Tshering Dema

Dr. Tshering Dema is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Computer Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Faculty of Science. She is an early-career researcher specializing in Sustainable Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and environmental conservation design, with a focus on co-designing technologies with children and remote communities to foster nature engagement and sustainability.

Research Interests:

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Participatory and Co-Design
• Interaction Design for Children
• Ubiquitous Computing in Natural Environments
• Socio-technical Systems for Conservation
• Acoustic Monitoring of Endangered Species
• Digital Technologies in Early Childhood Education

Her research integrates qualitative methods from HCI to understand how digital technologies can nurture love and care for nature among young children in early childhood centers. She is currently involved in the QUT research project ‘Engaging the Digital Child with the Wonders of Nature, e-Science and the Outdoors’.

Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications highlight a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining computer science with environmental conservation and child development. Key themes include the use of digital games and IoT devices (like ambient birdhouses) to enhance children’s connection with nature, participatory sensing in remote communities for species conservation, and the application of acoustic data and visual analytics for monitoring endangered birds such as the white-bellied heron in Bhutan.

Scientific Affiliations:

• Design Participation Lab, QUT
• QUT Alumnus (PhD)

Advising and Grants: While specific students and grants are not listed, her collaborative research with senior academics like Prof. Margot Brereton and Prof. Paul Roe suggests active involvement in research teams and likely mentorship roles. Her work is supported through institutional research projects and interdisciplinary collaborations focused on sustainability and technology design.

Labs and Teams: Dr. Dema is a key member of the Design Participation Lab at QUT, a research group dedicated to participatory and human-centered design for social and environmental challenges. Her work exemplifies the lab’s mission through community-engaged, design-driven solutions for conservation and education.