Barbara Rich is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Maine's School of Social Work. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she specializes in service-learning methodologies, international fieldwork, and human/animal welfare issues. She holds an MSW from Columbia University and pursued doctoral studies at Boston College's social work program. Education: MSW (Columbia University), Doctoral studies (Boston College) Her research focuses on innovative pedagogical strategies for service-learning, risk management in global contexts, and intersections between human and animal welfare. Notable publications include works on experiential learning frameworks and participatory community projects. Dr. Rich has taught courses ranging from introductory social work to specialized topics like substance abuse, adolescent practice, and Belizean community services. Her work emphasizes integrative mind/body/spirit approaches in clinical practice.
Laurent Lioté serves as an MCSC Impact Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, collaborating across the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC), MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), and MIT Climate Policy Center (MCPC). Holding a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from University College London, his work bridges academic research and governmental practice. Education: PhD in Engineering and Public Policy, University College London (UK) Lioté's research centers on the engineering-policy interface, employing ethnographic methods and theoretical frameworks from Engineering Studies and Science and Technology Studies. He investigates how engineers and policymakers collaborate on net-zero strategies, examining organizational structures, cultural barriers, and knowledge exchange mechanisms within government institutions. His work specifically analyzes the UK energy ministry's operations to develop actionable frameworks for improving transdisciplinary collaboration in sustainability transitions. His publication portfolio reveals a clear trajectory toward integrating engineering expertise with policy development, particularly in energy systems and climate governance. Key themes include the operationalization of engineering advice in governmental settings, the socioeconomic impacts of digital infrastructure, and innovative approaches to transdisciplinary engineering education. This body of work consistently addresses the practical challenges of implementing sustainability policies through improved engineer-policymaker collaboration. While specific awards remain unnamed in available materials, his research has generated award-winning publications recognized by both academic and policy communities. Supported by MIT's Climate Project initiative, Lioté actively engages in knowledge dissemination through teaching and public speaking across three continents, emphasizing practical applications of his research findings. His current work within MIT's collaborative ecosystem focuses on developing micro- and organizational-scale strategies to enhance knowledge exchange between engineers (across government, industry, and academia) and policymakers, with the explicit goal of accelerating global sustainability transitions through evidence-based policy interventions.
Dr. Laura Bissell is an Athenaeum Research Fellow and Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). Her interdisciplinary work bridges performance studies, feminism, ecology, and technology, with a focus on matrescence and mobility. She holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her education includes a first-class MA (Hons) in English Literature and Theatre Studies, an MPhil in Performance Studies, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Arts Education. She previously taught at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, and Transart Institute Berlin. Research interests include contemporary performance practices, technology’s role in art, eco-theatre, and feminist praxis. Her collaborative Making Routes project explores creative mobilities. She co-edits the International Journal of Performance Art and Digital Media ’s Matrescence and Media special edition, and is authoring a monograph on matrescence and performance. Recent work includes COP26-related climate performance studies and a 2023 life-writing article. Awards include the Athenaeum Research Fellowship and HEA Senior Fellowship. She advises doctoral research across video game performance, eco-queer theory, and neuroqueering dance practices. Professional roles include RCS Sustainability Committee Co-Chair and External Examiner for University of Salford and Rose Bruford College. Qualifications include Yoga teaching and Mental Health First Aid certifications.
Mark Leather is an Associate Professor of Education at Plymouth Marjon University's School of Education, specializing in Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. He leads the MRes in Outdoor Education program and has extensive experience in diverse education sectors, including secondary education, outdoor centers, and international programs. His research focuses on experiential pedagogies, nature-based learning, and the intersection of play and education. Leather holds an EdD from the University of Exeter, an MSc in Outdoor Education from the University of Edinburgh, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is actively involved in professional bodies like the British Educational Research Association (co-convenor of the Nature, Outdoor Learning, and Play SIG) and the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education. His research highlights include studies on place-based education, Forest School critiques, and the role of technology in outdoor learning. Key contributions include the PLaTO-Net framework for outdoor pedagogy terminology and the exploration of hyperreal nature through social media. He regularly presents at international conferences and serves as an external examiner for multiple universities. Leather’s work emphasizes fostering connections between students, educators, and the natural environment, advocating for pedagogical approaches that integrate play, place-responsive teaching, and global environmental challenges.
Professor Peter Nestor is a renowned academic in Neuroscience at the University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute, with an adjunct appointment as a cognitive neurologist at Mater Hospital. His research focuses on neurodegenerative dementias, particularly Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, emphasizing early-stage diagnosis through neuroimaging (MRI/PET) and biomarker analysis. He leads investigations into pathological mechanisms, including amyloid and tau proteins, and develops diagnostic tools like quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). His work bridges clinical and research settings, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Key areas of expertise include differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive assessment tools, and MRI advancements for individualized patient analysis. He collaborates with centers like the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research, contributing to multi-institutional studies on biomarkers and neuroimaging standards.
Dr. Jennifer Goldstein is a Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). As Director of the LEAD program, she focuses on improving educational quality for underserved communities, particularly through university-district partnerships and dismantling antisemitism in education. Her research emphasizes teacher leadership, policy analysis, and equity-driven frameworks. Her publications include the 2024 book Radical University-District Partnerships and articles exploring partnerships for leadership preparation (2025), urban education dynamics (2023), and teacher evaluation systems. She actively engages with educational communities through podcasts like AUHSD Future Talks, discussing leadership preparation, whole-child education, and innovative program models such as LEAD. Her work spans diverse topics from systemic accountability frameworks (2007–2009) to wellness and interdisciplinary approaches in education. Despite the breadth of her research, a core theme is bridging institutional gaps to foster equitable educational opportunities. She holds no explicitly stated awards but is recognized for her contributions to teacher leadership and partnership models. Dr. Goldstein advises the LEAD program, though no specific advisees are listed. Her affiliations include the Department of Educational Leadership at CSUF and collaborations with local school districts. She advocates for community-driven solutions to educational challenges through both academic and applied initiatives.
Wendelin Küpers is an Associate Professor at Karlshochschule International University (since 2013) and holds concurrent roles as Associate Professor at ICN Business School (France) and Massey University (New Zealand). His academic training includes a PhD (Dr. rer. pol.) from the University of Witten/Herdecke, with postdoctoral research at the University of St. Gallen. His research focuses on phenomenology, embodied organizational practices, sustainable leadership, and integral management. He has held visiting fellowships at institutions like the Imagination Laboratory and serves on editorial boards for journals such as Integral Review and Organizational Aesthetics . Research interests span embodied organizational life-worlds , practical wisdom in leadership , and sustainability through aesthetic and ethical practices . Key projects include 'Em-Bodied-MIND-full' (mindfulness in leadership) and 'De-Sign-Doing' (sustainable design practices). He actively contributes to conferences like EURAM and EGOS, focusing on critical management studies and ethics. His awards include the 'Key Reading' designation in Emerald Reviews (2005), a Johnson Award nomination (2008), and the Erasmus+ grant (2014/2015). Küpers has authored/co-authored over 20 books, including Phenomenology of the Embodied Organization (2015) and Inter-Praxis (forthcoming 2023). His work bridges philosophy, management, and sustainability, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. He leads initiatives like the Practical Wisdom in Leadership book series and advises organizations such as the Social Responsibility Council (India). Current projects explore embodied practices in digital environments and eco-conscious organizational transformations.
Julia C. Dodd, PhD, is an Associate Professor at East Tennessee State University's Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on the intersections of trauma, sexual and reproductive health, and health disparities, particularly examining how sexual victimization, adverse childhood experiences, and medical trauma impact health outcomes through cognitive, behavioral, and physiological pathways. PhD in Clinical Health Psychology (East Carolina University) Predoctoral internship at Charles George VA Medical Center MA/BA in General Experimental Psychology (Appalachian State University) Her STARH Lab investigates: LGBTQ+ health disparities and medical mistrust Mechanisms linking trauma to reproductive health outcomes Physiological and psychosocial effects of discrimination Recent work spans trauma-informed healthcare, infertility stigma, and minority stress effects. She mentors graduate students in health psychology research and has presented at major conferences including Society of Behavioral Medicine and International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Nuria Pelechano Gomez is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), affiliated with the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB). She leads research in the ViRVIG group (Visualització, Realitat Virtual i Interacció Gràfica), focusing on character animation, virtual humans, and crowd simulation. Her work emphasizes immersive environments and real-time rendering applications. Education: PhD in Computer Science from UPC (thesis: 'Real-Time Avatar Animation Synthesis in Virtual Reality' by Yun, H. 2023). Research interests include motion capture, crowd behavior modeling, and VR/AR applications. Recent work explores sparse data reconstruction, avatar customization, and disease spread simulations. She has contributed to over 140 publications, including high-impact journals like ACM Transactions on Graphics and Computer Graphics Forum. Awards include 'Best Teaching Assistant' in 2005 and 2006. Active in academic governance, she serves on program committees for top conferences (e.g., Eurographics, SIGGRAPH Motion in Games). Her projects (e.g., MPACT, XR4ED) are funded by national and EU grants. Labs/Teams: ViRVIG Group at UPC, collaborating with international institutions on projects like CAVAST (Crowd Animation, Visualization, and Simulation Testbed).
Dr. Bruna Petreca is a Professor and Reader in Human Experience and Materials at the Royal College of Art's Materials Science Research Centre. She specializes in integrating human experience into materials development, focusing on circular economy, digital environments, and health/wellbeing. Her research leads projects like the UKRI Textiles Circularity Centre and EPSRC Dematerialisation initiatives, emphasizing sustainable fashion, consumer behavior, and digital tools. Educated at the University of São Paulo (BA in Fashion/Textiles) and the RCA (PhD in Design Products), she has a postdoctoral background at TU Delft. Awards include 2013 Human Centred Design prizes and recognition for her work on material experience frameworks. She collaborates internationally, chairs research ethics at RCA, and co-leads projects on AI design tools and circular fashion. Her teaching spans undergraduate/postgraduate levels, emphasizing materials science, human-centered design, and sustainable practices. Education: PhD (RCA), Postdoc (TU Delft), BA (USP) Key Projects: Textiles Circularity Centre (UKRI), Consumer Experience Digital Tools (EPSRC), Brazil-UK Natural Polymers Network Awards: Best Concept/Human Centred Design (2013), Best Poster Presentation (2013) Research Themes: Circular fashion, material experience frameworks, embodied design, AR tools for sustainability
Ane Arbillaga Etxarri is a Physiotherapist and Researcher at the Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto. Her work focuses on respiratory physiology, chronic disease management, and the impact of environmental and behavioral factors on health. She has led numerous research projects including studies on COPD, cervical pain treatment, and exercise interventions. Primary affiliation: University of Deusto Research areas: Respiratory Therapy, COPD Management, Exercise Physiology, Environmental Health Her research highlights include developing reference equations for respiratory muscle strength, analyzing the effects of urban environments on COPD patients' activity levels, and investigating neural mobilization techniques for cervicobraquial pain. She has received awards for her work, including the SEPAR-PARI GmbH Communication Prize (2023) and the Best Oral Communication Award at the Spanish Physiotherapy Congress (2023). Current projects include studies on respiratory muscle weakness criteria, cadence patterns in COPD patients, and the psychological impact of AI in clinical reasoning among physiotherapy students. She has supervised doctoral research and contributed to clinical practice guidelines, such as the post-COVID-19 follow-up consensus by SEPAR. Awards: Multiple conference awards for impactful research presentations and innovative projects in physiotherapy and respiratory medicine.
Frank Biocca is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). His research focuses on augmented reality, user experience, virtual environments, and human-computer interaction. He has led or co-led multiple federally funded projects, including studies on interactive deception analysis, wearable augmented reality interfaces, and the molecular mechanisms of RNA processing. Biocca’s work bridges technology design and psychological impacts, with applications in health communication, transportation, and media studies. He has authored over 100 publications and contributed to interdisciplinary collaborations across computer science, neuroscience, and social sciences. Key research projects include the NSF-funded 'Mobile Infospaces' initiative (2002-2006), exploring augmented reality interface design, and the ongoing 'POLYAMACHINES' project (2007-2022) investigating RNA polyadenylation mechanisms. His recent publications address algorithmic transparency in news systems, spatial presence in digital displays, and trust in mobility-as-a-service technologies. Biocca has advised numerous projects at NJIT, integrating cutting-edge technologies like spatial augmented reality and VR headsets. His contributions to HCI and media studies have been recognized through sustained academic engagement and collaborations with institutions worldwide. Current research trends emphasize ethical implications of AI-driven media and immersive technology’s role in health interventions.
Roya Haratian serves as Principal Academic (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Electronic Science and Engineering at Bournemouth University's Department of Design and Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Technology. As Deputy Head of Department and Athena SWAN lead, she spearheaded the department's successful Bronze Award in 2021 for gender equality initiatives. Her leadership extends to curriculum development in Mechatronics and Robotics programs across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her academic credentials include a BSc (First Class Honours) and MSc (Distinction) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, followed by a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (2014). Prior to her current role, she worked as an Associate Lecturer at QMUL and Research Associate at Bristol Robotics Lab, focusing on on-body sensing systems and bio-signal processing for human-machine collaboration. Haratian's research centers on electronic engineering applications in human-robot interaction, with particular emphasis on on-body sensing technologies, signal processing, and machine learning. Her work bridges theoretical innovation with industrial implementation, developing assistive technologies for healthcare and safety-critical systems. Recent projects address diabetic foot ulcer prevention, emotion recognition in VR, and human-machine collaboration safety protocols, demonstrating strong translational impact across medical and industrial domains. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strategic progression from foundational signal processing techniques toward integrated human-machine systems. Her work increasingly incorporates game theory for resource allocation, AI-driven predictive modeling, and inclusive design principles, with growing emphasis on real-world implementation challenges and ethical considerations in assistive technologies. Key recognitions include: Athena SWAN Bronze Award (Advance HE, 2021) for departmental gender equality leadership Senior Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (2021) BU Doctoral College Outstanding Contribution Award (2025) Design Review Award from Institute of Mechanical Engineering (2023) Student Experience 'You are Brilliant' Award (2017) As Recognised Research Supervisor (UK Council for Graduate Education), she currently co-supervises five PhD students on topics including AI surveillance, biomechatronics, and digital twin simulation. Her £1.2M+ research portfolio features strategic partnerships with Zimmer-Biomet, Computational Mechanics Wessex Institute, and Daido Industrial Bearing, with recent grants including HEIF-funded AI emotion recognition systems (2025) and QR-funded human-machine safety protocols (2024). She actively mentors through AdvanceHE's Aurora program and leads BU's Inclusivity Curriculum Evaluation project. Haratian directs the department's Athena SWAN initiative and collaborates with the Royal Institute on STEM outreach, designing bioelectronic masterclasses for GCSE students. Her public engagement includes 'Café Scientifique' discussions on machine emotion recognition and keynote addresses at Brockenhurst STEM Awards, focusing on translating on-body sensing research into real-world health applications.
Stephen Ramsey, an Associate Professor at Oregon State University, holds dual appointments in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (College of Engineering) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine). With a PhD in Physics from the University of Maryland, his postdoctoral training in computational genomics at the University of Washington, and professional experience at the Institute for Systems Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Research, Ramsey bridges computational methods with biomedical applications. Education : Ph.D., Physics, University of Maryland; M.S., Physics, University of Maryland; Sc.B., Mathematical Physics, Brown University Ramsey specializes in computational systems biology , focusing on bioinformatics , biomedical knowledge graphs , and precision medicine . His research integrates machine learning , gene regulatory network modeling , and multi-omics data analysis to address challenges in rare disease diagnostics , drug monitoring , and inflammatory disease mechanisms . Current work includes AI-driven biomedical translation and electrochemical biosensor development for non-invasive diagnostics . Recent publications highlight knowledge graph applications in translational biomedicine , causal network inference in clinical-environmental data integration , and cross-species cancer transcriptomics . His team develops tools like RTX-KG2 and PloverDB to standardize biomedical data sharing and semantic reasoning . Scientific Awards : 2019 Zoetis Award (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine) 2016 NSF CAREER Award 2016 PhRMA New Investigator Award 2010 NIH K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Award Ramsey advises in computational biology courses (CS 446/546) and contributes to biomedical AI through projects like mediKanren for rare disease diagnostics . His NSF-funded research explores gene expression noise and regulatory network dynamics , while NIH and PhRMA grants support his translational medicine initiatives. He leads the Ramsey Laboratory , which develops graph-based reasoning tools for biomedical data translation and multi-omics integration . The lab's work spans comparative oncology models, electrochemical biosensors , and knowledge graph infrastructure for clinical decision support .
Kelsey Dayle John (Diné/Navajo Nation) is an Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado. Her scholarship centers on interspecies learning within tribal communities, with particular emphasis on equine-human relations and Native American horse cultures. She draws theoretically from BIPOC feminisms, Indigenous studies, human-animal interaction, Diné Studies, and foundations of education. Education Ph.D., Cultural Foundations of Education — Syracuse University, 2019 M.S., Cultural Foundations of Education — Syracuse University, 2017 C.A.S., Women’s and Gender Studies — Syracuse University, 2016 B.A., Educational Studies — Colgate University, 2013 Research Interests Dr. John’s work integrates Indigenous methodologies, multispecies ethnography, and Indigenous feminisms to explore how human and animal relationships—especially with horses—shape knowledge, pedagogy, and sovereignty in Indigenous communities. She examines equine-assisted services as sites of decolonial learning and cultural resurgence, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems in educational practice. Her inquiries also extend to the intersections of settler colonialism and animal studies, interrogating how the erasure of Indigenous horse cultures serves colonial agendas. Through community-engaged scholarship, she advocates for land-based and relational pedagogies that affirm Indigenous futurities. Professional Affiliations Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Human Equine Relational Development Institute Selected Publications & Themes Across more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters (2017–2024), John consistently interrogates colonial constructs of animality, education, and place. Her 2024 piece on running and Diné identity explores embodied literacy within pluriversal frameworks, while her 2023 collaborations examine Indigenous perspectives in animal biosciences and the politics of “wildness” in zoological contexts. Through these works, she advances decolonial praxis across Indigenous education, animal studies, and social justice pedagogy. Community Engagement & Leadership Dr. John founded and leads Horses Connecting Communities , a learning initiative that supports culturally responsive horse education on the Navajo Nation. Previously, she taught in the Diné Studies department at Navajo Technical University and in Gender & Women’s Studies and American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona, demonstrating a sustained commitment to Indigenous higher education.
