki planning competitions and immigrant spaces, and (3) Exploration of urban resilience through Finnish regional development frameworks. His scholarship consistently centers marginalized voices in planning processes. Hewidy's scientific recognition includes: Best Diploma Thesis Grant by OSKARI VILAMON RAHASTON (2020) for supervising Heta Seppälä's urban metabolism research Lappset Prize (2018) for supervising award-winning landscape architecture thesis He has secured funding from the Academy of Finland, Finnish Ministry of Environment’s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, BEMINE consortium, and EU regional instruments. As AESOP Executive Committee member and GPEAN Secretary, he shapes global planning education standards while leading curriculum development for post-pandemic mixed-modality teaching in architecture studios. His departmental leadership extends to evolving the Architecture Major and Urban Planning Minor programs, with current focus on integrating climate resilience into spatial planning education and examining public libraries as critical social infrastructure in urban transformation.

• Environmental Criminology
• Situational Crime Prevention
• Urban Planning
• +5 more

Vania Ceccato is a Professor at the Academy of Police Work, University of Borås, specializing in environmental criminology and situational crime prevention. She leads the international Nätverket Säkraplatser network, fostering collaboration between academia and practice for sustainable safety. Her research bridges urban design, rural criminology, and transit security, with a focus on inclusive safety measures. Her recent publications include studies on transit worker safety in Stockholm’s metro resilient urban design for climate and crime prevention LGBTQI+ safety in transportation rural-urban shooting patterns innovative survey methodologies Her work aligns with United Nations SDGs 9, 11, and 13, emphasizing how environmental criminology can drive sustainable, equitable urban development.

Anders Koed MadsenView profile

Professor

• Digital Methods
• Urban Belonging
• Smart Cities
• +12 more

Anders Koed Madsen is a Professor at the Department of Culture and Learning, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Aalborg University. He is affiliated with the Technoanthropological Laboratory and leads research initiatives including AI for the People and MASSHINE. His work centers on digital methods, urban belonging, smart cities, and citizen science, often integrating ethnographic and participatory approaches. His research interests lie at the intersection of technology and society, focusing on digital placemaking , urban sensing , pragmatist philosophy , and inclusive urban planning . He explores how digital tools can be used to understand lived experiences in cities, especially among marginalized communities. His methodological focus includes participatory digital methods, geospatial photovoice, and computational ethnography. The recent articles highlight a consistent trend toward using digital and ethnographic methods to study urban life, technology assessment, and democratic participation. Themes include generative AI , digital epistemology , friction in machine reasoning , and inclusive city planning . His work increasingly incorporates large language models and open-source toolkits to democratize research and planning processes. Scientific Awards: European Union Prize for Citizen Science (2023) World Summit Awards (WSA) shortlist, Urban Belonging Project (2024) Ziman Award 2020: TANTlab AAU Talent (2018) Videnskabsministeriets EliteForsk-rejsestipendium (2011) Anders Koed Madsen has been actively involved in research grants and collaborative projects such as the Urban Belonging Project , Digital Placemaking and Soft City Sensing Research Network , and GE-AI: Generative Ethnographic AI . He frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and institutions like IT University of Copenhagen and Gehl Architects. He advises on public engagement and has contributed to national and international discourse on digitalization and urban futures. He is a core member of the Technoanthropological Laboratory , which fosters interdisciplinary research on technology and society. The lab supports initiatives in digital methods, citizen science, and urban innovation. Madsen also contributes to public understanding through media engagement and workshops, promoting humanistic perspectives in technological development.