Matthew Payne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. His affiliations include roles as Director of Graduate Studies and regional director for the Learning Games Initiative, a multi-institute research collective focused on game archiving and education. His research spans video game studies, media literacy, military entertainment, and the cultural history of video games. He explores play theory, media and war, and the intersection of media production with new technologies. The 15 most recent articles highlight his focus on video game studies, transmedia narratives, and the cultural implications of gaming. These works cover topics from Nintendo Amiibo to slow game time mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2, with recurring themes of military representation and ludic storytelling. Matthew Payne has co-edited notable works including How to Play Video Games and Joystick Soldiers , emphasizing collaborative approaches to game studies and critical analysis of military gaming.
Lenny Williams is a Professor in the Screen Scoring department within the Professional Writing and Music Technology school at Berklee College of Music. With over 1,000 broadcast hours scored for major networks including National Geographic, PBS, A&E, and Netflix, he brings extensive industry experience to his academic role. His educational background includes: Bachelor of Music (BM) in Composition from The Peabody Conservatory of Music (1983) Williams specializes in non-fiction television scoring across wildlife documentaries, historical programming, and political satire. He emphasizes daily compositional practice and creativity under deadline pressure, teaching students to refine their unique artistic voice while meeting industry demands. His methodology focuses on transforming idea generation into efficient execution for professional media environments. His exceptional career has earned significant recognition: Six Emmy Awards with twelve nominations Five BMI Awards Contributions to Grammy-winning recordings RIAA Gold/Platinum and 10 U.K. Gold Records Prestigious festival wins including Jackson Hole (2007) and Wildscreen (2008) As an educator, Williams mentors screen scoring students using real-world experience from collaborations with National Geographic, Eva Cassidy, and The Capitol Steps. He prepares composers for industry challenges by cultivating disciplined creative habits, collaborative skills, and passion-driven artistry essential for success in film and media music careers.
Carolina Matos is a Professor at City, University of London's School of Communication & Creativity, specializing in media studies, gender politics, and communications research with a particular focus on Brazil and Latin America. Her scholarly work bridges academic inquiry with practical advocacy, especially in the areas of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), feminist media studies, and democratic processes in the Global South. Dr. Matos's research interests span several interconnected domains: Gender politics and feminist media studies, with particular attention to Brazilian and Latin American contexts Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) communications and advocacy across global contexts Media democratization and public service broadcasting in Brazil and Latin America Digital activism and online networks for social change and gender equality Health communication in the age of misinformation, particularly regarding women's health in politically polarized environments Journalism's role in democratic processes and political transitions Her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining how marginalized communities, particularly women in the Global South, navigate complex media landscapes around reproductive health. Her methodology frequently employs focus group research designed to empower participants while gathering insights on media consumption and interpretation. She has conducted significant research in partnership with NGOs like Reprolatina in Brazil and Open Arms in Florida, examining how disadvantaged communities process health communications in contexts of political polarization and misinformation. Dr. Matos has made substantial theoretical contributions through both foundational and recent works: Her book "Globalization, gender politics and the media" (2016) examines changing media representations in relation to feminist movements globally Her seminal work "Journalism and Political Democracy in Brazil" (2009) analyzes media's critical role in Brazil's democratization process following the military dictatorship She has conducted extensive comparative research on how NGOs communicate about SRHR across the Global North and South Her research on "New Brazilian feminism and online networks" (2017) documents the emergence of digital feminist activism in Brazil Her methodological approach consistently combines rigorous academic frameworks with practical applications, often utilizing mixed methods including content analysis, discourse analysis, and participatory research techniques designed to center marginalized voices while advancing scholarly understanding of media, gender, and power dynamics.
Ian Condry is a Professor of Japanese Culture and Media Studies at MIT, affiliated with the Department of Anthropology. He holds a BA in Government from Harvard (1987) and a PhD in Anthropology from Yale (1999). His research focuses on Japanese popular culture, media globalization, and creative industries. He is best known for his seminal work on hip-hop in Japan and anime production, emphasizing collaborative creativity and cultural hybridity. Condry leads the MIT Spatial Sound Lab, exploring immersive audio technologies, and co-founded the music discovery platform Hearby.com. He hosts the 'Near and Far' Japanese hip-hop radio show on WMBR 88.1FM since 2018 and releases music as Leftroman. Condry’s academic roles include former Head of Global Studies and Languages at MIT and Executive Committee member of the Technology Broadcasting Corporation. His work bridges academic research with creative practice, including organizing the Dissolve Music conference and curating multimedia projects. He has pioneered open-access publishing, making his books available under Creative Commons licenses. His research spans media anthropology, youth culture, and digital media’s societal impact. Key projects include the MIT/Harvard 'Cool Japan' research initiative and studies on post-3/11 cultural recovery. Condry’s interdisciplinary approach integrates ethnographic methods with technological innovation, addressing themes of global cultural flows and participatory media production.
Stephen Kimber is the Inglis Professor and Cohort Director of the MFA in Fiction program at the University of King's College, Halifax. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from Goucher College and has been a prominent figure in Canadian literature, journalism, and broadcasting for decades. His academic affiliations include extensive teaching roles in the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing from 1983 to 2021, serving thrice as director and co-founding the MFA in Creative Nonfiction program. Professor at University of King's College Cohort Director for MFA in Fiction Former Director of the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing His research and creative work span fiction, nonfiction, and multimedia projects. He has authored 13 books, including the award-winning novel Reparations and the biographical Alexa! , which earned the Evelyn Richardson Award. Current projects include a WWII-era Halifax TV series and novel series with Two East Productions. His writing has appeared in major Canadian publications, and he has held roles as a political columnist for the Daily News , CBC broadcaster, and contributor to Atlantic Business Magazine . He serves on the National Advisory Council of The Walrus and has leadership roles in writers' organizations such as the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. Key awards include the Evelyn Richardson Award and nominations for major Canadian literary prizes. His grants and advisory work are intertwined with his academic and creative leadership in Halifax's cultural landscape.
**Danilo Dantas** is a **Professor** in the **Department of Marketing** at **HEC Montréal**, a leading business school in Canada. He holds additional roles as the **Pedagogical Coordinator of the Specialized Graduate Diploma (D.E.S.S.) in Arts Management** (in French) and a **Regular Member** of the **Observatoire Interdisciplinaire de Création et de Recherche en Musique (OICRM)**. His expertise spans **Music Marketing**, **Database Marketing**, and **Electronic Commerce**, with a focus on cultural branding, consumer engagement, and digital strategies in creative industries. **Education**: He earned his **Doctorat ès sciences de gestion (marketing)** from Université de Grenoble II, along with advanced degrees including a **D.E.A. in Sciences de Gestion (marketing)**, **D.E.S.S. in Commerce International**, and a **B.A.A. in Administration** from UFRGS, Brazil. **Research & Teaching**: Professor Dantas teaches courses such as *Marketing des arts et de la culture* and *Analyse des bases de données en marketing*. His research investigates topics like cultural branding (e.g., leveraging live music for city brands), music industry strategies, and consumer behavior in digital ecosystems. Recent work explores the interplay between brand fit and new product performance, social media impact on online communities, and e-Government service quality metrics. **Advising**: He has supervised **2 PhD dissertations**, **7 Master’s theses**, and **21+ supervised projects**, covering areas such as VR consumer experiences, vinyl store dynamics, and festival attendee motivations. His projects often address practical challenges in arts management, digital transformation, and cultural policy. **Labs/Teams**: His affiliation with OICRM integrates music creation and research, while his work with the Chaire de gestion des arts Carmelle et Rémi-Marcoux emphasizes arts management education and data-driven decision-making.
Edwin van der Heide is a part-time Lecturer and researcher at Leiden University, affiliated with the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) and the Academy for Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA). His work bridges sound, space, and interaction through installations, performances, and environments. Key roles include: Co-head of ArtScience Interfaculty (Royal Conservatoire & Royal Academy of Art, The Hague) until 2016 Edgard Varèse Guest Professor at TU Berlin (2009) Invited artist at Le Fresnoy (France) and HKB Bern University of the Arts (2019) Research Interests: Spatial sound composition, audience interaction, interdisciplinary art, and the intersection of technology with auditory perception. Notable projects include Whispering Wind (permanent installation at Leiden University) and Spiral of Time (MACBA, Barcelona). Recent Articles & Exhibitions (2023–2024): Focus on large-scale installations like Pneumatic Sound Field and Spiral of Time , emphasizing public engagement and spatial acoustics. Awards: Witteveen+Bos Art+Technology Award (2009), Best Paper Award for BAI (摆) (2018). Grants & Labs: Collaborations with institutions like NCCA (Russia), MAXXI (Italy), and involvement in projects like Evolving Spark Network (global sound art initiatives).
Jonathan Nangle is a Lecturer in Music Technology and Electro-Acoustic Composition at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. His work spans acoustic/electro-acoustic composition, live electronics, installations, and improvisation. Educated at Trinity College Dublin under Donnacha Dennehy, Rob Canning, and later privately with Kevin Volans, his music has been performed by ensembles like RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Crash Ensemble. Research interests include spatial music, interactive installations, and hybrid acoustic/digital forms. Notable works include Pause (Ergodos, 2017), Iridescent Cobalt Glow (2015), and our headlights blew softly... which earned a 2009 Rostrum commendation. Awards include dual Irish Rostrum representations (2009/2011) and the 2007 AIC/Music 21 Prize. Recordings span solo piano works to ensemble commissions, often integrating innovative electronic elements. His work has been broadcast internationally and choreographed for stage/film. Current roles include academic teaching and ongoing creative exploration at the intersection of technology and traditional composition.
Dr. Isaias Fanlo serves as University Lecturer in Modern Iberian Literary and Cultural Studies within the Spanish & Portuguese Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. He holds an Iberian Studies Fellowship at Fitzwilliam College where he is based at Storey's Way, Cambridge CB3 0DG. His research specializes in contemporary Iberian cultures with emphases on: Queer theory applied to theatrical and performative events in Spain Intersections of race, class, citizenship and HIV status in urban spaces Catalan and Spanish literatures from the 19th century to present Toponormativity and resistance against gentrification Archival studies of HIV/AIDS through performance Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in spatial politics and queer resistance, with 60% focusing on theatrical responses to urban gentrification and normative space usage. His work increasingly integrates race theory with queer studies, particularly in Catalan drama contexts, while maintaining strong connections to HIV/AIDS cultural narratives and experimental performance forms. His notable awards include: Time Out Award 2016 for Best Innovative Project (Terrats en Cultura festival) Butaca Award 2019 for Best Initiative for Audiences As a cultural manager, Fanlo has significantly impacted Barcelona's scenic arts through founding the decade-running Terrats en Cultura rooftop festival and serving as artistic advisor for Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and Teatre Lliure. His academic supervision extends to MPhil and PhD students researching Iberian queer cultures, though specific student names aren't documented in available materials. His laboratory of practice manifests through active participation in the European Creative Rooftop Network and ongoing festival curation, blending academic theory with community-based artistic production across Barcelona and Chicago.
Kevin Crowston is a Distinguished Professor of Information Science at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies (iSchool), where he examines how information technology enables new organizational forms through empirical studies, theoretical modeling, and system design. His work focuses on coordination-intensive processes in virtual settings, with significant contributions to citizen science, data science teamwork, and journalism transformation. Education A.B. in Applied Mathematics (Computer Science), Harvard University, 1984 Ph.D. in Information Technologies, MIT Sloan School of Management, 1991 Research Focus : Crowston investigates coordination mechanisms in human-AI collaboration, particularly through projects like Gravity Spy (combining citizen scientists with machine learning for gravitational wave analysis) and journalism innovation (e.g., ReelFramer for AI-assisted news-to-video translation). His framework addresses how intelligent systems reshape work design, knowledge production, and team dynamics in scientific and media contexts. Publication Trends : Recent articles (2024-2025) reveal three dominant threads: (1) Human-AI co-creation in journalism (deskilling/upskilling dynamics, creative tool adoption), (2) Citizen science evolution with AI (co-learning systems, lexical entrainment), and (3) Socio-technical governance of intelligent machines (control-accountability alignment, project archetypes). These reflect his central inquiry into how technology reconfigures work structures. Scientific Recognition ACM Distinguished Speaker Research Leadership : Crowston currently directs two major NSF initiatives: (1) HCC grant 21-06865 on intelligent support for non-expert information navigation, and (2) FW-HTF grant 21-29047 exploring human-technology collaboration in journalism. He spearheaded a Research Coordination Network establishing socio-technical frameworks for work in the age of intelligent machines, culminating in a special issue of Information, Technology & People . Collaborative Infrastructure : He co-leads the Gravity Spy citizen science ecosystem (integrating LIGO physicists, machine learning systems, and volunteers) and serves as co-editor-in-chief of Information, Technology and People , previously editing ACM Transactions on Social Computing . His MIDST platform research advances stigmergic coordination for data science teams.
Ruth Padel is a Visiting Professor of Poetry at King's College London, acclaimed poet, and author. Her work bridges classical scholarship, conservation science, and literary creativity. Education: D.Phil in Classics from University of Oxford (Greek tragedy and medicine). Research: Poetry composition, Darwinian studies, conservation narratives, and classical reception in contemporary culture. Current projects explore Beethoven/Schubert biographies in verse and migration ecology. Awards & Leadership: First Prize in National Poetry Competition; chaired judging panels for T.S. Eliot Prize and Forward Prize. Fellow of Royal Society of Literature and Zoological Society of London. Public Engagement: Frequent broadcaster (BBC Radio 3/4); international festival appearances including Jaipur Literature Festival and Edinburgh Festival.
Jim Rogers is an Associate Professor and Chair of PhD Studies at the School of Communications, Dublin City University. His research focuses on media and cultural industries, music, and copyright, with an emphasis on the digital transformation of the music industry, global strategies, and policy implications. He has authored and edited multiple books and articles on topics such as the evolution of performing rights organizations, the audio-visual nexus, and Ireland's music industry success. Rogers has presented at international conferences across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, engaging with issues like intellectual property, creative destruction, and cultural policy. His work bridges academic theory and industry practice, addressing the intersection of technology, law, and cultural production.
Professor Vike Martina Plock is a literary critic and cultural historian specializing in modernist literature, with a focus on James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Bowen, and interwar women’s writing. Affiliated with the University of Exeter as a Professor of Modern Literature and Culture and Head of the Department of English and Creative Writing since 2022, she has published three major monographs: Joyce, Medicine and Modernity (2010), Modernism, Fashion and Interwar Women Writers (2017), and The BBC German Service during the Second World War: Broadcasting to the Enemy (2021). Editorial Roles: Co-editor of Literature & History , advisory editor of James Joyce Quarterly . Languages: English (fluent), German (fluent). Research Funding: Supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, British Academy, and Leverhulme Trust. Her research explores intersections of literature with science, medicine, fashion, and media history, alongside Anglo-German cultural exchange and creative industries. She has written extensively on modernist women writers like Rosamond Lehmann and Sylvia Townsend Warner, emphasizing interdisciplinary methodologies. Scientific Awards: Research library fellowships (multiple) Active in postgraduate supervision and editorial work, Professor Plock contributes to global Joyce studies and modernist scholarship, aligning her work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for Gender Equality . She welcomes collaborations on creative industries, media history, and modernist aesthetics.
Rebecca Williams is an Associate Professor in Media Audiences and Participatory Cultures at the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries , University of South Wales. She co-leads the Creative Industries Research & Innovation Group and chairs the Faculty Ethics Committee. PhD in Media & Cultural Studies (2008), Cardiff University Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (2011), University of Glamorgan MA in Critical and Cultural Theory (2004), Cardiff University BA (First Class) in Journalism, Film, and Broadcasting (2003), Cardiff University Her research focuses on media audiences , fan engagement , transmedia storytelling , and the experience economy , particularly in media tourism and themed entertainment . Current projects explore Disney's evolving role in global culture and the commodification of fan practices. Rebecca's publications span fandom theory , transmedia analysis , and immersive media , including monographs on theme park fandom and post-object fan identity. She actively supervises PhD students in areas like celebrity studies , media tourism , and digital fan communities . She welcomes PhD applications in media audiences, fan studies, and immersive experiences, with a commitment to mentoring emerging scholars in these fields.
Nicolas Peyre is a Lecturer and Researcher in Information and Communication Sciences at the University of Toulouse Capitole, where he is affiliated with the Institute of Space, Territorial, Cultural and Communication Law (IDETCOM). He serves as Director of Studies for the Master 2 program in "Administration and Communication of Cultural Activities." His teaching includes Diplomacy of Influence (M2), History of Cultural Policy (M2), Business Intelligence (M1), Communication Law (L3), and Management of Cultural Events and Festivals (M2). Nicolas Peyre's research centers on cultural diplomacy and influence , examining how institutions like the French Institute and Alliance française function as instruments of soft power. His work explores the globalization of museum brands (particularly the Louvre and Centre Pompidou), the cultural and creative industries , and business intelligence in cultural contexts. He investigates how French cultural policy adapts to globalization through both traditional networks and digital platforms, with special attention to diplomatic applications. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on museum branding in international contexts , particularly analyzing the Centre Pompidou Málaga as a case study of cultural diplomacy. He critically examines how social media platforms like Instagram both support and challenge the globalization of museum brands, and connects sport, communication, and diplomacy to analyze how sporting events serve as vehicles for cultural influence. His work spans academic journals, book chapters, and critical commentary on current cultural partnerships. Nicolas Peyre actively contributes to academic discourse through his role as a consulting editor for The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society , membership on the editorial board of Hermès, La Revue (CNRS), and as co-founder of Lélia Productions. He has organized numerous international conferences and seminars on cultural diplomacy and influence, including the "Culture & Influence" research seminars at Toulouse Capitole University and co-organizing major international events on French cultural diplomacy.
