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Gina DellagiacomaView profile

Researcher

• Film Studies
• Gender Studies
• Visual Culture
• +4 more

Gina Dellagiacoma is a PhD candidate at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (ISEK) at the University of Zurich, affiliated with the doctoral program «Epistemologies of Aesthetic Practices» (University of Zurich, ETH, ZHdK). She holds an MA in Cultural Studies and History from the University of Lucerne and a minor in Gender Studies from the University of Bern. Her research focuses on feminist filmmaking during Switzerland's New Women's Movement (1960s–1970s), examining how these films created feminist spaces through staging, distribution, and transnational connections. Education 2020–2023: Master of Arts in Cultural Studies and History, University of Lucerne 2020–2022: Minor in Gender Studies, University of Bern 2016–2020: Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies and History, University of Lucerne 2018: Study visit at Humboldt University Berlin Her research integrates feminist, queer, and postcolonial theories with historical anthropology and visual culture studies. She employs cultural studies film analysis and interviews with pioneering feminist filmmakers. Dellagiacoma serves as a student assistant for the SNSF project «A Common Space – Untold Swiss Women’s Stories» and teaches qualitative methods. She contributes to cultural organizations like «041 – Das Kulturmagazin» and curates events through projects like «Die Predigt». As a member of the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore (SIEF), she connects academic and artistic practices.

Sarah Degallier RochatView profile

Professor

• Human-robot interaction
• Collaborative robotics
• Digital skills training
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Sarah Degallier Rochat serves as Head of Humane Digital Transformation at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), where she is a Professor in the Department of Technology and Computer Science. She is affiliated with the Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE) and specifically works within the Laboratory for Computer Perception and Virtual Reality. Her research spans multiple institutional collaborations including the Institute for Data Applications and Security (IDAS) at BFH and partnerships with the University of Fribourg on experimental studies. Professor Degallier Rochat's research focuses on human-robot interaction , collaborative robotics , and humane digital transformation . She challenges the notion of complete human replacement by technology, advocating instead for human augmentation where technology empowers rather than mechanizes workers. Her work examines how humans and robots can work together effectively in industrial settings, with particular emphasis on developing intuitive interfaces for robot programming that promote digital skills acquisition among workers through experiential learning rather than symbolic cognition. Her research has evolved from foundational work in motor primitives for humanoid robots to current applications in industrial settings. She investigates the human factors involved in digital transformation, with special attention to workers with intermediate and lower levels of education who are often overlooked in digital skills training. Her approach emphasizes embodied cognition and work experience as foundations for developing effective human-machine interfaces that leverage existing worker knowledge. Human augmentation through collaborative robotics Intuitive robot programming interfaces (visual programming) Digital skills development for industrial workers Human-centered approaches to digital transformation Ethical considerations in human-robot collaboration Workplace adaptation to new technologies Professor Degallier Rochat has secured funding from diverse sources including Innosuisse, the Gerbert Rüf Foundation, and SNF. With support from the Gerbert Rüf Foundation's First Venture program, she co-founded a spin-off company aimed at making automation profitable for SMEs through employee training. Her research demonstrates significant practical impact, with interface designs tested across 116 participants showing positive effects on programming anxiety and usability. Her laboratory develops practical solutions for human-robot collaboration in manufacturing environments, creating interfaces that workers can use without extensive technical training. Through numerous publications, conference presentations, and media engagements, she actively contributes to the discourse on ethical and human-centered technological development in industry.

Ranjodh Singh DhaliwalView profile

Professor

• Digital Humanities
• Corpus Building
• Digital Imaging
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal serves as a Professor at the Digital Humanities Lab within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Basel, Switzerland. His work bridges humanities disciplines with computational methods, focusing on digitization, digital archiving, and cultural heritage preservation. Research Interests : Dhaliwal’s research explores the intersection of analog/digital photography, computational imaging, and sustainable digital infrastructure. He contributes to projects involving 3D visualization, color science, and the development of virtual research environments for humanities scholarship. Labs & Collaborations : As part of the Digital Humanities Lab , he collaborates with institutions like the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) , e-codices , and Swiss Art Research Infrastructure . The lab, founded in 1924 as the “Abteilung für Wissenschaftliche Photographie,” specializes in digital editions, corpus building, and computational analysis of cultural artifacts. Teaching & Programs : He is affiliated with the University of Basel’s Master’s program in Digital Humanities and its Doctoral program , which emphasize interdisciplinary methodologies for analyzing large-scale digital data in humanities contexts.

Tom AvermaeteView profile

Professor

• Urban Design History
• Intercultural Urbanism
• Material Culture of Cities
• +4 more

Tom Avermaete serves as Professor of the History and Theory of Urban Design at ETH Zurich's Department of Architecture since 2018. His research investigates urban design through three interconnected lenses: cities as material culture, cross-cultural knowledge exchange beyond Euro-American paradigms, and urban development as a shared civic responsibility. His scholarly work centers on intercultural urbanism, examining how architects and planners operate across geographical and cultural boundaries. Key research strands include the historical development of urban commons, postcolonial urban histories (particularly in Africa), pandemic-era spatial adaptations, and alternative historiographic methods for global architectural history. His approach emphasizes the material dimensions of urban design while challenging Western-centric narratives. Avermaete's recent publications reveal consistent thematic clusters: pandemic urbanism (notably balcony studies), cross-cultural architectural exchanges (especially in postcolonial contexts), and reconceptualizing urban commons. His work frequently employs 'contact zone' theory to analyze knowledge transfer in global urban development, with significant focus on African and European case studies. As chair leader, he supervises research projects including 'Codes and Conventions for Future Zurich,' 'Exploring the Contact Zone,' and 'Building the Commons.' His team investigates qualitative densification strategies, historical urban models, and communal land use patterns across temporal and geographical contexts. Co-organized 'Transects through Alpine Water Landscapes' summer school (2020) Coordinated research studio on Zurich's land/water/green commons Developed 'Swiss Coloniality' research program examining knowledge circulation The chair functions as an international hub for critical urban studies, with members conducting fieldwork across Africa, Asia, and Europe while developing new methodologies for writing inclusive architectural histories that center non-Western perspectives and collective spatial practices.

Teresa Galí-IzardView profile

Professor

• Landscape Architecture
• Regenerative Agriculture
• Soil Science
• +6 more

Teresa Galí-Izard is a Professor at ETH Zurich where she directs the Being Alive Chair within the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) in the Department of Architecture. She also serves as director of the Master's program in Landscape Architecture at ETH Zurich and is a director at Arquitectura Agronomia, a landscape architecture firm based in Barcelona. As a trained agronomist from the Technical University of Catalonia, she brings interdisciplinary expertise to her work bridging landscape architecture, ecology, and agricultural science. Her research focuses on translating the hidden potential of landscapes through understanding climate and geology as foundational elements for design. She has developed innovative methodologies including the BeingAliveLanguage software integrated with Rhino/Grasshopper that revolutionizes visualization of soil-centric information. Her work emphasizes fieldwork as essential practice, with particular attention to soil systems, geological conditions, and climate patterns as primary matter for landscape design. Professor Galí-Izard leads the global Garden of the XXI Century project with installations in Spain, Switzerland, USA, and Chile, exploring regenerative landscape cultivation and experimental gardening practices. Her publications and research demonstrate a consistent focus on translating landscapes through drawing, cartography, and digital tools while maintaining deep engagement with living systems and their evolutionary processes. Nominated for Schelling Architecture Prize (2024) for revolutionary contributions to landscape architecture understanding President of the Jury of the European Prize for Urban Public Space (2022) Member of the Oberlander Prize Jury She actively supervises student work through foundation studios and seminars at ETH Zurich, with recent projects including 'Regenerative Practices for Exhausted Landscapes' and 'Slow Water: Exploring Keyline Design in Switzerland.' Her Being Alive Chair functions as a laboratory for developing new approaches to landscape architecture that emphasize care, translation, and understanding of living systems. The chair organizes fieldwork weeks, research colloquia, and public lectures that foster interdisciplinary dialogue about landscape practices in the Anthropocene.

• Visual Communication
• Graphic Design
• Film Studies
• +3 more

Corina Flühmann serves as a Lecturer at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts within the School of Design, Film and Art, contributing to Switzerland's applied arts education sector. Her academic focus spans core creative disciplines: Visual Communication Graphic Design Film Studies Art Education Digital Media Typography She primarily teaches in the BA Visual Communication program at the Emmenbrücke campus (Nylsuisseplatz 1), emphasizing practical design application through Switzerland's applied sciences framework. Her role centers on developing student competencies in visual storytelling and contemporary media production within a professional educational context.

• Visual Communication
• Data Visualization
• Storytelling
• +4 more

Samuel Frei serves as a Lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – School of Design, Film and Art, where he teaches Visual Communication and Data Visualization across Bachelor's and Master's programs including the Applied Information and Data Science and MA Design curricula. His academic journey began after a career shift from biology and finance, completing a Master's in Design in 2011 followed by dissertation research at University College Dublin's SMARTLab (2012-2020). His research focuses on the intersection of analog and digital media, particularly in immersive technologies (AR/MR/VR) , cultural heritage digitization , and data storytelling . Key projects include the Digital Storytelling Lab, ALE (UNESCO World Heritage mobile experiences), and IDN-Kommunale Energie-Transformation. His work consistently explores how mobile and immersive technologies transform learning in cultural institutions and tourism contexts. Frei's 2024-2022 publications reveal a strong trend toward geospatial data visualization in tourism, cultural heritage preservation through mixed realities , and participatory digital archiving , often involving Swiss parks, museums, and indigenous communities like Amazonian collectives. His work bridges technical development with human-centered design principles. Nomination for Swiss Design Prize 2017 (Research category) Best of Swiss App Award 2016 (2x Bronze for ALE project) As former coordinator (2013-2023) and director (4 years) of continuing education programs, he managed interdisciplinary collaborations with cultural institutions, nature conservation groups, and educational organizations. His current leadership of the Investigative Methods in Research Practice module (2025) demonstrates ongoing curriculum development. Frei also maintains professional practice as an illustrator and concept designer, applying research to real-world projects in conservation and cultural sectors. His Visual Narrative research group serves as the primary laboratory context, producing projects like the Digital Storytelling Lab and Virtuelles Museum that integrate mobile technologies, indigenous knowledge systems, and emerging AI/AR platforms for cultural engagement.

Monica GasparView profile

Lecturer

• Design Cultures
• Craft Theory
• Critical Design
• +7 more

Monica Gaspar is a Lecturer at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), specifically within the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art. She works as a lecturer in the BA Product Design program and serves as a mentor for BA thesis in product design (object, jewelry, textile, spatial) and supervisor for Master Research Thesis in Design. Her professional profile extends beyond academia as she is also an active freelance curator and author with international recognition. Universitat de Barcelona (Art History) Zurich University of the Arts (Cultural and Gender Studies) Escola Massana Barcelona (Jewelry Design) Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Doctoral candidate) Gaspar's research focuses on redefining the "applied" as an experimental and socially relevant field of action. Her work explores design cultures, craftsmanship as critical practices, cultures of wearing (bodies, objects and identity), exhibitions as research devices, and intersectional and decolonial perspectives in design and art. She has developed a distinctive approach that bridges art, design, and activism through curated exhibitions and theoretical contributions. Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory exploring the intersections between material culture, critical theory, and social practice. Gaspar's work increasingly engages with decolonial perspectives, examining how design practices can challenge dominant narratives and power structures. She has developed innovative methodologies that position exhibitions themselves as research devices for investigating cultural interstices. Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal for Jewellery Research (2017-present) Board Member, NDG Network for Design History (2019-present) Peer Reviewer, ICDHS International Committee for Design History and Design Studies (2018-present) Foundation Board Member, FHD Design History Foundation Barcelona (2016-present) Co-Convenor, DHS2021 Design History Society Annual Conference (2020) Gaspar has shaped teaching at the interface between theory and practice through collaborations with art and design universities across Scandinavia, England, the Netherlands, and the USA. Her research projects include "Accelerating the pursuit of the SDGs in Swiss design education: Design Action Labs" and "Craft Round Tables: Shaping of digital transformation of work environments through human-centered craft competences." She previously served as a research associate at the Institute for Theory at Zurich University of the Arts (2013-2016) for the research project "Aesthetic Practices."

• Intensive Care for People with Disabilities
• Challenging Behaviors in Cognitive Impairment
• Disability Studies
• +5 more

Pia Georgi-Tscherry serves as a Lecturer, project manager, and Head of the Master in Social Work program at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Social Work, where she also holds the position of Deputy Head of the Institute for Social Pedagogy and Social Policy since 2024. She is affiliated with the Competence Center for Disability and Quality of Life (BuLQ) and the Center for Teaching and Professional Development. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Science from the University of Zurich with a dissertation on movement-restricting measures in intensive care settings, along with a Master of Arts in Special Education and General Educational Science from the same institution. Her academic background is complemented by specialized training in basic stimulation techniques and special education from Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. Dr. Georgi-Tscherry's research focuses on intensive care practices for people with disabilities, particularly examining challenging behaviors in cognitive impairment, ethical considerations of restrictive measures, and quality of life issues. She investigates workplace realities for people with severe disabilities, communication strategies with individuals with complex needs, and inclusive educational practices using qualitative methodologies including phenomenology, documentary method, grounded theory, and video analysis. Her work consistently addresses the tension between care ethics and practical implementation in disability support settings. Her publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory of deepening focus on disability support systems, with recent work (2021-2023) increasingly addressing architectural considerations for emotional regulation, staff-client relationship dynamics in intensive care, and workplace integration challenges for people with severe disabilities. She frequently collaborates with Stefania Calabrese and researchers from Swiss institutions on interdisciplinary projects. Dr. Georgi-Tscherry has supervised numerous MA theses at the University of Special Education in Zurich since 2017 and currently leads the Master in Social Work program at Lucerne University. She has secured research funding for multiple projects including the 'Kompetenzprofil und Unterstützungsbedarf von Mitarbeitenden in der Intensivbetreuung' study which examines staff competencies in intensive care settings. Co-leads the Network for people with severe disabilities in German-speaking Switzerland Organizes regular network meetings on intensive care practices Provides scientific evaluation services for pedagogical settings and individual case analysis in disability support Offers consulting on challenging behaviors and different disability profiles including ASD and ADHD in adulthood