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Chinasa T. Okolo is a Research Fellow in the Governance Studies program and Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) at the Brookings Institution. A recent computer science PhD graduate from Cornell University, she focuses on AI governance, data policy, and equity issues in artificial intelligence, particularly as they relate to the Global Majority and Africa. B.A. in Computer Science from Pomona College M.S. in Computer Science from Cornell University Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University Dr. Okolo's research critically examines global equity in AI, with a focus on how African governments can develop robust AI and data governance frameworks. She investigates the geopolitical impacts of AI in the Majority World and analyzes datafication and algorithmic marginalization in Africa. Her work incorporates ethnographic methods to understand how frontline health care workers in rural settings perceive and value AI, with particular emphasis on explainability in AI-enabled technologies deployed throughout the Majority World. She has conducted significant research on the effective adoption of AI in Africa, COVID-19 misinformation spread on social networks within African communities, and the impact of generative AI within Africa. Her recent publications explore cultural encoding of gender bias in language models for African languages, AI safety governance approaches in Southeast Asia, and the impacts of generative AI within Africa. Her work spans the intersection of artificial intelligence, international development, and social justice, with publications at top-tier venues including ACM's CHI, CSCW, COMPASS, EAAMO, and FAccT conferences. Scientific Awards Named one of TIME's top 100 most influential people in AI of 2024 Honored in the inaugural Forbes '30 Under 30' AI list Recognized as one of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ Dr. Okolo has received research funding from the Social Science Research Council, MacArthur Foundation, McGovern Foundation, Kapor Center, National GEM Consortium, Oracle Corporation, North American Network Operators' Group (NANOG), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Google. She serves as editor-in-chief of ACM SIGCAS Computers and Society, is a Scientific Advisory Committee member of the Global Index on Responsible AI, and an inaugural member of the Partnership on AI's SAIGE Council. She has contributed to global AI governance efforts including serving as a consulting expert on the African Union AU-AI Continental Strategy, an expert contributing writer to the International AI Safety Report, and a drafting member of the Nigerian Federal Government's National AI Strategy. She also participates in the IEEE Standards Association working group on algorithmic bias and is a member of the ACM US Technology Policy Committee. As founder of Technēculturǎ, Dr. Okolo leads initiatives focused on critically examining global equity in AI. She recently launched the 'AI Safety and the Global Majority' series at Brookings, convening experts from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Oceania, and Southeast Asia to counter Western-centric assumptions in AI safety. She is actively engaged in current policy discussions, with her most recent work including 'AI Safety Governance, The Southeast Asian Way' report and upcoming participation in the AI Safety Asia launch event on August 28, 2025.

• Artificial Intelligence
• AI Governance
• Data Governance
• +12 more

Christian von Scheve is a Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Sociology of Emotions at Freie Universität Berlin. He also serves on the board of the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1171 'Affective Societies' and is a Research Fellow at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). His academic journey includes positions as a Research Professor at DIW Berlin (2011-2014), Junior Professor at Freie Universität Berlin (2008-2014), and Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna (2007-2008). His research examines the interplay between culture, social structures, and emotions, with emphasis on: The social/cultural constitution of emotions and affective experiences Emotional dimensions of economic action Human/non-human social interaction He employs diverse methodologies including surveys, interviews, and experiments. His recent publications (2022-2025) predominantly explore affective polarization , refugee integration , and the role of emotions in political discourse, utilizing interdisciplinary approaches spanning sociology, neuroscience, and political science. A consistent theme is how emotions shape social cohesion and conflict in contemporary societies. He holds key editorial roles including Co-Editor of Soziale Welt , Associate Editor of Emotion Review , and Editorial Board positions for multiple book series on affective societies and emotion research. He actively advises Master's students, requiring thesis proposals to be submitted six weeks before registration deadlines. His research is embedded in collaborative projects like SFB 1171 'Affective Societies' and the 'Social Cohesion and Civil Society' initiative.

• Sociology of Emotions
• Cultural Sociology
• Social Structure Analysis
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Oliver Nachtwey is a Professor at the Department of Social Sciences , University of Basel, specializing in processes of social modernization, individualization, and the transformation of digital capitalism. His research spans political sociology, social conflict, authoritarianism, and the societal impacts of digitalization. University: University of Basel Department: Department of Social Sciences Academic Rank: Professor Nachtwey’s work focuses on the social effects of digitalization , including labor alienation, platform economies, and the political sociology of Corona protests . He explores how libertarian authoritarianism and regressive modernity shape contemporary social crises. His recent publications analyze digital labor alienation , gift exchange on platforms , and the spirit of digital capitalism . Articles emphasize keywords like algorithmic labor, surveillance capitalism, and techno-religion. Scientific Awards: Shortlisted for Leipzig Book Fair Prize (non-fiction) for Gekränkte Freiheit Recipient of multiple academic awards for Die Abstiegsgesellschaft Oliver Nachtwey’s research has been featured in The New York Times , The Guardian , and El Pais , with collaborations at institutions like the Hamburg Institute for Social Research and Institute for Social Research Frankfurt.

• Social Modernization
• Individualization
• Digital Transformation
• +5 more

Dominika Tronina is an Associate Visiting Scientist at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Studies within the Department of Political and Social Sciences at Humboldt University of Berlin. Since 2020, she has served as a Research Associate for Comparative Democracy Research and Political Systems of Eastern Europe at both Humboldt University and the Center for Comparative Research on Democracy. Her research interests focus on right-wing and far-right social movements (particularly Anti-Gender/Anti-Feminism), Central and Eastern Europe, and political communication and social media. She has conducted research stays at prestigious institutions including the Scuola Normale Superiore/Centre on Social Movement Studies in Florence (April-June 2023) and Princeton University, NJ (September-October 2022). Her scholarly work examines the complex interplay between Eastern European perspectives and broader European narratives, with particular attention to how peace and prosperity discourses marginalize Eastern experiences. Her publications demonstrate expertise in analyzing political systems, social movements, and identity formation in Eastern Europe. Her academic background includes a Master's in Eastern European Studies (Sociology) from Freie Universität Berlin (2017-2019) with a study period at the University of Haifa, and a Bachelor's in Polish Studies and Sociology from the University of Potsdam (2013-2017) with a study period at the University of Warsaw. Her research trajectory shows consistent engagement with Eastern European political systems, with previous work experience at the Center for Eastern Europe and International Studies Berlin (2019) and the Berlin Social Science Center (2017-2018).

• Right-wing and far-right social movements
• Anti-Gender/Anti-Feminism
• Central and Eastern Europe
• +4 more

Geoffrey Wodtke is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility. He holds multiple committee appointments including the Committee on Quantitative Methods in the Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, the Committee on Environment, Geography, and Urbanization, and the Committee on Education. Additionally, he is a Research Associate at the Population Research Center and a Faculty Affiliate with the Program in Computational Social Science. Wodtke earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan in 2014, where he also completed an M.A. in Statistics in 2011. His undergraduate education began at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received his B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in analysis and research. His research program spans four interconnected areas: neighborhood effects and urban poverty, group conflict and racial attitudes, class structure and income inequality, and methods of causal inference in observational research. Wodtke's work on neighborhood effects has particularly focused on the temporal and developmental dimensions of how neighborhood poverty impacts child development, with findings suggesting more severe effects than previously documented, especially during adolescence for children from poor families. His recent publications reveal a clear trajectory from substantive neighborhood effects research toward increasingly sophisticated causal methodology development. This evolution includes integrating machine learning approaches with traditional causal inference frameworks, as seen in his forthcoming work on "Deep Learning with DAGs." His methodological contributions focus on handling treatment-induced confounding and developing regression-with-residuals approaches for causal mediation analysis. Leo Goodman Award for contributions to sociological methodology (2020) Reviewer Award, Sociology of Education (2016) Mark Chesler Award for best graduate student paper (2014) Student Paper Award honorable mention (2011) Jane Addams Award for best article (2011) Wodtke has secured significant research funding including a $300,264 NSF grant for "Why Neighborhoods Matter" (2020-2023) and an $87,819 SSHRC Canada grant for "Neighbourhoods, Schools, and Environmental Health Hazards" (2018-2022). He has advised numerous graduate students and developed specialized courses on causal mediation analysis. Wodtke co-hosts The Inequality Podcast produced by the Stone Center and has developed several software packages for causal inference including MedFlow, RcGNF, cGNF, and RWRMED.

• Neighborhood effects and urban poverty
• Group conflict and racial attitudes
• Class structure and income inequality
• +5 more

Andrew G. Walder is the Denise O'Leary and Kent Thiry Professor of the Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, with a courtesy appointment in Political Science. He is a Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) and former Director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. His research focuses on political stability, conflict, and transformation in communist regimes, particularly China. Walder holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan (1981) and an A.B. in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University (1975). He has held leadership roles, including Chair of Stanford's Sociology Department and Director of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Division of Social Sciences (1995–1997). His work explores China’s Cultural Revolution, post-Mao economic reforms, and corporate development. Awards include Guggenheim and National Science Foundation fellowships, and he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Education: Ph.D., Sociology, University of Michigan (1981) A.B., Political Science, Johns Hopkins University (1975) Walder’s research investigates China’s political economy, focusing on social stratification, corporate evolution, and the Maoist legacy. His books include Fractured Rebellion (2009), China Under Mao (2015), and Agents of Disorder (2019). He has advised on policy in Hong Kong and contributed to global studies on transitional economies. Currently, his research examines China’s large corporations and post-Mao political trajectories. His awards include ASA, AAS, and SSH Association prizes for scholarly contributions. He has held visiting roles at the Stanford Center at Peking University and chairs academic panels in Hong Kong. Walder’s interdisciplinary work bridges sociology, political science, and history, emphasizing China’s complex transitions from state socialism to modern capitalism.

• Political Sociology
• Communist Regimes
• Chinese History
• +3 more

Elizabeth Brake is a Professor of Philosophy at Rice University, with a forthcoming position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a PhD from the University of St. Andrews and a BA from Oxford University, specializing in Classics and English. Her research focuses on ethics, political philosophy, feminist philosophy, and disaster ethics, particularly examining marriage law reform, intimate partner violence, and the state's role in disaster recovery. She has served as Editor of the Journal of Applied Philosophy and is now an Associate Editor at Ethics (2024). Brake’s work challenges societal norms through analyses of amatonormativity and advocates for inclusive legal frameworks for relationships. Key awards include the APA Book Prize Honorable Mention (2014) and grants from the Canadian SSHRC and NEH. She has held fellowships at institutions such as the University of British Columbia and Tulane University’s Murphy Institute. Her research spans disaster ethics (e.g., price gouging morality), procreative ethics (genetic ties and parental obligations), and feminist critiques of family law. She teaches courses on love and sex, applied ethics, and philosophy and literature. Recent publications include articles on stalking, emotional abuse, and post-disaster rebuilding policies.

• Ethics
• Political Philosophy
• Feminist Philosophy
• +4 more

David Green is a Professor at the Vancouver School of Economics , University of British Columbia, and an International Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and has served as Chair of the BC Basic Income Panel . Research Focus : Labour economics, income inequality, wage distribution, and public policy. His work bridges macro-level employment trends with micro-level identification of causal effects. Key Contributions : Analysis of minimum wage impacts on job stability, immigrant economic integration, resource boom spillovers, and basic income policy evaluation. Article Trends include: Welfare reform and health outcomes (2022) Covid-19 occupational risks (2022) Resource boom wage spillovers (2019) Post-2000 skill demand reversal (2016) Minimum wage and job tenure dynamics (2013) Scientific Recognition : Harry Johnson Prize (2000, 1995) for best articles in the Canadian Journal of Economics. International Fellow, Institute for Fiscal Studies (London). Policy Engagement : Directed the 2017-2019 BC Basic Income Panel , producing evidence-based reports on poverty reduction and workforce participation. His empirical work frequently informs national policy debates on taxation, immigration, and social assistance.

• Labour Economics
• Income Inequality
• Policy Analysis
• +5 more

Laura K. Nelson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of British Columbia , where she also directs the Centre for Computational Social Science . Her work bridges computational methods with sociological inquiry, focusing on gender inequality, social movements, and organizational dynamics. She previously held faculty roles at Northeastern University and affiliated with institutions like the NULab for Texts, Maps, and Networks and the Network Science Institute . Education: PhD in Sociology (2014), University of California, Berkeley MA in Sociology (2009), University of California, Berkeley BA in Sociology (2006), University of Wisconsin-Madison (Phi Beta Kappa) Research Interests span computational sociology, social movement strategy, intersectionality, and STEM equity. She pioneered frameworks like computational grounded theory and radical objectivity , integrating machine learning with qualitative paradigms. Recent publications analyze gender dynamics in emergency medicine, feminist movement histories, and the NSF ADVANCE program’s impact on equity. Her 2024 Social Science Quarterly paper quantifies ADVANCE’s interdisciplinary reach. Awards include the 2020 Best Meta-Reviewer at SocInfo20 and Outstanding Faculty of the Year at Northeastern University. She serves on editorial boards for American Journal of Sociology , Poetics , and Acta Sociologica . She co-PIs a National Science Foundation grant studying gender-equity dissemination in higher education networks and supervises graduate student Jinyang Yu . Her lab, Centre for Computational Social Science , drives open-source methodological innovation.

• Computational Sociology
• Gender Studies
• Social Movements
• +4 more

Beth C. Rubin serves as Professor of Education and Professor of Social Studies Education in the Department of Arts and Humanities at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her work centers on youth civic identity formation within contexts marked by historical and contemporary inequalities, with particular focus on post-conflict societies like Guatemala. As Principal Investigator of the Civically Engaged Districts Project, she bridges research and practice through curriculum design and pedagogical innovation. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies in Education from the University of California, Berkeley (2001), an M.A.T. in Social Studies Education from Brown University (1992), and a B.A. in Government and Third World Studies from Oberlin College (1989). Rubin's research explores critical intersections of civic learning, historical memory, and citizenship formation, emphasizing ethnographic approaches to understanding how young people navigate belonging in unequal societies. Her scholarship advocates for 'critically relevant civics' that centers youth voice and addresses structural inequities through social design research methodologies. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on post-conflict civic education (particularly Guatemala), youth participatory action research, and decolonizing social studies curricula. Her work increasingly examines how historical memory shapes contemporary citizenship education while addressing urban civic opportunity gaps through teacher education reform. Selected Honors: Fulbright Scholar Award National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Big Ten Academic Alliance Department Executive Officers Program Fellow Mary Hepburn Lectureship in Social Studies Education Rubin leads multiple funded initiatives including the Civically Engaged Districts Project (Maher Charitable Foundation), Spencer Foundation grants on socially transformative design, and international collaborations with Universidad del Valle, Guatemala. Her service includes co-directing Rutgers GSE's Urban Teaching Fellows Program and advising on the Excellence and Equity in Remote Learning Series. Through the Civically Engaged Districts Project and partnerships with New Brunswick and Edison school districts, Rubin develops practical frameworks for integrating youth civic voice into district-level decision making, creating models for sustainable democratic engagement in education systems.

• civic learning
• historical memory
• citizenship and belonging
• +5 more

Dr. Debraj Roy is a Visiting Professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), affiliated with the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science and the Informatics Institute. His research focuses on agent-based modeling, socio-economic dynamics, environmental resilience, and blockchain technology. He investigates complex systems such as urban slums, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation using computational methods like remote sensing and machine learning. His work bridges theory and practice, offering insights into policy design for sustainable development and social equity. Key research interests include slum dynamics, poverty traps, and the application of blockchain oracles for decentralized systems. He employs advanced techniques such as global sensitivity analysis and manifold learning to explore multi-scale socio-environmental challenges. His recent articles highlight trends in carbon pricing, flood risk valuation, and multi-agent systems. Earlier work concentrated on urban inequality in cities like Bangalore and Mexico City, leveraging geospatial and statistical tools. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed. His advising and team collaborations are unspecified in the provided text.

• Agent-Based Modeling
• Socio-Economic Dynamics
• Environmental Resilience
• +5 more

Yan Huang is an Associate Professor of Business Technologies at the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems and Management from Carnegie Mellon University (2013) and a B.Sc. (with honors) in Information Systems and Management from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (2009). Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon University, she served as an Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ross School of Business (2013-2018). Her educational background includes: B.Sc. (with honors) in Information Systems and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (2009) Ph.D. in Information Systems and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States (2013) Dr. Huang's research examines the economic and social impacts of technologies and identifies effective designs and policies for technology-enabled markets and platforms. She employs economic theories, structural modeling, statistical modeling, machine learning methods, and an understanding of the underlying technologies in her research. Her recent work focuses on the economics of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with particular attention to algorithmic fairness, transparency, and collusion. She is among the first to bring economic and social perspectives to research on fair ML. Additionally, she studies digital platforms and online markets, examining how firms can leverage data-driven strategies to optimize pricing, personalization, and user engagement. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of AI/ML with economic principles, particularly in areas like algorithmic bias, pricing strategies, and platform regulation. A significant portion of her work examines how machine learning algorithms impact financial lending decisions, housing markets, and content creation platforms. Her research methodology frequently combines structural econometric modeling with empirical analysis of real-world data, providing both theoretical insights and practical implications for platform design and policy. Dr. Huang has received several prestigious awards for her scholarly contributions: AIS Senior Scholar Best Publication of 2023 Award for "Algorithmic Transparency with Strategic Users" Runner Up, Best Paper Published in Information Systems Research for 2021 for "Crowds, Lending, Machine, and Bias" INFORMS Information Systems Society Sandy Slaughter Early Career Award Finalist, Best Student Paper Award, CIST 2021 for "Human-Algorithmic Bias: Source, Evolution, and Impact" Pounds Fellowship As an active member of the academic community, Dr. Huang serves on various committees at CMU including the MSBA Curriculum Review Committee and the Tepper School Strategic Plan Task Force. She has also held editorial positions for Management Science, Information Systems Research, and the International Conference on Information Systems. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on Human and Algorithmic Bias, Modern Data Management, and PhD-level instruction at the Tepper School.

• Economics of Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Algorithmic Fairness
• +5 more

Pál Nyiri is a Full Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. He holds positions in the departments of Social and Cultural Anthropology and Art and Culture, History, Antiquity, as well as the Mobilities, Beliefs and Belonging research group. His research focuses on Chinese elite mobility, nationalism, Eastern European immigration politics, and comparative studies of Eastern Europe and China. Nyiri supervises PhD theses on topics including migrant worker advocacy, the jade trade, Chinese museum education, and maternity concepts among Chinese women in the Netherlands. Education: He studied chemistry and Asian Studies in the Soviet Union, Hungary, and the U.S., earning doctorates in history (Moscow State University) and sociology (Hungarian Academy of Sciences). Prior to joining VU Amsterdam, he taught at Macquarie University in Sydney. Research Interests: Nyiri explores how Chinese elites navigate global spaces, the intersection of nationalism and transnationalism, and migration-driven cultural transformations. His work bridges anthropology, sociology, and political science, with a focus on contemporary China’s global engagements. Scientific Awards: He was a 2003-2004 fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. He serves on editorial boards for journals like The China Journal and The Australian Journal of Anthropology , and chairs the academic committee of the International Institute of Social History. Teaching and Grants: He teaches migration studies, nationalism, and the politics of history. His recent grants and collaborations involve analyzing Chinese corporate strategies in Europe, middle-class migration motivations, and transnational digital nationalism. Labs/Teams: Active in the MOBB research group, focusing on global mobilities and inequalities. He co-edits the New Mobilities in Asia book series with Amsterdam University Press.

• International Mobility of Elites
• Chinese Nationalism
• Immigration Politics in Eastern Europe
• +4 more

Sharon Krause is the William R. Kenan, Jr. University Professor of Political Science at Brown University, affiliated with the Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs. She holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Political Theory from Harvard University. Her research focuses on political theory, particularly environmental politics, freedom, social inequality, and democratic theory. She has authored influential books such as Eco-Emancipation: An Earthly Politics of Freedom (2023), Freedom Beyond Sovereignty (2015), and Civil Passions (2008), which explore themes of justice, ecological sustainability, and non-sovereign agency. Her work bridges classical and contemporary political thought, engaging with thinkers like Montesquieu, Hume, and Arendt. She has been honored with awards including the Clay Morgan Award (2024) and Spitz Prize (2010). Krause teaches courses on political theory, environmental humanities, and ancient/modern political thought, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding power, justice, and ecological responsibility. Education: B.A. Wellesley College (1988), M.T.S. Harvard Divinity School (1993), Ph.D. Harvard University (1998) Key Research Areas: Eco-politics, non-sovereign freedom, democratic deliberation, gender studies Recent Trends: Increasing focus on environmental sustainability and intersectional domination theories Her articles analyze topics ranging from Montesquieu’s legal philosophy to contemporary feminist theory, demonstrating a commitment to integrating historical insights with urgent modern challenges.

• Political Theory
• Environmental Politics
• Freedom and Political Agency
• +5 more

Daniel Kim is a Professor at Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences, specializing in social epidemiology. His NIH-funded research investigates social determinants of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and health disparities. He holds a DrPH from Harvard and an MD from the University of Toronto. As founder of the International Social Epidemiology Society, he promotes global dialogue on health equity. His work links socioeconomic factors, policy environments, and health outcomes using large-scale datasets. Recent studies analyze political polarization's health impacts and COVID-19 vaccination inequities. Awarded the NHLBI Pathway to Independence Award, he serves as associate editor for Preventive Medicine and Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

• Social Epidemiology
• Health Disparities
• Cardiovascular Disease
• +1 more