Professor Yoshihiro Watanabe is affiliated with Waseda University's School of Culture, Media and Society, holding a Doctorate in Literature from the University of Tsukuba. He serves as Specially Appointed Trustee for Cultural Advancement (2023-present) and Principal of Waseda Saga Junior/Senior High School (2018-present). His research focuses on Classical China's formation , Confucian philosophy , and Three Kingdoms history , with significant contributions to understanding Han Dynasty aristocracy, historical perception, and cross-cultural analysis. Key research areas include Classical Chinese historiography Major awards: 2017 Omae Memorial Academic Prize, 2002 Oriental Society Award Current projects: Interdisciplinary study of Classical China (2016-2027) Research trends show consistent focus on Three Kingdoms political/military thought Classical Chinese philosophical texts Historical narrative techniques Confucianism's role in governance Chinese-Japanese cultural exchange Comparative analysis of classical sources Scientific contributions : Author of 12 monographs including Formation of Classical China (2019) Published 51 peer-reviewed articles Principal investigator for three major grants (2005-2016) Regular media contributor for NHK programs since 2008
Kevin P. Coleman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His scholarship bridges the fields of modern Latin American history, visual culture, and the history of capitalism, with a focus on the intersections of photography, citizenship, and political violence. He is actively engaged in research, teaching, and public scholarship, currently on leave through December 31, 2025. PhD, Indiana University, Bloomington MA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County BA, Northern Arizona University His research explores how photography functions within capitalist systems, particularly in Latin America, and how visual archives preserve and challenge narratives of power, labor, and resistance. He is especially interested in the ways violence is recorded, remembered, and reinterpreted through images. His recent publications reflect a strong thematic focus on photography and extraction, Cold War interventions, labor movements, and decolonial memory. Coleman’s work demonstrates a consistent engagement with visual epistemology and the political potential of images to resist capitalist and imperial domination. American Historical Association Prize Canadian Historical Association Prize SSHRC Insight and Connection Grants Andrew W. Mellon / ACLS Fellowship Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship He has supervised graduate research and taught courses on Latin American history, religion, capitalism, and visual methodology. His documentary film Stolen Photo and digital project Visualizing the Americas exemplify his commitment to interdisciplinary and public-facing scholarship. He is also involved in community initiatives related to urban ecology and native plant restoration.
Dr. Ken Conca is a Professor of International Relations at American University’s School of International Service , specializing in global environmental governance , environmental peacebuilding , and water policy . His work bridges climate change adaptation , transboundary water management , and post-conflict recovery . Education : PhD (University of California, Berkeley), MS (University of Wisconsin-Madison), ScB (Brown University) Key Research Areas : Global environmental governance frameworks Water politics and conflict-cooperation dynamics Environmental peacebuilding in war-torn societies UN system’s role in climate and environmental security Scientific Recognition : Grawemeyer Prize, Sprout Award, Chadwick Alger Prize, Al-Moumin Environmental Peacebuilding Award Recent Publications : Focus on climate-water-conflict linkages , flexible governance models , and geoengineering ethics Teaching : Courses on global environmental politics, water governance, and doctoral dissertation advising
D. Fairchild Ruggles is a Presidential Humanities and Social Science Chair and Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. They hold concurrent appointments in the School of Architecture, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, Program in Medieval Studies, Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity, European Union Center, and Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. PhD, Columbia University Specializes in Islamic art and architecture Focus on gardens and landscapes as cultural expressions Leading scholar in gender and architectural patronage Their research explores Islamic gardens, medieval architectural patronage, and cultural landscapes across Spain, North Africa, and South Asia. Recent work examines water management systems, the intersection of scent/sound in garden design, and the legacy of female architectural patrons like Shajar al-Durr. Their 15 most recent publications focus on Islamic gardens, medieval architecture, and cultural landscapes. Key themes include environmental history, sensory experiences in historical spaces, and the political dimensions of landscape design. Ruggles has received 11 scientific honors and actively engages in public scholarship through documentary films and podcast interviews. Their work bridges academic research and public understanding, particularly in Islamic visual culture and landscape history.
Eddis Miller is an Associate Professor and Department Chairperson in the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Pace University's Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. They are based in the New York City campus and actively contribute to academic life through teaching, research, and university service. Education: PhD in Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 2008 BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies, SUNY Stony Brook, 2002 Their research focuses on continental philosophy, particularly the works of Jacques Derrida and Immanuel Kant, with strong interests in deconstruction, philosophy of religion, ethics, and the intersections between theology and political theory. They explore themes such as unconditional hospitality, messianism, moral law, and the role of religion in questions of economic justice. Their scholarship engages deeply with hermeneutics, postmodern theology, and interreligious dialogue, especially with regard to Islamic thought. Their publications reflect a consistent engagement with high-level philosophical discourse, particularly around Derrida’s deconstructive ethics and Kantian moral philosophy. The works span topics from ancient and medieval theology to contemporary political and economic critiques, showing a broad chronological and thematic range grounded in rigorous textual and philosophical analysis. Professional Service: Committee Member, NYFC Student Affairs, Athletics, Publications, and Scholastic Standing Committee Dr. Miller advises on academic policy and student affairs at the institutional level. While no formal advisees are listed, their leadership as department chair and extensive teaching portfolio suggest strong mentorship roles. Though no grants or awards are explicitly mentioned, their conference presentations at venues like the UK Kant Society and the Left Forum indicate active scholarly participation. Laboratories, Research Groups, or Teams: No specific labs or research centers are mentioned, but Dr. Miller has presented at interdisciplinary forums such as the Religion Graduate Students’ Association of Columbia University and the Center for Ethical Thinking at Pace University, suggesting collaborative engagement across institutions.
Jason Hein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on the development of automated reaction analysis technology and self-driving laboratories that integrate robotics with synthetic organic chemistry. Dr. Hein leads the Hein Lab, which pioneers innovative solutions for mechanistic organic chemistry, catalytic reaction mechanisms, and chemical manufacturing processes. His research interests center on creating modular robotic tools and integrated analytical hardware for automated reaction profiling, with applications in pharmaceutical manufacturing, battery materials processing, and sustainable chemistry. The lab's work combines advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and process analytical technology to develop self-optimizing chemical systems that accelerate discovery and improve manufacturing efficiency. Analysis of Hein's recent publications reveals a strong focus on AI-driven laboratory automation, with particular emphasis on crystallization optimization for battery materials, computer vision for process monitoring, and interoperable software systems for self-driving laboratories. His work bridges fundamental mechanistic understanding with practical industrial applications, particularly in lithium extraction from waste brines and pharmaceutical process development. NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship Dr. Hein's research program includes significant grant funding supporting the development of self-driving laboratory technologies and their application to challenging chemical problems. His lab actively collaborates with industry partners in pharmaceuticals and clean energy sectors to translate fundamental insights into deployable technologies. Current projects focus on battery-grade lithium carbonate production, continuous manufacturing processes, and AI-optimized chemical synthesis. The Hein Lab operates as a multidisciplinary research environment combining expertise in organic chemistry, robotics engineering, computer science, and data analytics to create the next generation of autonomous chemical discovery systems.
Jennifer P. Mathews is a Professor of Anthropology in the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Trinity University, where she teaches courses in archaeology and biological anthropology. Her academic career is deeply rooted in Maya studies, with particular expertise in ancient and historical Maya archaeology, as well as issues of sustainability and tourism. She has received significant recognition for her teaching excellence, including the prestigious Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship (2019-20), the state-wide Piper Professor award (2020), and the Murchison Term Professorship (2023-2026). Dr. Mathews earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in anthropology, with a specialization in Maya archaeology, from the University of California at Riverside, and her undergraduate degree in anthropology from San Diego State University (1991). Since 1993, she has conducted extensive fieldwork and archival research in Mexico, establishing herself as a leading expert in Maya archaeology. Her research has evolved from focusing on ancient Maya studies—particularly roads, architecture, and site layouts—to examining the post-Colonial period of the Yucatan Peninsula (1850–1950), with particular attention to commodity extraction including sugarcane, chicle (the base for chewing gum), rum production, and avocados. Her scholarly output includes numerous journal articles, book chapters, and several edited books such as Quintana Roo Archaeology , Lifeways in the Northern Maya Lowlands , The Value of Things: Prehistoric to Contemporary Commodities in the Maya Region , and Construction of Maya Space: Causeways, Walls, and Open Areas from Ancient to Modern Times . She has also co-authored significant works like Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas: From the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley and Bittersweet History: Sugarcane, Rum, Labor and Life on the Yucatán Peninsula . Currently, she is working on a book about the deep history of the avocado, tracing its journey from Mesoamerican origins to California in the nineteenth century. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on historical archaeology of the Yucatan Peninsula, particularly examining how 19th century practices relate to contemporary issues. She explores topics ranging from chicle gum's role in popular culture to the preservation challenges facing archaeological sites amid modern development pressures. Her work consistently bridges ancient and modern contexts, demonstrating how historical practices inform current sustainability challenges. Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship (2019-20) Piper Professor award (2020) - a state-wide teaching award for superior teaching at the college level Murchison Term Professorship (2023-2026) Dr. Mathews actively engages with the community through collaborations with local institutions like the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), where she teaches docents about ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Her students contribute research papers to museum collections and help develop e-Museum descriptions. She incorporates service learning into her courses, organizing projects that support causes like the San Antonio Food Bank, the San Antonio Zoo's primate conservation efforts, and Maya women artisans in Mesoamerica. Additionally, she has curated two significant exhibits: 'The Modern Maya: The Photographs of Macduff Everton' and 'Crafting Maya Identity.' Her academic affiliations span multiple interdisciplinary programs including Environmental Studies, Global Latinx Studies, Museum Studies, and the MAS: Mexico, the Americas, and Spain program.
Camilo Bogoya serves as an Associate Professor of Latin American Literature (14th section) at Artois University's School of Languages. He teaches Hispanic-American literature, Spanish contemporary literature, and cultural studies across undergraduate and graduate programs, including preparation for the French national CAPES teaching examination. As an active member of the Texts and Cultures Research Center, he organizes academic events and serves on national examination juries for Spanish language teaching credentials. His educational foundation includes a Doctorate in French Language and Literature from Sorbonne Nouvelle University (2011), an External Spanish Aggregation (2015), External CAPES in Spanish (2014), DEA in General and Comparative Literature (2004), and a Master's in Philology from Colombia's National University (2002). PhD: Sorbonne Nouvelle University (2011) DEA: Sorbonne Nouvelle University (2004) Master's: National University of Colombia (2002) Bogoya's research centers on three interconnected domains: the essayist-writer figure bridging novel and essay genres; literary transfers between Latin American and French traditions; and music's role as structural element and thematic concern in literature. His work examines how authors like García Márquez, Borges, and contemporary Colombian writers negotiate cultural identity through genre experimentation and cross-Atlantic dialogues, with particular focus on León de Greiff's poetic legacy and Quignard's musical aesthetics. His scholarly contributions reveal evolving engagement with Colombian literary identity, shifting from historical analysis of independence narratives toward contemporary explorations of globalization's impact on regional literature. His scientific recognition includes: National Literature Prize, University of Antioquia (2020) National Literature Prize, Central University of Bogotá (2008) As academic supervisor, Bogoya directs Master's research theses and oversees professional internships for Languages and International Business students. His editorial leadership spans journals including L'Autre Amérique , Ojo Vulgar , and Colombia's Literatura: teoría, historia, crítica , while his organizational work features doctoral seminars on literary diaries and writer interviews. The Texts and Cultures Research Center provides Bogoya's primary academic home, where he coordinates interdisciplinary projects examining Latin American-French literary connections through study days, edited volumes, and collaborative publications that bridge historical and contemporary perspectives.
Dr. Otto Lappi is a Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki's Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts. His work bridges cognitive science and human performance in complex dynamic tasks, particularly focusing on predictive processing in visuomotor control. PhD in Cognitive Science Title of Docent at University of Helsinki Academy Research Fellow (2020-2025) His research explores: Cognitive mechanisms in high-speed sports and driving Predictive gaze strategies and steering control Flow states in skill acquisition VR and eye-tracking applications in archaeomusicology Neural substrates of domain expertise Recent publications analyze: Flow-state dynamics in visuomotor learning Predictive gaze behavior in automated driving Computational models of attention in distracted driving Chunking mechanisms in high-speed sports performance Scientific contributions include: Academy Research Fellow (Research Council of Finland) Editorial work on high-performance cognition Organizing cognitive science workshops As doctoral supervisor, he has guided: Samuel Tuhkanen (Predictive Gaze and Steering) Jesse Kuokkanen (Mechanistic Computationalism) Ida Maasalo (Driver Behavior) Markus Mattsson (Psychometrics)
Dimitris Akrivos serves as a Lecturer in Criminology within the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey's Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences. His academic work critically examines intersections between media representations, legal frameworks, and societal perceptions of crime and deviance, with particular focus on marginalized communities and regulatory mechanisms. His research spans Criminology, Media and Crime, Gender Studies, Defamation Law, and Media Regulation. Akrivos investigates how press coverage and advertising perpetuate harmful stereotypes related to gender, sexuality, and victimhood, while analyzing regulatory responses to discursive harms. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical criminology with practical media ethics, emphasizing the social consequences of defamatory reporting and the invisibility of male rape victims in crime narratives. Analysis of his 15 publications (2015-2024) reveals dominant themes in media criminology: evolving regulatory approaches to transgender reporting, enforcement of advertising standards against gender stereotypes, and legal interpretations of defamation involving LGBTQ+ communities. His work demonstrates methodological diversity across legal analysis, media content studies, and regulatory evaluation, contributing significantly to debates on social harm in late modern societies.
Regula Forster is a Professor of Islamic History and Culture at the University of Tübingen, where she has served since 2020. She currently holds the position of Vice Dean for Research of the Faculty of Humanities. Previously, she was Professor of Arabic Studies at Freie Universität Berlin (2018-2020) and an SNSF professor at the University of Zürich (2016-2018). Her academic journey includes a junior professorship at Freie Universität Berlin (2008-2018) and post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford (2007-2008). PhD (Dr. phil.) from University of Zurich (2005) Habilitation from Freie Universität Berlin (2015) Studied German, Arabic, and Philosophy at Universities of Zürich, Tübingen and Birzeit (1994-2000) Professor Forster's research focuses on the intersection of literature, science, and religion in the Islamic world. Her primary areas include Arabic alchemy, particularly the works of Ibn Arfa' Ra's, knowledge transmission through literary forms, Quranic exegesis, and cultural exchanges between East and West. She examines how scientific knowledge was conveyed through dialogues, poetry, and other literary forms in medieval Arabic texts. Her publication record shows a strong focus on alchemy in the Islamic world, with numerous articles analyzing alchemical poetry, manuscripts, and the relationship between religious scholarship and scientific practice. She has also made significant contributions to understanding the transmission of Aristotelian knowledge through texts like the Sirr al-asrār/Secretum secretorum across cultural boundaries. Professor Forster has organized and participated in numerous international conferences and workshops on Islamic studies, alchemy, and manuscript culture. She serves as editor for the 'Islam' section of Orientalistische Literaturzeitung since 2009 and has edited special issues on alchemy in the Islamicate world. She leads a major research project on the Alchemist Ibn Arfa' Ra's and his poetry collection Šuḏūr aḏ-ḏahab ('The Gold Splinters'), examining how traditional religious scholarship in the Arab-Islamic world was reconciled with 'secret science' such as alchemy. This project involves extensive manuscript research across multiple institutions worldwide.
Scott Mandelbrote is a Fellow, Director of Studies in History, and Perne Librarian at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. His research explores early modern intellectual history with emphasis on the history of scholarship, science, and biblical interpretation. Mandelbrote teaches courses on the history of the book, nature and knowledge, and the politics of knowledge. He serves as Editorial Director of The Newton Project and General Editor for the Oxford Bibliographical Society. His current projects include digital approaches to watermark analysis using Isaac Newton's manuscripts and studies of early modern Hebrew books in Cambridge collections. Mandelbrote has published extensively on Isaac Newton, biblical scholarship, and early modern intellectual networks. His work bridges history of science, religious studies, and book history across Europe from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment.
Katažyna Bogdzevič is a Professor at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Law School, specializing in Private International Law , European Law , Human Rights , and Environmental Law . She leads the MRU Human Rights LAB and contributes to the Environmental Management Research LAB, focusing on legal frameworks for ecosystem services, climate change mitigation, and stakeholder engagement. Key Research Themes: Integration of Private International Law with Environmental Law , analysis of legal conflicts in nature-based solutions, and name rights under international human rights conventions. Policy Engagement: Serves as advisor to Lithuania's Minister of Justice Ewelina Dobrowolska , emphasizing knowledge transfer to legislative and judicial practices. Email: roffice@mruni.eu
Laura Dugan is the Ralph D. Mershon Professor of Human Security and Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University. She co-leads the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and Government Actions in Terrorist Environments (GATE) project, which are foundational datasets for understanding terrorism and government responses. Her work focuses on violence prevention policies, methodological innovation for overcoming data limitations, and the intersection of terrorism with political and social contexts. Education includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University (1995–1999), an M.S. in Statistics (1998), and a B.F.A. in Applied Media Arts from Edinboro University (1987). Research interests span terrorism studies, criminological explanations for violence, government counterterrorism strategies, and methodological approaches to analyzing large-scale datasets. Her work bridges criminology, political science, and sociology, with a focus on empirically grounded analyses of terrorism’s causes and consequences. Publications emphasize terrorism’s global patterns, the efficacy of interventions, and interdisciplinary methodological advancements. Key works include analyses of the GTD’s insights into terrorism’s evolution and GATE’s revelations about government actions’ impact on terrorism. Her grants and advising involve leading large-scale projects like GTD and GATE, which are pivotal for academic and policy communities. She collaborates extensively on datasets and policy-oriented research, influencing both scholarly discourse and practical counterterrorism measures. Laura Dugan’s research teams and labs focus on maintaining and expanding these databases while exploring their applications in policy contexts, ensuring data accessibility for global researchers and practitioners.
Leah Macfadyen is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Language & Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Education. She serves as Coordinator for Curriculum & Instruction in the Master of Educational Technology (MET) program. With interdisciplinary training in experimental sciences and humanities, she bridges analytical rigor with cultural theory in her research on digital education and learning analytics. Her research spans learning analytics , digital literacies , and critical intercultural communication . Key projects include developing UBC’s Introduction to Global Citizenship online course (2005) and co-authoring MET program courses like ETEC 542. She explores ethical dimensions of ‘big data’ in education and data literacy challenges. Recent publications (2020–2023) focus on institutional learning analytics frameworks, curriculum NLP analysis, and ethical codes for practitioners. Collaborative work with Shane Dawson and others has been published in journals like Journal of Learning Analytics , Computers & Education , and Journal of Genetic Counselling . Key Themes : Intercultural communication in digital spaces, systems thinking for educational analytics, ethical implications of data-driven learning Courses Developed : ETEC 500, 520, 542, 543, 581, and 590
