Dr James Helal is the Assistant Dean for Sustainability and a Lecturer in Construction Management at the Melbourne School of Design (MSD), University of Melbourne. His research focuses on integrating life cycle assessment and computational tools into the structural design of tall buildings, emphasizing embodied carbon reduction. He is recognized for developing software frameworks that automate environmental impact analysis in early-stage structural design. Dr Helal teaches materials, structures, and life cycle assessment in construction management. His pedagogical excellence has earned prestigious awards, including the Edward Brown Award for Teaching Excellence. He coordinates the construction major in the Bachelor of Design program. His research addresses structural optimization, tall building sustainability, and environmental flows. Key contributions include frameworks for reducing carbon emissions in tall building design and critiques of decorative architectural elements' environmental impact. Awards: Structures Best Research into Practice Prize (Institution of Structural Engineers) Open Award for Excellence in Teaching (Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning) Edward Brown Award for Teaching Excellence (University of Melbourne) Advising & Grants: Coordinates construction curriculum but no explicit student advisee list is provided in texts. His work aligns with sustainability-focused research grants. Labs/Teams: Engaged with MSD’s Future Cities Practice and Construction Innovation initiatives.
Deborah Richards is a Professor in the School of Computing at Macquarie University, affiliated with the Ethics and Agency Research Centre, Performance and Expertise Research Centre, and Frontier AI Research Centre. She holds roles as Industry and External Relations Director for the School and Director of the Virtual Reality Lab. Her research focuses on Intelligent Virtual Agents, Virtual Reality applications in education and health, knowledge acquisition, and cybersecurity ethics. She has authored over 425 publications and led 19 research projects, including studies on AI in healthcare and ethical AI design. Education: PhD (Artificial Intelligence, Macquarie University), MAppSc (Information Studies), BBus (Computing and MIS), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (Leadership and Management). She advises on PhD and MRes students in Intelligent Virtual Agents research. Research interests include virtual agents for health behavior change, AI ethics, and educational technology. Notable projects include the eADVICE web-based management system for urinary incontinence and the development of embodied conversational agents for wellbeing support. Awards include the ABC Science Media Fellowship (2005) and Vice-Chancellor’s Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2017). Grants and collaborations span health informatics, cybersecurity, and AI ethics. She co-leads initiatives like the Respectful Maternity Care study and the Virtual Reality Lab’s immersive learning environments. Future work emphasizes ethical AI integration in education and healthcare.
Felicity McArdle is a Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education within the Faculty of Education at Queensland University of Technology. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, her work centers on reimagining early childhood pedagogy through critical lenses of social justice, art education, and play-based learning. Her research has significantly influenced Australian early childhood policy and practice. McArdle's research interests demonstrate a consistent commitment to transformative education. She critically examines how art and play function as vehicles for social justice, challenging neoliberal discourses in early childhood education. Her work on refugee children's artistic expression and anti-bias curriculum development reveals her dedication to equity-oriented pedagogy. Through collaborative drawing methodologies and visual research approaches, she has pioneered innovative ways of understanding children's perspectives. Her publication trends reveal a sophisticated evolution from foundational work on visual arts in education (2001-2010) toward increasingly critical examinations of power, policy, and social justice (2011-2021). The consistent citation impact of her work—particularly her 2002 paper 'Early Childhood Art Education: A Palimpsest' with over 13,000 citations—demonstrates her field-defining contributions to reconceptualizing art education as critical praxis. McArdle has held significant editorial roles including co-editing the influential 2013 volume 'Young Children, Pedagogy and the Arts' and serving on the editorial board of Australian Journal of Early Childhood. Her collaborations with leading scholars like Susan Grieshaber, Jennifer Sumsion, and Linda Knight have produced seminal work on intentional teaching and play-based learning. Her research methodology expertise centers on visual and arts-based approaches, particularly collaborative drawing techniques that engage children as active research participants. This methodological innovation reflects her commitment to ethical research practices that honor children's agency while generating meaningful insights about early childhood experiences.
Floyd Mueller is a Full Professor of Future Interfaces in the Department of Human Centred Computing at Monash University, where he also directs the award-winning Exertion Games Lab. His work bridges human-computer interaction, interaction design, and game and play design, with a focus on bodily engagement and physical activity through technology. He has held prior academic and research positions at RMIT University, the University of Melbourne, and CSIRO, and has been affiliated with elite institutions such as Stanford University, MIT Media Lab, and Microsoft Research Asia. PhD in Interaction Design – University of Melbourne (2011) MS in Media Arts and Sciences – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2002) Diplom-Informatiker (Medieninformatik) – Hochschule Furtwangen (2000) BSc in Multimedia – Griffith University (1999) Floyd Mueller’s research centers on human-computer interaction with a strong emphasis on bodily interactions, exertion interfaces, and playful technologies. His work explores how digital systems can support physical activity, human values, and novel forms of expression through games, wearables, augmented reality, and immersive experiences. He employs methodologies such as design ethnography, autoethnography, and Research Through Design to investigate the phenomenology of human-computer integration. His recent publications (2024–2025) reflect a continued focus on the future of bodily interfaces, including lucid dream mediation, extended reality for fear reduction in water, sonic gastronomy, and shared bodily control in augmented human systems. These works are published in top-tier venues like CHI and Human-Computer Interaction journal, highlighting trends toward immersive, sensory-rich, and human-centered computing that challenge traditional boundaries between body and machine. His scientific awards include being an inaugural honouree of the Australian Design Honours, receiving 9 Best Paper Honorable Mentions and 2 Best Papers at CHI and CHI PLAY, and being recognized as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Microsoft Research Asia Fellow. His games have been featured by BBC, ABC, Discovery Science Channel, and New Scientist, and won a Media Star Award. Floyd Mueller actively supervises PhD students through the Exertion Games Lab and Supervisor Connect platform. He has secured major research grants, including Australian Research Council Discovery and Linkage Projects. His current projects include Advancing Australia’s hospitality industry through interactive food and Designing digital aquatic play to foster Australians' engagement with water . He also serves as associate editor for IMWUT and IJHCS, co-founded the CHI PLAY conference series, and was general co-chair for CHI PLAY’18 and CHI’20. He leads the Exertion Games Lab, an interdisciplinary research team focused on inventing the future of bodily play. The lab investigates how technology can support active lifestyles through exertion games, wearables, drones, and immersive environments. The lab’s work spans design, prototyping, user studies, and real-world deployment, often in collaboration with chefs, athletes, and underwater explorers.
Florian 'Floyd' Mueller is a Professor of Future Interfaces at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where he directs the award-winning Exertion Games Lab within the Department of Human-Centred Computing (ranked among the top 20 HCI departments globally). Previously, he held positions at RMIT University, Stanford, University of Melbourne, Microsoft Research, MIT Media Lab, Fuji-Xerox Palo Alto Labs, Xerox Parc, and Australia's CSIRO. Mueller is a member of the prestigious ACM SIGCHI Academy, an honorary group recognizing leaders who have made substantial contributions to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Professor Mueller's research focuses on the intersections between technology, the human body, and play. He originated the concept of "Exertion Interface," arguing that we should not just design "easy-to-use" interactions when "hard-to-use" interactions can also be beneficial. His work spans movement-based interactions, whole-body interfaces, uncomfortable interactions, somaesthetics, and exertion games. Mueller's research methodology often employs research through design, design ethnography, and autoethnography to explore these novel interaction paradigms, incorporating mixed-reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, electronic muscle stimulation, biosensors, wearables, and drones. His recent publications demonstrate a continued focus on bodily interactions and human-computer integration, with particular emphasis on emerging subfields like WaterHCI and SportsHCI, brain-computer interfaces, and gustosonic (taste and sound) experiences. Mueller's work has evolved from foundational exertion game concepts to more sophisticated explorations of human-computer integration where technology becomes seamlessly woven into the fabric of human experience. Professor Mueller's contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards including: Inaugural honouree of the Australian Design Centre's Design Honours Tall Poppy award for "intellectual and scientific excellence" 10 "Best Paper Honorable Mentions" (top 5%) from premier HCI conferences 2 "Best Paper" awards (top 1%) at CHI PLAY and CHI Shortlisted for the European Innovation Games Award (alongside Nintendo's WiiFit) Nokia Mindtrek Ubimedia Award Mueller has successfully secured some of Australia's largest and most competitive research grants, achieving a remarkable 14% success rate on Australian Research Council Discovery Project applications. He has served as General co-Chair for CHI PLAY'18 and CHI'20, becoming the first Australian-based researcher to spearhead HCI's highest-ranked publication outlet, and is currently General co-Chair for CHI'24. He is Associate Editor for tier A journals including Elsevier's IJHCS (International Journal of Human-Computer Studies) and ACM's IMWUT (Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies). As director of the Exertion Games Lab, Mueller leads a research team whose innovations have been experienced by over 20,000 users across 3 continents and featured on the BBC, ABC, Discovery Science Channel, and Wired magazine. The lab has produced groundbreaking work in bodily interfaces, co-founding the CHI PLAY conference series and establishing new research directions in SportsHCI and WaterHCI through recent "Grand Challenges" papers. Mueller's lab continues to push boundaries with projects exploring brain-to-brain interfaces, lucid dreaming induction, and novel gustosonic experiences.
Dr. Feras Dayoub is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences (Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology) at the University of Adelaide , specializing in Embodied AI and Robotic Vision within the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) . He co-directs the CROSSING French-Australian laboratory for human-autonomous agent teaming and holds an Adjunct position at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , serving as an Associate Investigator at its Centre for Robotics . Previously, he was a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision . His research focuses on advancing reliable deployment of computer vision and machine learning on mobile robots in real-world environments. Applied projects include agricultural automation , environmental conservation , and autonomous infrastructure monitoring . He has published extensively on topics like object detection , domain adaptation , 3D representation learning , and vision-language navigation , with a particular emphasis on robustness in dynamic and partially observed environments. Dr. Dayoub is also an educator specializing in programming , computer vision , and robotic perception . He contributes to open-source robotics research through tools like AARK (Autonomous Racing Toolkit) and has led teams developing solutions for precision agriculture (e.g., Deepfruits fruit detection system) and environmental monitoring (e.g., Crown-Of-Thorns starfish detection ). Key Collaborations : CROSSING Lab, QUT Centre for Robotics Research Themes : Embodied AI, Robust Perception, Domain Adaptation
Professor Anna Marie Munster is a distinguished academic and artist at UNSW Art and Design (College of Fine Arts), where she has held a full-time tenured position since 2001. Her work bridges theoretical scholarship with creative practice, establishing her as a leading figure in digital media art and critical theory. University: University of New South Wales School: College of Fine Arts (UNSW Art and Design) Position: Professor Qualifications: PhD from UNSW (2002), BA (Class 1 Hons with University Medal) from University of Sydney (1984) Professor Munster's research explores the intersections of art, technology, and philosophy, with particular focus on statistical visuality, radical empiricism, the politics and aesthetics of machine learning, and more-than-human perception. Her work integrates process philosophy with contemporary media practices, examining how time, movement, and sonicity shape our experience of digital environments. She approaches these topics through both theoretical scholarship and creative practice, often collaborating with artist Michele Barker on multi-channel audiovisual installations. Her publications reveal a consistent trajectory exploring the relationship between embodiment and digital media, with recent work focusing on AI and machine learning in cultural contexts. Munster's creative output demonstrates sophisticated integration of technical innovation with philosophical inquiry, particularly in how her installations challenge conventional perceptions of time and space. ARC, UNSW Student Council Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Supervision (2017) Dean's Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Supervision (2015) Highly commended for Materializing New Media at Prix Ars Electronica (2008) Winner of National Digital Art Awards 'The Harries' (2006) University Press of New England Publishing Award (2005) Professor Munster has completed over 20 PhD and Masters supervisions at UNSW and been involved in another 10 secondary supervisions. She currently supervises five PhD candidates working on diverse topics including coding materialities, critical bio-textiles, schizophrenia and XR technologies, sound and resonance, and affective drawing. Her ARC-funded research projects demonstrate sustained commitment to interdisciplinary work, particularly at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Her creative practice with Michele Barker has resulted in numerous commissioned installations exploring perception, embodiment, and the relationship between humans and technology.
Dr. Anne Ozdowska is a Research Fellow in the School of Computing at The Australian National University (ANU). Her work focuses on heuristic evaluation methods for design, inclusive technologies, and game design principles. She holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) awarded in 2019, alongside a BCompSc degree. Her research emphasizes applying Universal Design and game mechanics to create accessible technologies. She is registered to supervise research students in these areas. Key research interests include: Heuristic evaluation frameworks for early design validation Inclusive game design for diverse audiences Augmented Reality applications in health and education Assistive technologies for neurodiverse populations Publications span topics from cross-platform multiplayer game design (2025) to foundational studies on screen time effects in young children (2012). Her work bridges academic research with practical applications, including commercialized software from her doctoral research. Professional contributions include developing GameFlow heuristic frameworks and contributing to educational interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder. Details on grants and lab affiliations are not explicitly stated in available materials.
Professor Eduardo Velloso is an academic staff member at the School of Computer Science , University of Sydney . He is a member of the Centre for AI Trust and Governance and holds a PhD in Computer Science from Lancaster University and a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. Teaches COMP4447/5047 - Pervasive Computing and INFO1111 - Computing Professionalism Research Interests focus on distributed collaboration in mixed reality , human-AI interaction , and HCI theory and methodology . His work integrates Engineering, Design, and Psychology to explore gaze interaction, adaptive agents, and multimodal interfaces. Key projects include Blended Whiteboard for remote MR collaboration and GazeGrip for mobile accessibility. Publication Trends show expertise in Virtual Reality , Mixed Reality , and Human-AI Interaction , with recent work on Algorithmic Recourse and Immersive Educational Tools . Awards include ACM Best Paper Awards at CHI, UIST, TOCHI, and DIS venues. Scientific Awards 2024 ACM CHI & DIS Honorable Mentions 2022 UoM-FEIT Teaching & Learning Award 2019 UoM-CIS Excellence in Research Award 2015 ACM UIST Best Paper Award Advising includes supervision of research students Marvin, Tinghui LI, and Wendi YU in projects on asynchronous MR collaboration , situationally-induced impairments , and physical environment integration . His lab explores AI-assisted interaction and context-aware computing through projects like SpinalLog and LiftSmart .
Associate Professor Lizzie Muller serves as Director of Research in the School of Art & Design at the University of New South Wales. An accomplished curator and researcher, she specializes in audience experience and interdisciplinary collaboration, with a particular focus on the future of museums as sites of knowledge production. Her research bridges curatorial practice with theories and methods from participatory design and interaction design, developing audience-centered curatorial methodologies and innovative approaches to audience research. Her work extends to preservation and archiving, particularly experiential documentation and oral histories of media art. Co-author of Curating Lively Objects: Exhibitions Beyond Disciplines (Routledge Museum Studies Series, 2022) Elected Councillor of the Sydney Culture Network Co-founder of the bi-monthly Sydney Culture Data Salon with Keir Winesmith Muller's research output demonstrates a consistent trajectory exploring the intersection of art, science, and technology through major international exhibitions including Human Non Human (Powerhouse Museum, 2018/19) and A Working Model of the World (staged across UNSW Galleries, Parsons School of Design, and University of Dundee). Her recent work focuses on art-science collaborations, deep time history through the ARC Centre for Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, and the development of audience-centered curatorial frameworks. Scientific Awards: 2024 ADA Deans Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Supervision Muller leads significant research initiatives as Chief Investigator on multiple ARC-funded projects including the ARC Linkage project Curating Third Space: The Value of ArtScience Collaboration and SSHRC-funded research on The Living Effect and Curating Lively Objects . She has supervised numerous PhD and MFA candidates, with a special focus on curatorial practice-based research, and currently serves as Program Director of the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership at UNSW Art & Design.
Regina Fabry is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Macquarie University, Australia, affiliated with the School of Humanities Ethics and Agency Research Centre. Previously, she held positions at Ruhr University Bochum (Lecturer, 2018–2021) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2016–2018). Her research focuses on situated cognition, affectivity, and the socio-cultural influences on self-narration and grief, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like deathbots. She holds a PhD in Philosophy (summa cum laude) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2015), awarded the Barbara Wengeler Prize for her work on enculturated predictive processing. Fabry’s research is funded by grants including an ARC DECRA (2021–2024) and explores interdisciplinary themes in AI ethics, cognitive science, and literary studies. **Education**: PhD in Philosophy, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2012–2015) MA in Comparative Literary Studies, Philosophy, and Theatre Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2007–2012) **Research Interests**: Combines empirical cognitive science with feminist theory to study narrative practices, grief, and AI ethics. Current projects include analyzing deathbots’ impact on grief dynamics and the socio-cultural situatedness of self-narration as tools of oppression or resistance. Her work bridges philosophy, psychology, and technology studies. **Articles Trends**: Recent publications address grief in digital contexts (deathbots), narrative ethics (e.g., gaslighting), and cognitive frameworks like predictive processing. Her work frequently intersects with technology’s role in shaping human experiences. **Awards**: Barbara Wengeler Prize 2016 for doctoral dissertation on enculturated cognition. **Teaching & Grants**: Teaches courses on AI ethics, including PHIL8400 (Rights, Responsibilities, and AI). Supervises postgraduate research in philosophy of mind and AI. Leads projects like “Living to tell, telling to live” (2021–present) and co-leads “A lone or lonely life?” (2025–2028) on autism and loneliness. **Labs/Teams**: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations on grief, narrative theory, and AI ethics, leveraging her background in philosophy, psychology, and literary studies.
Roberto Martinez-Maldonado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centred Computing at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology. He holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction and Educational Data Mining from the University of Sydney. His research focuses on Learning Analytics, Artificial Intelligence in Education, and Collaborative Learning, with applications in healthcare and classroom settings. Prior to Monash, he worked at the Connected Intelligence Centre (CIC) and as a lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney. His academic journey includes a Master's in Information Technology from Universidad Tecmilenio and a Bachelor's in Computer Systems Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida. Key research projects include developing analytics dashboards for healthcare simulations, teamwork analytics for professional education, and AI-driven tools for reflective practice. His innovations include the HuCETA framework and the Data Storytelling editor, which enhance educational data visualization and teacher-student interaction. He has received multiple awards, including the 2022 Best Student Paper and 2020 Best Paper Award. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education. He supervises PhD students in Multimodal Teamwork and Classroom Analytics. Roberto is actively involved in academic conferences, serving on program committees for LAK and AIED. Media engagements include ABC Radio interviews discussing classroom design and AI in education.
Helen Verran is a Professorial Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University's Northern Institute within the Faculty of Arts and Society. An accomplished ethnographer with a distinguished career spanning seven universities across four continents, she has dedicated her academic life to exploring cross-cultural knowledge work, particularly with Indigenous communities. Before joining Charles Darwin University, she spent twenty-five years teaching and researching in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne, where she collaborated extensively with Yolngu Aboriginal knowledge authorities. University of Melbourne (25 years in History and Philosophy of Science) Nigeria (8 years in the 1980s working with Yoruba teachers) Charles Darwin University (current position at the Northern Institute) Verran's research centers on ethnographic approaches to knowledge production in an era dominated by numerics, algorithms, and big data. She investigates how first-person experience and Indigenous knowledge systems can inform policy and governance, preventing crucial aspects of human experience from being lost in purely quantitative approaches. Her work spans Indigenous knowledge traditions, philosophy of science, comparative philosophy, and decolonizing practices, with particular focus on Yolngu Aboriginal Australian knowledge systems and Yoruba knowledge from Nigeria. She has developed innovative 'Ground Up' research methods that enhance Indigenous sovereignties and has made significant contributions to Science and Technology Studies (STS), especially regarding numbers and enumeration in cross-cultural contexts. Her recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with decolonizing methodologies, museum epistemology, Indigenous knowledge systems, and the philosophical implications of cross-cultural knowledge exchange. Verran's work consistently examines the tensions between different knowledge systems while developing practical approaches for working across these differences respectfully. She has made notable contributions to understanding Indigenous mathematics and the role of numbers in different cultural contexts, as evidenced by her award-winning book 'Science and an African Logic' (2001). Vice Chancellor's Award for Research Impact (2023) International prizes for 'Science and an African Logic' (2001) Referenced in Wikipedia pages Verran actively supervises postgraduate research and shares her expertise through 'Espresso Yourself!' sessions for Higher Degree by Research students. Her current projects include 'Design and evaluation as strategies/practices for exploring organisational sustainability' and 'Hope and a Decolonising Pedagogy,' reflecting her commitment to developing practical applications of her theoretical work. She has established collaborative research frameworks with Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land, particularly focused on digital technologies, environmental management, and education in remote settlements. As an active participant in academic networks, Verran organizes conferences and workshops on STS and Indigenous methodologies, including the 'Making and Doing Top End Science and Technology Studies together' event in 2024. Her work contributes significantly to Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice and strong institutions.
Dr. Maxime Cordeil is a Senior Lecturer in Human Centred Computing at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Queensland. His research focuses on Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies for data interaction, interactive visualization systems, and AR interfaces for industry applications. He has authored over 60 publications in top-tier venues such as ACM CHI and IEEE VR, and was nominated as Australia's Field Leader in Computer Graphics in 2021 and 2022. Research Interests: Data visualization, immersive analytics, medical imaging, collaborative systems, and human-computer interaction. Current Projects: Includes embedded visualizations for sports performance, interactive machine learning in 3D environments, and mixed-reality applications in forensic science. PhD Supervision: Actively guiding students in topics like immersive gesture exploration, AR for digital health, and collaborative VR systems. His work bridges theory and practice, with tools like IATK (Immersive Analytics Toolkit) and the MADE-Axes hardware system. He collaborates with industry partners like Raytracer and CSIRO, focusing on applications in space exploration, underwater training, and remote operations. Awards: Multiple best paper recognitions at ISS and CHI, plus industry-driven research grants. Labs: Leads the Immersive Analytics research group at UQ, specializing in embodied interaction and spatial computing.
Dr. Sam Ferguson is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computer Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), with a multidisciplinary background in music performance, cognitive science, and psycho-acoustics. His research explores the intersection of sound, music, and human experience through creative coding, machine learning, and interactive systems. Key Research Areas: Sound and Music Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, Creative Coding, Cognitive Science, Installation Art, and Acoustics. Current Projects: ARC Linkage project on creative coding and multiplicitous media; industry collaborations on IoT-based audiovisual systems. Recent Publications: Focus on spatial audio complexity, gestural interaction with networked sound, music emotion recognition frameworks, and robotic performance through genre-based cultural platforms. Leadership Roles: Director of Teaching & Learning Engagement; former Deputy Head of School (Teaching and Learning); active in ACM Creativity and Cognition Steering Committee. Teaching: Courses like Digital Media Studio , Prototyping Physical Interaction , and Data Processing using R within UTS's interdisciplinary Software Development Studio.
