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Esther DufloView profile

Professor

• Development Economics
• Poverty Alleviation
• Health
• +7 more

Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is also co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), holds the Chaire, Pauvreté et politiques publiques at the Collège de France, and serves as President of the Paris School of Economics. Her research focuses on understanding the economic lives of people living in poverty to help design and evaluate social policies. Her work spans multiple domains including: Development Economics Poverty Alleviation strategies Health interventions Educational programs Financial inclusion initiatives Environmental policy Governance improvements Duflo revolutionized developmental economics by pioneering the use of randomized controlled trials to test poverty reduction measures. Her empirical approach has challenged conventional opinions about development and has helped improve the efficient use of resources in poverty alleviation programs worldwide. She co-authored the influential books "Poor Economics" and "Good Economics for Hard Times" with Abhijit Banerjee, demonstrating through field experiments how specific interventions (like providing lentils to mothers for child immunization) can dramatically improve social outcomes. Her notable scientific achievements include: Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (2019) Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences (2015) Infosys Prize (2014) John Bates Clark Medal (2010) MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship (2009) A.SK Social Science Award (2015) Duflo has established J-PAL as a global network of over a hundred affiliated professors who use scientific evidence to inform policy decisions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL has offices across Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and South and Southeast Asia. Her work has demonstrated the crucial importance of information in policymaking, with numerous field experiments showing how carefully designed interventions can have significant impacts on social outcomes across multiple domains including health, education, and economic opportunity.

Eva SpiesView profile

Professor

• Religious plurality
• Contemporary Christianity in Africa
• Religion and development cooperation
• +9 more

Prof. Dr. Eva Spies is a Professor for the Study of Religion with Focus on Africa at the University of Bayreuth within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences . She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Mainz and leads the Research Section Moralities in the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2052). Key Roles : Principal Investigator, Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) Vice Dean of Research Co-founder, German Association for the Study of Religion's Africa working group Research Interests span religious plurality, development cooperation, and transformative practices. She coined the concept of religious engineering to analyze how religious resources shape social/political worlds. Regional expertise in Niger/West Africa and Madagascar/Indian Ocean , with focus on: South-South mission Religion and pandemic response Intercultural hermeneutics Epistemological conflicts Material culture in development Projects : Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence (2025): "Religious engineering. The making of moralities, development and religion in Niger" Humboldt Research Hub (2021): "Fighting pandemics with religion?" (with Moi University and University of Zimbabwe) Education : PhD in Cultural Anthropology, University of Mainz

Benjamin Mako HillView profile

Associate Professor

• Peer Production
• Online Communities
• Collective Action
• +7 more

Benjamin Mako Hill is an Associate Professor in the University of Washington Department of Communication and an Adjunct Associate Professor in Human-Centered Design & Engineering , the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering , and the Information School at UW. He is a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and a Fellow at the Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton University during the 2023–2024 academic year. Educational Background : PhD in an interdepartmental program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , involving the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Media Lab , advised by Eric von Hippel, Yochai Benkler, Tom Malone, and Mitch Resnick. MS in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT. B.A. in Technological and Legal History from Hampshire College . Research Interests span peer production, online communities, collective action, cooperation, learning, and computer-mediated communication. His work explores how communication and information technologies shape social outcomes in collaborative environments like Wikipedia and Linux, focusing on governance, moderation, anonymity, and educational platforms such as Scratch. Article Trends : His publications analyze peer production dynamics, privacy in open collaboration, and computational thinking in youth. Topics include underproduction in open source software, algorithmic fairness, taboo knowledge production, and legitimate peripheral participation in online communities. Methodologies combine big data, quasi-experimental, and comparative analyses. Scientific Awards : Dordick Award for Best Dissertation (2013). CHI '22 Best Paper Honorable Mention (2022). CSCW '18 Best Paper Honorable Mention (2018). CHI '17 Best Paper Honorable Mention (2017). CSCW '13 Best Paper Award (2013). CHI '11 Best Paper Honorable Mention (2011). Advising and Grants : He co-founded the Community Data Science Collective and collaborates with researchers like Aaron Shaw. Grants include multiple National Science Foundation awards for studies on digital knowledge commons, anonymous participation, and collaborative success, as well as a Sloan Foundation grant for modeling underproduction in peer production. Labs and Teams : He leads the Community Data Science Collective , an interdisciplinary research group studying online communities, and contributes to open-source projects like Debian and Ubuntu . He actively edits Wikimedia projects and participates in the Cascadia Wikimedians User Group .

Nicole OndruschView profile

Professor

• Digital Transformation
• Innovation Management
• Design Thinking
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Nicole Ondrusch is a Professor at Heilbronn University (HHN) within the Faculty of Computer Science. She specializes in teaching methodological fundamentals of software engineering, including ERP systems, Design Thinking, Change Management, and digital transformation. Her research focuses on educational concepts for computer science technologies and future-relevant skills. Key Roles and Projects: Member of BW-CAR doctoral center Organizer of Barcamp Heilbronn, an unconference teaching project fostering student teamwork Principal investigator in funded projects like DigiTrans (digital transformation education) and DEV:GAMES (educational game development) SAP Academic Board DACH spokesperson since 2021 Research Interests: Her work emphasizes innovative teaching methods such as Design Thinking, agile project implementation, and digital experimentation. She explores ethical AI education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the societal impact of digital transformation. Nicole also develops practical teaching tools like virtual escape rooms and game-based learning frameworks. Grants & Partnerships: Funded by DAAD (DigiTrans), Stiftung Innovation, and others Collaborates with industry partners like SAP and local IT organizations (ConnectIT) Labs & Teams: She leads the Lab:D initiative, developing digital teaching platforms, and co-organizes the Barcamp, a student-led event integrating real-world project management and community building.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Textile User Interfaces
• Soft Robotics
• +5 more

Jan Oliver Borchers is a full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group at RWTH Aachen University, where he holds the endowed Chair in Media Informatics and Human-Computer Interaction (Computer Science 10). He established his research group in 2003 and pioneered modern HCI academic research and teaching in Germany, becoming a leading lab in terms of archival publications at CHI, the top international conference in HCI. Before joining RWTH, he held faculty positions at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in new user interfaces for soft robotics, textile user interfaces, 3D printing and personal fabrication, augmented reality, wearable and tangible computing, interfaces for software development, deceptive patterns, and interactive guides and exhibits. He opened Germany's first Fab Lab in 2009 and has been instrumental in advancing digital fabrication and maker culture in academia. His work bridges theoretical HCI research with practical applications, as evidenced by his consulting for major companies including AirBus, Apple, ARD, Bayer, Children's Museum Boston, Daimler, Handelsblatt, OTIS, Scout24, TEDx, and Deutsche Telekom. His recent publications show a strong focus on deceptive patterns in UI design, textile interfaces, and the intersection of AI with human interaction. The research demonstrates consistent innovation in tactile interaction techniques, with numerous honorable mentions at top conferences like CHI. His lab has produced significant contributions to eyes-free interaction, textile computing, and the ethical implications of dark patterns, particularly regarding children's experiences with deceptive designs. IDC 2025 Best Work in Progress for research on children's assessment of deceptive designs CHI'25 Student Games Competition Winner for The Deceptive Dungeon RWTH-Wissenschaftsnacht 2024 Best Science Slam for Usability: 4 Prinzipien guter User Interfaces Multiple CHI Honorable Mentions spanning from 2008-2021 Best Note and Best Demo awards at ITS and UIST conferences Borchers has served in numerous leadership roles including heading the Computer Science Department's Examination Board (2015-2025), coordinating the department's public relations since 2010, and organizing the weekly Faculty Lunch since 2003. He is an active member of the ACM, SIGCHI, SIGCHI Germany, and GI, and introduced the Interactivity format to the CHI conference in 2005. His PhD thesis, A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design, became the first book to bring design patterns to HCI. The Media Computing Group under his leadership has developed significant expertise in physical computing, textile interfaces, and fabrication technologies, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical contributions and practical applications. His lab continues to push boundaries in interactive technologies while maintaining a strong ethical stance on user experience, particularly regarding deceptive design patterns.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Cognitive Robotics
• +3 more

Dr. Ulrike Kuhl is a Researcher at the University of Bielefeld, serving as Project Coordinator for the AI Academy OWL at the Research Institute for Cognition and Robotics and as Scientific Project Coordinator within the Faculty of Engineering's Machine Learning Group. Her office is located at CITEC 2-412, and she can be reached at +49 521 106-12125. Dr. Kuhl's research spans several interconnected domains at the forefront of human-centered AI development: Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) frameworks and their psychological impact Cognitive learning enhanced through AI technologies Counterfactual explanation methodologies and user behavior Human-AI interaction design principles Applications of machine learning in environmental monitoring and sports analytics Analysis of Dr. Kuhl's publication trajectory reveals a consistent focus on bridging the gap between sophisticated AI systems and human understanding. Her work particularly examines how different explanation types affect user trust and decision-making, with recent publications exploring counterfactual explanations in contexts ranging from water distribution networks to educational technology. She has developed experimental frameworks like the 'Alien Zoo' methodology for systematically studying explanation usability. Dr. Kuhl actively contributes to the Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at the University of Bielefeld, an interdisciplinary hub where computer scientists, engineers, and cognitive scientists collaborate on next-generation interactive technologies. Through her coordination of the AI Academy OWL initiative, she facilitates regional collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners to advance artificial intelligence applications in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region.

• Medical Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Healthcare Data Integration
• +7 more

Prof. Martin Boeker is a Professor of Medical Informatics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Medicine and Health. His work focuses on advancing healthcare through AI-driven solutions, interoperability frameworks, and precision medicine initiatives. Key projects include the German Medical Text Corpus (GeMTeX) and the MIRACUM DIFUTURE Alignment Hub. Expertise: Medical Informatics, AI in Healthcare, Federated Learning, Health Data Integration Key Contributions: FHIR-based systems, clinical decision support, patient-centered outcomes research Leadership: Director of the Institute for AI and Informatics in Medicine at TUM Hospital Right of the Isar Research emphasizes bridging clinical practice and data science through projects like modular health crawlers, automated guideline adherence monitoring, and cross-institutional medical NLP solutions. His work spans oncology informatics, rare disease management, and pandemic response data ecosystems. Recent articles highlight innovations in digital twins for precision oncology, federated analysis in oncology, and German-language medical NLP challenges. He collaborates internationally on EHR standardization and healthcare interoperability, contributing to the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) and pandemic evidence ecosystems. Grants and collaborations involve the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, European initiatives, and industry partnerships. Educational efforts focus on training future medical informatics professionals through MII competency programs.

• Periodontology
• Oral Health Literacy
• Public Health
• +4 more

Ghazal Aarabi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Periodontology, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Conservation within the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). She actively participates in clinical research projects and publications focusing on oral-systemic health connections. Researcher in periodontal epidemiology Key contributor to the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS) Principal investigator in migration health research (MuMi Study) Research Focus spans three main areas: Periodontal-Brain Interactions through inflammatory pathways Oral Health Literacy among migrant populations Oral-Cardiovascular Links in aging populations Selected Publications (2018-2022) demonstrate her work in: Periodontal disease and cerebral microangiopathy Dental care utilization during pandemics Oral health disparities in migration contexts Current Projects include: PAROCARD : Oral health and cardiovascular surrogate markers MuMi : Migrant oral health promotion Cerebral Microangiopathy study in periodontitis patients

Jan DelckerView profile

Researcher

• Educational Technology
• AI in Education
• Digital Curriculum Development
• +2 more

Dr. Jan Delcker is a Post-Doc Researcher at the University of Mannheim's Chair for Economic and Business Education, specializing in Learning, Design & Technology. With a background in social work and media education, his research examines digitalization in educational contexts. Key research areas include: AI competence assessment in teachers and students Digital curriculum development in vocational schools Mobile learning applications for language assessment Impact of COVID-19 on school development He teaches courses on educational systems management and research methodology while supervising graduate theses. Recent publications explore AI tool adoption predictors and text mining analysis of vocational curricula.

Emilio FerraraView profile

Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Social Science
• Network Analysis
• +5 more

Dr. Emilio Ferrara is a Professor of Computer Science & Communication at the University of Southern California, holding appointments in the Viterbi School of Engineering, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Keck School of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of Applied Data Science at USC, Research Team Leader at the USC Information Sciences Institute, and Principal Investigator at the USC/ISI Machine Intelligence and Data Science (MINDS) group. His educational background includes a PhD in Machine Learning and BSc & MSc in Computer Science. Ferrara's research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and computational social science, specifically using AI to model and predict human behavior in techno-social systems. His work spans social networks, machine learning, and network science with applications to understanding communication dynamics in digital environments. Ferrara has published over 150 articles in prestigious venues including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Communications of the ACM, and Physical Review Letters. His research has been widely featured in major news outlets and examines topics ranging from social media manipulation to AI ethics and online behavior. His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards: 2019 Viterbi Scientific Award 2018 DARPA Director's Fellowship 2016 DARPA Young Faculty Award 2016 Complex Systems Society Junior Scientific Award 2015 IBM Watson Big Data Influencer Ferrara's research is supported by major funding agencies including DARPA, IARPA, Air Force, and Office of Naval Research. He leads the HUMANS LAB (Humans & Machines + Networks & Social Systems) which has trained numerous PhD students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His work on social bots, election integrity, and AI ethics continues to shape understanding of digital social dynamics.

Klaus HurrelmannView profile

Professor

• Public Health Policy
• Education Policy
• Child and Adolescent Development
• +3 more

Klaus Hurrelmann is a Senior Professor of Public Health and Education at the Hertie School. Previously, he served as the founding dean of the first Faculty of Health Sciences in Germany at Bielefeld University and directed the SFB 227 research center for twelve years. His research emphasizes health and education policy, prevention strategies in childhood and adolescence, and the governance of healthcare systems. He has coordinated major studies such as the HBSC for the WHO and leads ongoing national studies on family and youth development. He studied at the University of Münster and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a doctorate focusing on educational systems and society. His work spans multidisciplinary collaborations, including leadership roles in longitudinal studies like the COPSY project analyzing youth mental health during the pandemic. Research interests include health literacy, systemic crisis response in education, and the interplay between societal trends and youth development. His recent publications highlight generational shifts in responsibility, pandemic impacts on mental health, and policy reforms in healthcare governance. He advises government agencies on youth policy and health system reforms, leveraging his expertise in evidence-based strategies. His current focus includes digital health literacy and the role of schools in addressing societal polarization.

Elena SimperlView profile

Professor

• Human-centric AI
• Knowledge Graphs
• Knowledge Engineering
• +7 more

Elena Simperl is a Professor of Computer Science and Deputy Head of Department for Enterprise and Engagement at King's College London's Department of Informatics. She co-directs the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and serves as Director of Research for the Open Data Institute. As a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study, she leads the Trustworthy Knowledge Graphs focus group and contributes to advancing human-centric AI research across European institutions. Professor Simperl obtained her doctoral degree in Computer Science from the Free University of Berlin and her diploma from the Technical University of Munich. Prior to joining King's, she held academic positions in Germany, Austria, and at the University of Southampton, and was a Turing Fellow. Her career trajectory demonstrates consistent leadership in bridging academic research with practical applications in data ecosystems. Her research sits at the critical intersection of AI and social computing, focusing on human-centric approaches to building sociotechnical systems that integrate data, algorithms, and human capabilities. She investigates how to make knowledge engineering more accessible, how to leverage collective intelligence for data quality improvement, and how to design participatory AI systems that address societal challenges like misinformation. Her work spans knowledge graphs, semantic technologies, crowdsourcing, and open data, with particular emphasis on the social dimensions of data-intensive systems and the governance frameworks needed for trustworthy AI deployment. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong evolution toward integrating large language models with traditional knowledge engineering practices while maintaining human oversight. There's a clear trajectory from foundational work on knowledge representation toward increasingly applied research addressing real-world challenges in media ecosystems, citizen science, and data governance, with growing attention to policy implications of AI technologies. Fellow of the British Computer Society Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at TUM-IAS (2023) Ranked among top 100 most influential scholars in knowledge engineering of the last decade Included in Women in AI 2000 ranking Professor Simperl has led 14 major European and national research projects totaling millions in funding, including MediaFutures (a Horizon 2020 program tackling online misinformation), QROWD, ODINE, Data Pitch, and ACTION. She currently co-chairs the Croissant working group in ML Commons developing data standards for AI, and serves as president of the Semantic Web Science Association. Her research has directly influenced the development of data ecosystems supporting startups and citizen science initiatives across Europe, demonstrating exceptional ability to translate theoretical advances into practical impact. As Director of Research at the Open Data Institute, she oversees initiatives connecting data entrepreneurs with artists and civic organizations. Her leadership in the MediaFutures project established a data-driven innovation hub that supported 51 startups/SMEs and 43 artists through three open calls, creating a sustainable model for arts-technology collaborations addressing media challenges. Her work with the ODINE project helped create a European ecosystem for data-driven startups, demonstrating her commitment to building practical applications of open data principles.

• Inclusive Education
• Special Education
• Rehabilitation Pedagogy
• +8 more

Prof. Dr. Teresa Sansour is a full Professor of Pedagogy and Didactics in Cases of Intellectual Development Impairments with Special Consideration of Inclusive Educational Processes at the Institute for Special and Rehabilitation Education, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. She joined the university in April 2020 and has held leadership roles including Vice Director for Teaching at the Center for Teacher Education (since October 2021) and Deputy Institute Director (since April 2025). Her academic affiliations reflect a deep commitment to inclusive and special education. Her research focuses on educational interactions in the context of intellectual disabilities, inclusive subject didactics, the participation of people with complex disabilities, and the professionalization of educators and prospective teachers. Key research areas include inclusive literacy, art education, teacher motivation, and social integration. She leads significant funded projects such as Literary Texts in Simple Language (LiES) and Lighthouses for Participation , both aimed at enhancing inclusion for people with disabilities. The recent publications of Prof. Sansour span topics such as school absenteeism in autism, self-concept in intellectual disabilities, inclusive art education, and participation models. Her work demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary and applied focus, combining qualitative methods with pedagogical innovation. She frequently publishes in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes on special education, inclusive didactics, and disability studies. Member, German Society for Educational Research (DGFE), Section Special Education Member, Network for Complex Disabilities e.V. Chair, Advisory Board of the Georg-Leffers-Stiftung Chair, Association for the Promotion of Pedagogical Rehabilitation and Social Integration of People in Risk Situations Board Member, German Interdisciplinary Society for Research Promotion for People with Intellectual Disabilities (DIFGB) Prof. Sansour actively contributes to academic leadership and teacher training. She serves as program coordinator for the Bachelor’s in Special Education and accreditation officer for the Special Education/Social Studies cluster. Her work includes advising on inclusive curricula, fostering research collaborations, and securing external funding for inclusive initiatives. She has not received explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text. She is involved in multiple collaborative research teams and projects focused on inclusion, literacy, and disability rights.

Birgit EickelmannView profile

Professor

• Digital Education
• School Pedagogy
• Educational Technology
• +6 more

Prof. Dr. Birgit Eickelmann is a Professor of School Pedagogy at the Institute of Educational Science within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Paderborn University. She has held this position since October 2012, initially as a W2 professor until January 2014, and then as a W3 professor (full professor) from February 2014 onward. Her research focuses on school and lesson development in the digital age, school pedagogy under digital transformation conditions, empirical school research, teacher education, and school leadership with emphasis on digital learning leadership. Her educational background includes a habilitation in Educational Science in May 2012, a PhD in Educational Science with summa cum laude in July 2009, and state examinations for teaching Mathematics and Physics in December 1996 and January 1999. Prof. Eickelmann's research centers on the digital transformation of educational systems, particularly examining how schools develop digital competencies among students and teachers. Her work emphasizes equitable access to digital learning opportunities, the role of school leadership in digital transformation, and the development of computational thinking skills. She investigates how schools can become resilient in the face of digital challenges, with special attention to organizational factors that support successful digital integration. Her publication record reveals a strong focus on international comparative studies, particularly the IEA's ICILS (International Computer and Information Literacy Study) across multiple cycles (2013, 2018, 2023). Her research spans digital literacy assessment, school-level factors influencing digital competence development, and policy implications for educational systems undergoing digital transformation. Prof. Eickelmann leads several major research initiatives including the National Research Center for the IEA Study ICILS 2023 (2021-2026), the German coordination of the Horizon-2020 project 'DigiGen' (2019-2022), and previous leadership of ICILS 2018 (2015-2021) and ICILS 2013 (2012-2015). She is actively involved in policy advising regarding digital education in Germany. She is a member of numerous scholarly organizations including the World Educational Research Association (since 2021), the Society for Empirical Educational Research (since 2016), and the German Society for Educational Science (since 2014), among others. Her work bridges academic research with practical implementation in schools through projects like 'Navigator Bildung Digitalisierung' and 'schultransformNEXT'.

Susanne PredigerView profile

Professor

• Mathematics Education
• Teacher Professional Development
• Educational Technology
• +4 more

Susanne Prediger is a Professor at the Institute for Development and Research in Mathematics Education (IEEM) at Technische Universität Dortmund and Vice Director of the Department of Subject-Related Knowledge Transfer at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN). She directs the DZLM research network (German Center for Mathematics Teacher Education) and holds leadership roles in mathematics education research. Her research focuses on: Design and Research on Professional Development of Mathematics Teachers and Facilitators Topic-Specific Design Research in Mathematics Education for Secondary Schools Diversity in Classrooms (especially Language Diversity) Empirical Studies on Students' Conceptions in Arithmetic, Algebra, and Stochastics Networking of Theories in Mathematics Education Research Recent work explores AI-driven formative assessment, educational innovation implementation, and inclusive pedagogical strategies for teaching percentages. She leads projects like ALwAI, Startchancen-Kompetenzzentrum Mathematik, and DigiProMIN. Current roles include: Vice Director (half-time), Department of Subject-Related Knowledge Transfer, IPN Director of DZLM Research Network, IPN (since 2021) Full Professor at IEEM, TU Dortmund University (since 2006) Her academic background spans Mathematics and History studies at Technical University of Darmstadt and Université Bordeaux I, a PhD in Mathematical Logic and Universal Algebra (1998), and a Habilitation in Mathematics Education (2004).