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Sarah WadeView profile

Associate Professor

• Contemporary Art History
• Curatorial Practice
• Art and Ecology
• +3 more

Sarah Wade is an Associate Professor in Museum Studies at the School of History and Art History, University of East Anglia. She holds a PhD from University College London and has extensive experience in curatorial practice, museum studies, and ecological research. Her work bridges contemporary art, environmental concerns, and museum ethics. Education: Ph.D. History of Art, University College London M.A. Arts Policy & Management, Birkbeck, University of London M.A. Higher Education Practice, University of East Anglia B.A. Mixed Media Arts, University of Westminster Research Interests: Sarah examines human-animal relations in art and exhibitions, focusing on ecological crises and wildlife conservation. She co-founded the 'Curating the Sea' project, leading to exhibitions like 'Sea Inside' and publications such as the 2023 book Oceans . Her work engages with climate narratives, decolonizing museum practices, and oceanic curatorial strategies. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Aurora Leadership Programme Alumni Teaching & Supervision: She teaches on BA History of Art and MA Cultural Heritage programs, emphasizing ecopedagogy. She supervises PhD projects on curating climate change, decolonization, and nonhuman animal representation. Labs/Initiatives: Active in the 'Developing Resilience through Climate Narratives' and 'ClimateUEA' networks, and leads the 'Exhibiting Oceans in the UK Today' project funded by the Paul Mellon Centre.

• Paleoclimatology
• Marine Geology
• Micropaleontology
• +6 more

Ellen Thomas is a renowned geologist and paleoclimatologist affiliated with Yale University's Department of Geology & Geophysics. Her work focuses on understanding environmental and climatic impacts on benthic foraminifera, particularly in deep-sea ecosystems. She retired from teaching in July 2021 but continues active research and curation of the Wesleyan Natural History collections. Her research integrates micropaleontology with geochemical and oceanographic methods to study long-term climate changes, such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and the establishment of the Antarctic ice sheet. Collaborations include projects on Long Island Sound eutrophication with Prof. Joop Varekamp and digitization of foraminifera collections with institutions like the American Museum of Natural History. Key research themes include: Deep-sea biodiversity and faunal turnover during mass extinctions Proxy development for ocean deoxygenation and acidification Anthropogenic impacts on coastal ecosystems Open-access digital archives for microfossil taxonomy Her extensive awards include the 2023 BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change (shared with J. Zachos) and the 2012 Maurice Ewing Medal. She served as Editor-in-Chief of Paleoceanography (2015–2019) and contributed to major journals like Geology and Marine Micropaleontology . Her work on the Shelf Life series highlights public engagement through scientific storytelling about microfossil-based climate insights. Current efforts prioritize making foraminifera data accessible via online platforms and 3D visualization technologies.

Nina Gerassi-NavarroView profile

Professor

• 19th-Century Latin American Literature
• Nation Building
• Visual Culture and Film Studies
• +3 more

Nina Gerassi-Navarro is a Professor of Romance Studies and holds the King Felipe VI of Spain Professorship in Spanish Culture and Civilization at Tufts University. She serves as Chair of the Romance Studies Department (2022–2024) and previously directed the Latin American Studies Program (2019–2022). Her research focuses on 19th-century Latin American literature, nation-building, visual culture, travel narratives, and popular culture. Education: PhD in Latin American Literature (Columbia University, 1993), MA in Latin American and Peninsular Literature (Columbia University, 1986), BA (Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1983). Research Interests: Her work examines how literature and visual culture engage with nation-building, transatlantic exchanges, and marginalized voices. She explores themes like outlaw culture, gendered travel narratives, and the politics of observation in scientific and cultural texts. Grants & Awards: NEH Fellowship (2010–2011) Santander Visiting Scholar Fellowship (2015) Summer Faculty Fellowship (2020–2023) Teaching & Leadership: Teaches courses on Latin American civilization, film studies, and nation-building. Leads initiatives in interdisciplinary cultural studies and global humanities.

Susanne KühnView profile

Professor

• Contemporary Art
• Painting Techniques
• Artistic Process Studies
• +3 more

Prof. Susanne Kühn is a Professor of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg, Germany. She leads the Klasse für Freie Malerei (Class for Liberal Painting), focusing on contemporary painting practices as open artistic processes. Her work explores themes such as environmental conservation, surreal aesthetics, and the intersection of real and virtual worlds. Education: 1990–1995: Diploma in Painting/Printmaking, Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig 1995–1996: DAAD Postgraduate Stipend, School of Visual Arts, New York 2001–2002: Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Research Interests: Kühn’s practice emphasizes painting as a dynamic medium that engages with socio-environmental issues, blending traditional techniques with innovative conceptual approaches. She investigates how painterly processes can reflect contemporary societal challenges through surreal, symbolic imagery. Recent Exhibitions: Recent solo shows include Turtle Quest (Taipei, 2024) and Proliferation (Freiburg, 2022). Group exhibitions include Being a Woman Artist (Freiburg, 2023) and Homeland Universe (London, 2023). Awards: Recipient of the Kulturpreis 2025 and Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships (2001–2002 and 2021). Her work is held in collections such as the Museum Frieder Burda and Harvard Art Museums. Teaching: Kühn’s class emphasizes critical discourse, experimental techniques, and exhibition-based learning. Students create works addressing contemporary themes through collaborative and individual projects.

• Performance Art
• Sound Art
• Environmental Studies
• +3 more

Marialena Marouda is a lecturer in the Installation/Performance (MA) program at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), based in Brussels, Belgium. Her practice centers relational knowledges, immersive sonic environments, and collaborations with more-than-human entities. As a founding member of The Oceanographies Institute (2018), she explores human-ocean kinships through long-term research-based projects. Her academic background includes studies in philosophy and visual arts at Columbia University (USA) and the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies at the University of Giessen (Germany). Her work spans international collaborations with institutions like KAAP, BUDA Kortrijk, and the Athens Biennial, focusing on site-specific performances and interdisciplinary art. In 2022, she curated the symposium Songing with Our Ancestors: Hydrofeminisms with VUB Crosstalks, Kaaitheater, and Q-O2. As a dramaturg, she collaborates with choreographer Fabrice Mazliah on The Manufactured Series , examining human-object interactions. Her writings appear in journals like MASKA and Etcetera , addressing themes in performance and environmental art. Marialena’s pedagogical focus aligns with her research, emphasizing experimental performance and sound-based practices. She maintains active involvement in artistic collectives and biennials, fostering dialogues between art, ecology, and critical theory.

• Climate Change
• Climate Extremes
• Regional and Global Climate Modeling
• +6 more

Wim Thiery is an Associate Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Guest Professor at KU Leuven. He leads the BCLIMATE Group, focusing on climate extremes, land-climate interactions, and impact attribution. His work bridges climate science with societal challenges, particularly intergenerational justice and child vulnerability to climate change. Thiery holds a PhD from KU Leuven (2015) and completed postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich (2015–2018). He has secured major grants, including an ERC Consolidator Grant (LACRIMA, 2024–2029) and an FWO Scientific Award. His research spans climate modeling, renewable energy strategies, and early warning systems for extreme events. Key achievements include the Science paper on intergenerational climate inequities (2021), featured on myclimatefuture.info , and the TEDx talk 'The Kids aren’t alright'. He advises policymakers, testified at IPCC sessions, and co-authored IPCC reports (AR6, SROCC). Education: PhD in Climate Science (KU Leuven, 2015) MSc in Terrestrial Ecosystems & Global Change (KU Leuven/VUB, 2011) BSc in Geography (VUB) and Philosophy (KU Leuven) Grants & Projects: ERC Consolidator Grant (€1.99M, 2024–2029) FWO PhD Fellowships (e.g., Amaury Laridon, Derrick Muheki) ISIMIP Lake Sector Coordination (2017–present) Thiery’s research emphasizes climate justice, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and 1000+ media appearances. He mentors 17 PhD students and 6 postdocs, fostering interdisciplinary climate science education.

Ilona HongistoView profile

Professor

• Audiovisual Culture
• Film Studies
• Documentary Film
• +5 more

Ilona Hongisto is a Professor of Audiovisual Culture and Head of Discipline in Film and Television Studies at the University of Helsinki , within the Faculty of Arts and Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies. She holds external positions as Docent in Documentary Film at Aalto University and Docent in Media Theory at Turku University. Her research focuses on audiovisual culture , media aesthetics , documentary ethics , and the intersection of climate change with media representation. Notable projects include Visualizing the Deep Sea in the Age of Climate Change and editing for NECSUS: European Journal for Cinema and Media Studies . Recent publications include anthologies like #Reviews (2025) and #Enough (2024), alongside articles exploring marine imagery and environmental themes. Hongisto has supervised over a dozen doctoral theses, including works on migration ethics, animation, and media editing. She actively participates in academic governance, editorial boards, and international conferences.

Leila TakayamaView profile

Researcher

• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Telepresence
• +4 more

Leila Takayama is a Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) researcher and currently serves as a Hans Fischer Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's (TUM) Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS). Her work focuses on the psychological and social aspects of human interactions with robots and technologies, emphasizing the design of systems that are intuitive and unobtrusive. Prior to her fellowship, she held a tenured professorship at the University of California, Santa Cruz (2016–2022), and has extensive industry experience with roles at GoogleX, Willow Garage, and her consulting firm Hoku Labs. Leila earned her PhD in Communication from Stanford University (2008) and holds minors in Psychology. Her research spans HRI fundamentals, telepresence systems, and ubiquitous computing, aiming to bridge technical innovation with human-centered design principles. She has contributed to over a dozen commercial robotic products across aerial, ground, and underwater domains, advocating for robots to become 'invisible-in-use' to enhance human experience. Her awards include the IEEE Robotics Early Career Award (2015), MIT TR35 (2012), and recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2013). Her work explores how robots can collaboratively assist in medical, industrial, and oceanic contexts, with recent TUM-IAS projects focusing on human-in-the-loop ocean robotics and telepresence for deep-sea exploration. Education: PhD in Communication, Stanford University, 2008 MA in Communication, Stanford University BAs in Psychology and Cognitive Science, UC Berkeley, 2003 Leila's research interests include the psychology of HRI, telepresence systems, and the ethical implications of ubiquitous computing. Her recent publications highlight advancements in underwater robotics teleoperation, force feedback interfaces, and collaborative human-robot systems. She has also pioneered methodologies for translating academic research into practical robotic designs for diverse industries.

Daniel Johnson RuthView profile

Researcher

• Multiphase Turbulent Flows
• Fluid Dynamics
• Experimental Fluid Mechanics
• +3 more

Dr. Daniel Johnson Ruth is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Coletti Group at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics, ETH Zürich. His research focuses on multiphase turbulent flows, bubble dynamics, and free surface effects in fluid dynamics. He holds a PhD from Princeton University, where he worked in the Deike Lab studying gas bubble dynamics in turbulent oceanic environments. Research Interests: Multiphase flows, experimental fluid mechanics, free surface turbulence, bubble fragmentation, and numerical modeling of turbulent systems. Techniques: Particle image velocimetry (PIV), laser-induced fluorescence, 3D flow reconstruction, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Labs/Teams: Coletti Group (ETH Zürich), Deike Lab (Princeton University).

• Data Science
• Climate Science
• Oceanography
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Stephan Frickenhaus is a Professor and Head of the Computing and Data Centre at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. His primary affiliation is with the Bremerhaven Site, where he leads the Computing Division and oversees High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure. His research focuses on Cluster Analysis, Big Scientific Data Analytics, and sustainable data science infrastructures. He actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects like the MOSAiC Arctic expedition and the Digital Earth initiative, emphasizing data integration and FAIR principles. Key responsibilities include managing HPC resources, developing data management frameworks, and advancing collaborative digital ecosystems in Earth System Science. His work bridges computational methods with environmental research, addressing challenges in climate modeling, oceanography, and cryosphere dynamics. Prof. Frickenhaus is also involved in policy and steering groups such as the Steering Group Digital Earth and HIDA-Steer, promoting data-driven scientific advancements. Research interests span data science applications in polar and marine environments, with publications emphasizing Arctic ecosystem studies, HPC optimization, and AI-driven climate analysis. His contributions to projects like MOSAiC underscore his expertise in large-scale data collection and analysis, ensuring scientific data remains accessible and reusable for future research.

Isabelle GappView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental Art History
• Arctic Studies
• Indigenous Art
• +3 more

Isabelle Gapp is an Interdisciplinary Fellow in the Department of Art History at the University of Aberdeen, associated with the Environment and Biodiversity Challenge Area. She specializes in landscape and environmental art history of the Circumpolar North, focusing on intersections between art and glaciology, particularly in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Arctic contexts. Prior to Aberdeen, she held an Arts & Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Toronto. Education: MA in Art History (2015, University of Aberdeen), MA by Research in Art History (2016, University of York), PhD in Art History (2019, University of York). Her research explores Arctic art, colonial modernity, and environmental humanities. Current projects include the British Academy-funded From the Floe Edge (collaborating with Duke University and the West Baffin Co-operative) and the Teaching Arctic Environments initiative with the University of Manitoba, University of Washington, and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. Isabelle co-leads the Visual Cultures of the Circumpolar North series for the Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE). At Aberdeen, she co-directs The Centre for the North and affiliates with the Cryosphere and Climate Change Research Group. She has authored one book (2024) and numerous papers, essays, and co-authored works across art history, environmental history, and glaciology.

Sebastian SchirrmeisterView profile

Researcher

• German-Jewish Archives
• Digital Humanities
• Exile Research
• +2 more

Dr. Sebastian Schirrmeister is a Researcher at the Cluster of Excellence 'Understanding Written Artefacts' (UWA) at the University of Hamburg, where he has worked since 2022. His academic journey includes a PhD in German Literature (2017) and prior positions as a Research Associate at the University of Hamburg's German Department and Walter A. Berendsohn Research Center for German Literature in Exile (2011-2019). He has also held prestigious fellowships, including the Moritz Stern Early Career Fellowship (2019) and a Visiting Research Fellowship (2024). Current role: Project Lead for 'A Fresh Look: Visualizing Digitized German-Jewish Archives' (2024-2025) Prior role: Research Associate for 'Wandering Artefacts: The Materialistic History of German-Jewish Archives' (2020-2024) Education: M.A. in Jewish Studies and German Literature (University of Potsdam, 2005-2011) His research interests focus on German-Jewish archival materiality, digital humanities approaches to cultural heritage, and the socio-emotional dimensions of exile. Publications like 'Im unbefreundeten Kosmos' and 'A Guide for the Perplexed' demonstrate his work at the intersection of digital preservation and Jewish literary history . He co-edited the special issue 'Exile and Emotions' (2024) with Elisabeth Kilchmann, exploring affective dimensions in exile narratives. Scientific awards include: Joseph Carlebach Award (2013) for contributions to Jewish history and culture Moritz Stern Fellowship (2019) for Modern Jewish Studies DAAD Study Scholarship (2008-2009) for Haifa University research He actively contributes to international research teams , collaborating on projects like the National Library of Israel's German-Jewish Archives and the Levezow Album digital edition . His work bridges technical innovation (data linking, digital visualization) with cultural analysis of Jewish diasporic identity.

Patty ChangView profile

Professor

• Environmental Art
• Gender Studies
• Colonial Legacies
• +4 more

Patty Chang is a Professor of Art at the University of Southern California (USC), currently on sabbatical leave until 2025. She is a Los Angeles-based artist and educator known for interdisciplinary projects examining identity, gender, transnationalism, colonial legacies, environmental impact, and large-scale infrastructural projects. Her work merges performance, video, installation, and narrative forms. Education: B.A., University of California, San Diego, 1994 Research Interests: Chang’s practice interrogates how geopolitical, environmental, and personal narratives intersect. Projects like The Wandering Lake (2009–2017) explore the socio-ecological consequences of water diversion projects and personal mourning through multimedia installations and publications. Her recent Learning Endings project investigates climate crisis responses via collaborations with marine scientists. Key Exhibitions: MoMA (New York), Guggenheim Museum (New York), M+ Museum (Hong Kong), Hammer Museum (Los Angeles), and Moderna Museet (Stockholm). Awards: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship Rockefeller Foundation Grant Creative Capital Fellowship Grants & Collaborations: Supported by Creative Capital, Guggenheim Foundation, Headlands Center for the Arts, and others. Her work often involves cross-disciplinary teams and institutional partnerships like BANK/MABSOCIETY.

• Developmental Psychology
• Parent-Child Interactions
• Preterm Birth Outcomes
• +4 more

Erica Neri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology 'Renzo Canestrari' at the University of Bologna. Her work focuses on developmental psychology, parental mental health, and child development in preterm infants. She leads the MaRHE Center, promoting ocean literacy through interdisciplinary approaches. Her research explores infant-directed speech, parental burnout, and the psychological impact of preterm birth on families. Key research areas include: Neonatal care and developmental trajectories Parenting stress and postpartum mental health Geographical education using animated media Effects of assisted reproductive technologies Recent studies highlight maternal and paternal interactions with preterm infants, the role of early interventions in NICUs, and the mediating effects of emotional intelligence during pandemics. She collaborates internationally on projects like the ESSENCE IPD-MA consortium. Her work integrates clinical psychology with environmental advocacy, emphasizing the importance of place-based education for ocean conservation awareness.

• Plastic Pollution
• Environmental Hydraulics
• River Systems
• +3 more

Tim van Emmerik is an Associate Professor in Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plastic pollution dynamics in river systems, remote sensing techniques, and environmental hydraulics. He leads and co-supervises multiple PhD projects addressing global plastic transport, river monitoring, and urban plastic pollution solutions. Key projects include 'Revealing underwater macroplastic pollution using acoustic backscatter' and 'Solving the Urban Plastic Soup.' He is actively involved in developing monitoring protocols and datasets for plastic detection, collaborating internationally on freshwater and coastal plastic pollution studies. His work bridges environmental science, engineering, and policy, with a focus on mitigating plastic waste impacts through innovative methodologies. Research interests include plastic transport modeling, acoustic and image-based monitoring, flood impacts on plastic deposition, and interdisciplinary solutions for pollution control. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and datasets, contributing to global understanding of plastic pathways from rivers to oceans. Media engagements highlight his role as an expert on plastic pollution challenges and mitigation strategies.