Ruth S. Contreras Espinosa

Ruth S. Contreras Espinosa is a Serra Húnter Professor at the Department of Library Science, Documentation and Audiovisual Communication within the Faculty of Information and Audiovisual Media at the University of Barcelona. She holds a PhD in Multimedia Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and serves as a researcher and coordinator of international research projects funded by the European Union. Her academic work bridges the fields of human-computer interaction, game studies, and educational technology, with a particular focus on applying game elements to non-entertainment contexts.

Dr. Contreras Espinosa earned her doctoral degree in Multimedia Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Her academic journey has included research stays at New York University (USA), LINKS Foundation-Politecnico di Torino (Italy), and the University of Campinas (Brazil). She has served as an external evaluator for the Portuguese Agency for Assessment and Accreditation (A3ES), the Spanish Innovation Certification Agency (ACIE), and the State Research Agency (AEI) of Spain, demonstrating her recognized expertise in multimedia and games.

Her research program centers on the intersection of game design, user experience, and educational applications. She investigates how gamification principles can enhance learning outcomes, improve public service delivery, and address societal challenges. Her work particularly examines UX/UI design, game-based learning, serious games, and the application of video games in educational contexts. She explores how interactive media can foster 21st-century skills development and address issues like misinformation through game-based approaches, with a special interest in gender representation in the gaming industry.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on applying game elements to non-entertainment contexts, particularly in education and public administration. A significant portion of her work examines how gamification can enhance e-government services, improve educational outcomes, and address societal issues like misinformation. Her research shows an interdisciplinary approach that bridges computer science, education, and social sciences, with an emphasis on practical applications and user-centered design principles.

Dr. Contreras Espinosa has received notable recognition for her contributions:

• Mexicanos Distinguidos recognition awarded by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2020)
• Positive evaluations from ANECA (Spain's Ministry of Education and Science) for both research and teaching

As an academic leader, she serves as an ambassador for Women in Games International and is a co-founder of DIGRA Mexico Chapter (Digital Games Research Association) and the Global MX Network – Barcelona Chapter. She previously co-founded the Observatory of Communication, Video Games, and Entertainment (OCVE), a multidisciplinary research group active from 2014 to 2024. Additionally, she co-founded Digital Work Force, where her team developed nine educational digital games ("Personatges en Joc" Collection) introducing primary school students to key figures in the history of science and technology in Catalonia. Her editorial contributions include co-editing "Gamification in University Classrooms," which has surpassed 17,000 downloads, and contributing to books on video games including "Multiplayer Games: The Power of Networks in Entertainment." She has taught at various universities in Spain and internationally, demonstrating a commitment to advancing knowledge in her field through both research and education.