Jacob Eyferth is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, jointly appointed in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, the Department of History, and the College. His research focuses on the social and cultural history of twentieth-century China, particularly rural communities, gender dynamics, and the intersection of technology and everyday life. Key research themes include the impact of industrialization, collectivization, and revolution on non-elite populations, with an emphasis on rural women's labor and cultural resistance. His current project explores cotton production, clothing, and gender during China's socialist era. Eating Rice from Bamboo Roots (2009) How China Works (2006) Rural Development in Transitional China (2004) He received the 2011 Joseph Levenson Prize for his first book. Eyferth has taught courses on topics such as class inequality, everyday life under socialism, and revolutionary China, and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford, Harvard, and Rutgers.
Matthew Potolsky is Professor of English at the University of Utah, specializing in nineteenth-century literature and literary theory. His career spans from 1998 Lecturer at Harvard University to current University Professorship. He earned a BA in Comparative Literature and Philosophy (1990), followed by MA and PhD in Comparative Literature (1992, 1997) from UC Irvine. Chair of English Department (2013-2016) University Professor (2014-2016) Research focuses on Decadence , Mimesis , Finance-Aesthetics intersections , and Government Secrecy . His work traces connections between financialization and decadent aesthetics, revealing how economic cycles influence artistic production. Key themes include: Decadent anti-realist literary movements Finance capital's cultural impact Decadent counterpublic formations Victorian aesthetic education debates Sublime aesthetics in national security Cosmopolitanism in literary communities Recent publications analyze: Decadent style as financialization rhetoric Reintroduction of verisimilitude theory Decadent responses to financial crises Mimetic labor in artistic production Decadent cosmopolitan counterpublics Historical parallels between financialization and literary decadence
Steven Jackson is a Professor of Information Science and Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University's Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, with additional graduate field appointments in Communication and Public Affairs. Since July 2023, he has served as Vice-Provost for Academic Innovation at Cornell, and previously held leadership positions as Chair of Information Science and Dean of William Keeton House. His work bridges academic research with significant institutional leadership in higher education innovation. Dr. Jackson's research focuses on critical intersections of technology, society, and the environment, with three primary strands: technology ethics, law and policy; maintenance, repair and sustainability; and technology, inequality and global development. His work draws from American pragmatism, political economy, and science and technology studies, integrating methods from sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and media studies. He is particularly interested in how computing practices meet social and material worlds, with implications for infrastructure, collaboration, sustainability, and cultural practice. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on repair as both theoretical concept and practical methodology, exploring 'ordinary hope' as a framework for technological engagement and examining unmaking as a necessary counterpart to design. The research spans diverse geographical contexts from the global North to South, addressing caste dynamics in computing, digital authoritarianism, and infrastructure challenges in developing contexts. Dr. Jackson has received significant recognition including an NSF CAREER award and more than twenty paper awards at leading computing and information science venues. His research has been supported by major organizations including the U.S. National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, Ford Foundation, Sloan Foundation, World Bank, Intel Research, Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council. As an advisor, Dr. Jackson has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to prominent positions at institutions worldwide. He currently advises Jen Liu, Amy Cheatle, Daniel Mwesigwa, Johan Michalove, and Ritik Batra, while his former students include Palashi Vaghela (Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University), Samir Passi (Responsible AI Researcher at Microsoft), Maggie Jack (Assistant Professor at NYU), and Ranjit Singh (Senior Researcher at Data and Society). Dr. Jackson convenes the Computing On Earth Lab, an experimental collaboration bringing together social scientists, humanists, artists, and engineers to rethink the material and planetary foundations of computing. The lab reflects his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that address computing's environmental impacts and sustainability challenges.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Anna Morcom is Professor and Mohindar Brar Sambhi Chair of Indian Music in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music. She previously held a professorship at Royal Holloway, University of London, and earned her Ph.D. from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) in 2002, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in Ethnomusicology and Hindi (1993-1996). Her research spans music and dance in India and Tibet, employing ethnographic and oral historical methods to examine the intersections of musical culture with politics, nationalism, identity, gender, inequality, economic development, and media. Morcom's scholarship is notable for its interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional and popular musics with contemporary theoretical frameworks. Her work demonstrates significant trends toward examining music within economic frameworks, particularly through her founding of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology. Recent publications increasingly focus on cultural economies, performance labor, and the relationship between artistic practice and economic systems in South Asia. Society of Ethnomusicology's Allan Merriam prize (2014) Marcia Herndon prize of SEM's Gender and Sexualities section (2014) Morcom's research has been supported by multiple grants from the Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy. She has been interviewed by prominent media outlets including BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed, The Hindu, Tehelka, and Scroll regarding her influential work on Indian dance cultures. As founder of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology, she has shaped scholarly discourse on the economic dimensions of musical practice. Her current projects include the monograph on Hindustani music and co-editing two significant volumes: Creative Economies of Culture in South Asia: Craftspeople Performers (Routledge) and the Oxford Handbook of Economic Ethnomusicology (OUP).
Professor Peter Boxall is a Chair in Human Resource Management at the University of Auckland Business School, Department of Management & International Business. He holds a PhD from Monash University and an MCom from the University of Auckland. His research focuses on strategic human resource management and work-related well-being, with notable contributions to understanding high-involvement work systems and HR analytics. He has held visiting professorships at Leeds, Tilburg, and Toulouse, among others. His roles include Associate Dean (Research and PBRF) and leadership in editorial boards for journals like Human Resource Management Journal . Notable awards include the 2023 Distinguished Fellow of HRNZ and multiple Emerald Awards. He teaches courses such as MGMT 304 HR Policy and Practice and supervises PhD students in HRM. His work emphasizes bridging HR practices with organizational and societal outcomes. Education: PhD (Monash), MCom (Auckland), Distinguished Fellow HRNZ Visiting Roles: Leeds, Tilburg, Toulouse, Bath Editorial Roles: Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Human Resource Management Journal His research addresses strategic HRM’s role in organizational success and its impact on employee well-being. Recent studies explore HR analytics, lean production effects, and Industrie 4.0 implications. Awards highlight his scholarly contributions and industry impact. Administrative leadership includes overseeing research initiatives and PBRF evaluations at the Business School. Awards: 2023 Distinguished Fellow, 2020 Emerald Literati Award Teaching: MGMT 223, MGMT 304, GLMI 705
Aya Aboelenien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing at HEC Montréal, a leading business school in Montréal, Canada. Her research focuses on morality and ethics in consumption, consumer culture theory, qualitative methods, aesthetics, and social media. She holds a Ph.D. (Marketing) from Concordia University, an M.B.A. and BBA from the American University in Cairo. Research Interests Aya’s work examines ethical consumption trends, influencer dynamics, and marketplace morality. She explores how brands navigate ethical dilemmas and how social media influencers shape consumer behavior. Her recent studies include analyses of cancel culture’s impact on brands, the ethical dimensions of influencer marketing, and meat consumption’s cultural symbolism. Recent Contributions Her 2024 papers in Journal of Brand Management and Journal of Business Research address brand response strategies to changing market logics and the formation of marketplace moral sentiments. Earlier work in Journal of Marketing Management (2023) and Consumption Markets & Culture (2022) further highlight her focus on ethical influencers and contested consumption practices. Awards & Supervision She received the Best Competitive Paper Award at the 2025 Consumer Culture Theory Conference. Since 2021, she has supervised five MSc projects on topics like green marketing, influencer strategies, and brand repositioning. She teaches courses in consultancy-based marketing research and strategic marketing. Affiliations Aya is affiliated with HEC Montréal’s marketing department and collaborates with global scholars on projects involving consumer ethics and digital marketing innovations.
Mark Angus is a Visiting Lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Faculty of Design, and has been a pivotal figure in stained glass art since the 1970s. His work spans architectural commissions for churches and public spaces in the UK, Germany, and Ireland, alongside autonomous art in painting, printmaking, and artist’s books. He operates studios in Frauenau (Germany) and Graz (Austria). Education : Bristol Polytechnic (Chartered Surveyor, 1970), Swansea School of Art (Architectural Stained Glass, 1978). Research Interests focus on: Stained Glass as a medium for spiritual and secular narratives. Vitreography (glass-based printmaking) and its interplay with light and subtlety. Artist’s Books integrating letterpress and visual storytelling. Human Figure Representation in glass and paper, emphasizing dialogue and existential themes. Recent Publications include his 2018 artist’s book 80 Capriccios and the Turbulences of the Self , drawing on Goya’s Los Caprichos to critique modernity, and 2025’s KUNST. Kunst im Landkreis Passau, Bd. 70 , documenting regional art practices. His RED (2014) and Juvenescence (2014) explore color symbolism and eternal youth through acrylics and illustrated novels. Scientific & Artistic Awards : 1990: South West Arts & Crafts Fellowship 1984: South West Arts Major Craft Award 1979: Crafts Council Setting-up Grant 1978: Worshipful Company of Glaziers Travelling Scholarship Teaching & Collaborations : He has taught at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Penland School of Crafts (USA), and Bild-Werk Frauenau (Germany), including 2025’s masterclass Risk & Resonance – The Stained Glass Experience . His exhibitions, such as 80 Capriccios (2024, Neuburg am Inn), reflect interdisciplinary dialogues between glass, poetry, and theological themes.
Andrea Korda, PhD (University of California, Santa Barbara), is an Associate Professor of Fine Arts & Humanities and Associate Dean (Research) at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta. Her academic career bridges art history, material culture studies, and pedagogical innovation. Educations: BA in Fine Arts, Queen's University MA in Art History, Concordia University PhD in Art History, University of California, Santa Barbara Research Focus: Dr. Korda specializes in 19th-century visual and material culture, with a focus on education's visual dimensions, children's literature, and community-engaged projects like the award-winning Crafting Communities initiative. She co-curated the virtual exhibition Photographies (Bruce Peel Special Collections) and explores hands-on learning through historical crafts. Teaching: Courses include modern art history (AUART 220), photography theory (AUART 225), and special topics in visual culture (AUART 382). She emphasizes experiential learning and digital humanities integration, as seen in her work with the Getty Museum Challenge and OER projects. Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary teams on projects like Crafting Communities , blending scholarship with public engagement. Her research bridges historical methodologies with contemporary pedagogical practices, fostering connections between academia and communities.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtUnited States
Akemi Martin is an Adjunct Professor at The Cooper Union's School of Art, specializing in papermaking and collaborative art projects. She serves as director and master papermaker at Pace Paper in Brooklyn, collaborating with artists on handmade paper and print editions. Her teaching experience includes SUNY Purchase, Dieu Donné (NYC), and the Penland School of Craft (NC). Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research interests focus on innovative papermaking techniques and interdisciplinary art collaborations. Notable collaborations include the 2015 work '37P' with Leonardo Drew. She emphasizes hands-on craftsmanship and its integration with contemporary art practices. Labs/Teams: Active at Pace Paper, a renowned studio for artist collaborations in handmade paper.
Claire Battershill is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Faculty of Information and the Department of English at the University of Toronto. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and a BA (Hons) from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the history and future of the book, with a particular emphasis on feminist experimental publishing, literary aesthetics, and 20th/21st-century publishing practices. She is Co-Director of the Modernist Archives Publishing Project (MAPP), a critical digital archive of early 20th-century publishers’ records, and Co-Creator of the SSHRC-funded 'Make Believe' research-creation project. Her publications include Women and Letterpress Printing: Gendered Impressions (2022) and Using Digital Humanities in the Classroom (2022). Dr. Battershill has held prestigious roles such as Wendy M. Cecil Professor in VicOne at Victoria College and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She has secured grants including the SSHRC Impact Award (2017) and funding from the Canada Council for the Arts. Her teaching spans courses like INF2228H (The Future of Things: Digitization and Remediation) and BKS1002H (Book History in Practice), blending theory with hands-on engagement in digital humanities and book studies. Her research interests span digital humanities pedagogy, collaborative publishing projects, and the intersection of feminist theory with material book culture. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the Critical Digital Humanities Initiative (CDHI) at the University of Toronto.
Tina Dacin is a Professor of Strategy and Organizational Behavior at the Smith School of Business, Queen's University, Canada. She holds the Stephen J.R. Smith Chair and serves as Director of the Community Impact Research Program. Her roles include former Director of the Smith School’s Centre for Social Impact, former University Senate member, and former Chair of the Principal’s Innovation Fund Committee. She co-founded the Community of Social Innovation Chair and holds affiliations with the Academy of Management and Informs. Education: Ph.D. (1993) in Business Administration from the University of Toronto and M.A. in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick. Research focuses on cultural heritage, social innovation/entrepreneurship, strategic alliances, and globalization. Key themes include custodianship, tradition preservation, place-making, and institutional dynamics. Recent work explores craft-based ventures, place-sensitive organizational practices, and institutional renewal in crises like the Detroit water wars. Awards: None explicitly listed, though her chair position reflects academic distinction. Teaching includes courses on global social impact and analytics/ethics policy. Labs/Teams: Leadership in the Community Impact Research Program and the Scotiabank Centre for Customer Analytics.
Elif BAŞTÜRK is an Associate Professor at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Archaeology, specializing in Settlement Archaeology, Hittite studies, and Early Bronze Age ceramics. With a PhD from Ege University (2014), she has led excavations at Tanır Yassıhöyük since 2022 and participated in major projects across Anatolia. Education: PhD in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Ege University (2014) MA in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Ege University (2006) BA in Archaeology, Ege University (2003) Research Focus: Her work examines archaeological transitions in Anatolia and the Near East, particularly ceramic traditions, settlement patterns, and Assyrian influence during the Bronze and Iron Ages. She employs statistical and technological methods to analyze material culture. Projects: Notable projects include the Tanır Yassıhöyük excavations (2021–present), Assyrian trade influence studies in Afşin-Elbistan plain, and documentation of Early Bronze Age ceramics in Siirt Başur Höyük. She has also led regional surveys threatened by the Ilısu Dam. Publications: Recent outputs include 2025 studies on Iron Age ceramics and Assyrian mill technology, alongside excavation reports from 2016–2024. Her work bridges field archaeology with material analysis, contributing to understanding cultural dynamics in ancient Anatolia.
Baris Fidan is a Professor in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with cross appointments in System Design Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA. His research focuses on cooperative/adaptive control, autonomous systems, multi-agent networks, and vehicular control applications. He leads the Cooperative & Adaptive Mechatronic Systems (CAMS) Lab, which develops control strategies for autonomous vehicles, robotic systems, and intelligent transportation. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2003) Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bilkent University (1998) Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronic Engineering & Mathematics, Middle East Technical University (1996) Research Interests: His work spans adaptive control theory, sensor networks, multi-agent coordination, autonomous vehicle networks, and biomedical systems control. He emphasizes practical applications in intelligent transportation, robotic navigation, and distributed system optimization. Grants & Projects: He has led major grants including NSERC Discovery Programs on cooperative mechatronic systems and 3D autonomous vehicle coordination. Industrial projects include autonomous driving strategies, vehicle control optimization, and high-precision gear manufacturing technologies. Labs/Teams: Directs the CAMS Lab, which collaborates on projects involving distributed motion planning, sensor localization, and autonomous vehicle networks. Current projects address challenges in urban autonomous driving, cooperative robotic systems, and resilient sensor networks.
François Guimbretière is a Professor in the Department of Information Science at Cornell University, with affiliations to the Department of Design & Technology. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University and previously served on the faculty at the University of Maryland before joining Cornell in 2009. His research centers on human-computer interaction, human-robot interaction, and interface design, with a strong emphasis on hardware/software co-design to create seamless, sustainable, and innovative interactive systems. His work spans multiple domains including interactive fabrication, remote collaboration, and low-power interfaces. Guimbretière's recent research explores novel fabrication methods such as interactive printing and yarn-based electronics, as well as immersive remote embodiment systems that reduce reliance on physical travel. These efforts reflect a broader trend toward sustainable and accessible interaction technologies. His publications demonstrate consistent contributions to top-tier venues in HCI and ubiquitous computing, focusing on tangible, wearable, and environmentally conscious interfaces. Scientific Recognition: He advises graduate and undergraduate researchers in the development of next-generation interactive systems. His lab supports projects in digital fabrication, remote presence, and sustainable design, often involving interdisciplinary collaboration. While specific grants are not listed, his research trajectory suggests sustained funding in human-centered technology innovation. He leads a research group focused on building practical, user-centered systems that bridge the digital and physical worlds through creative engineering and design. The lab emphasizes hands-on prototyping, real-world deployment, and the integration of traditional craft with advanced technologies.
Hannes Zacher is a Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at Leipzig University's Wilhelm Wundt Institute of Psychology. He previously held academic positions at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) and the University of Groningen (Netherlands). His research focuses on occupational health, proactive employee behavior, aging in the workplace, and sustainable organizational practices. He has been awarded grants from institutions like the German Science Foundation (DFG) and the Volkswagen Foundation. Zacher earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from Justus-Liebig-University Gießen in 2009, following a Diploma (equivalent to B.Sc./M.Sc.) in Psychology from the Technical University of Braunschweig (2000–2006). His research interests include occupational health and well-being, proactive and adaptive employee behavior, aging at work and career development, and environmentally sustainable behavior in organizations. He employs methodologies such as longitudinal surveys, experience sampling, and experiments. Key themes in his work address the interplay between work environments and employee well-being, with a focus on fostering sustainable practices and mitigating age-related challenges in the workplace. Zacher leads projects such as the Centre for Digital Work and studies like 'The Role of Work in the Development of Civilization Diseases.' His publications span topics from green workplace behavior to leadership dynamics during crises. He has no listed scientific awards but has secured significant grant funding for his research. Advising and grant details reflect his commitment to impactful research, though specific student names are not provided. His lab and team efforts emphasize translating psychological insights into organizational practices for sustainability and employee well-being.
