Prof. Dr. Olena Palko is a historian specializing in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. She holds the SNSF Professorship at the University of Basel's Department of History, focusing on East European History. Her research emphasizes Soviet minority policies, cultural politics, and national identity formation in interwar Ukraine. She is a leading scholar with notable works including Making Ukraine Soviet (2021), awarded the 2023 Alexander Nove Prize. Her current SNF-funded project, Red Tower of Babel , examines Soviet minority experiments in Ukraine. Education: PhD from University of East Anglia (2017); Kandydat nauk from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2013). Research Interests: Soviet nationality policy, minority history, Ukrainian twentieth-century history, transnational border dynamics. Her work bridges archival analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing contested borderlands between Poland and the USSR. Key publications include co-edited volumes like Making Ukraine (2022) and Ukraine's Many Faces (2023). She actively contributes to academic governance roles, including co-convening the BASEES Study Group for Minority History and serving on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Council of Europe's history observatory.
Rachel Applebaum is Associate Professor of History at Tufts University specializing in Soviet and Eastern European history, the global Cold War, and transnational studies. Her award-winning book 'Empire of Friends' examines Soviet-Czechoslovak relations through the lens of socialist internationalism. Current research investigates Russian language politics during and after the Cold War, tracing Soviet efforts to establish Russian as a global language and its legacy in Putin's 'Russian World' concept. The project has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. Teaching covers Russian history surveys, Eastern Europe, global communism, Stalinism, and Cold War politics. Awards include the Radomír Luža Prize for Austrian/Czechoslovak history and ASEEES First Book Subvention Award.
Kristine Andra Avram is a Visiting Researcher at the Center for Conflict Research (ZfK) at Philipps University of Marburg, serving as a Post-doctoral fellow in the BMBF project 'Transformations of Political Violence' (2024-2025). Her work bridges peace and conflict studies, narratology, and social sciences with a focus on meaning-making in contexts of political violence and state repression. Her educational background includes a PhD in Political Science (summa cum laude, 2022) from Philipps University of Marburg, an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies (2010-2013) with study abroad at the University of Haifa, and a BA in Communication Science and Romance Studies (2007-2010) from the University of Erfurt, including Erasmus at Complutense University of Madrid. Avram's research examines how narratives shape interpretations of violence, influence reckoning with traumatic pasts, and inform transitional justice efforts. Using interdisciplinary narrative and (auto)ethnographic methods, she reveals storytelling as a site of agency and resistance—both for processing historical violence and envisioning just futures. Her work centers on concepts like responsibility, truth, and hope within post-communist contexts, particularly Romania. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological innovation in narrative analysis applied to political violence, with increasing attention to researcher positionality and reparative methodologies. Articles span qualitative frameworks, courtroom narratives, postcolonial critiques of peacebuilding, and ethical dimensions of studying violence. Key scientific awards include: Dissertation Award from Südost-europagesellschaft (2023) Honorable Mention from Gert-Sommer-Award for Peace Psychology (2023) Mobility Grant from EISA (2023) Scholarships from MARA, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and University of Haifa She has secured significant research funding including a Fritz Thyssen Foundation grant (2017-2022) as co-applicant and has taught courses on narrative reconstructions of the past at Philipps University Marburg and Goethe University Frankfurt. Her advisory work includes designing memory projects and conflict resolution initiatives with pax christi Rhein-Main. Avram actively collaborates within the Center for Conflict Research's interdisciplinary teams, focusing on political violence, transitional justice, and narrative methodologies in post-communist contexts through projects like 'Ascribing Individual Criminal Responsibility' and 'Transformations of Political Violence'.
Britt Kramvig is a Professor at the School of Business and Economics , part of the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research intersects decolonization , Indigenous (Sámi) studies, and creative industries , with a focus on storytelling, archive decolonization, and Arctic land-seascapes. She coordinates PhD studies in Tourism and Northern Studies and teaches courses on qualitative methods, climate change impacts on tourism, and knowledge co-production. Research Interests: Kramvig explores the decolonial potential of Indigenous archives , creative industries as decolonial praxis , and Arctic environmental humanities . Her work emphasizes ontology over epistemology , art-science collaborations (e.g., Dark Ecology, BAT), and indigenous survivance in tourism and cultural policy. She actively disrupts appropriation processes in Arctic landscapes through pluriversal storytelling. Key Collaborations: Kramvig contributes to international projects like Surviving the Unthinkable and The New Sámi Renaissance , advocating for indigenous data sovereignty and decolonial research ethics . She leads interdisciplinary efforts to integrate Sámi epistemologies into environmental science and policymaking. Recent Publications: Her 2023-2025 works address Arctic decolonization , indigenous archival practices , and co-creation in tourism , often published in journals like Environmental Research Letters and GeoHumanities . Notable topics include counter-mapping , indigenous survivance , and collaborative listening in Arctic soundscapes. Academic Affiliations: Member of the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research and the Indigenous Voices research group at UiT. She participates in the OKTA - Sami Art and Friction-Filled Communities on Festivals project.
Dr. Samuël Kruizinga , an Associate Professor of Contemporary and Military History at the University of Amsterdam , is a leading scholar on conflict, neutrality, and transnational warfare. His research spans World War I/II blockades, postcolonial conflicts (e.g., Indonesian Independence War), and the role of small states in international relations. He leads the €10.2 million BLOCKADE: The Hidden Weapon project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and NTNU, exploring blockades' impact on violence, humanitarianism, and global order. Education: Leiden University, Sorbonne (Paris), University of Oxford, Ph.D. from University of Amsterdam (2011) Research Themes: Conflict resolution, resilience in crises, foreign fighters (e.g., Ukraine, Spanish Civil War), grey zone warfare, occupation studies His work bridges disciplines like international history, econometrics, and war studies. Recent publications analyze blockades, intelligence failures, and the moral ambiguities of colonial military operations. Kruizinga also contributes to debates on neutrality, historical memory, and the transformation of warfare. Scientific Awards: ERC Synergy Grant (€2.3 million) for the BLOCKADE project (2024)
Emma Martin is Senior Lecturer in Museology at the University of Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, where she serves as Associate Director for Research (Impact and Knowledge Exchange). With over 25 years of professional experience including 17 years as Senior Curator for National Museums Liverpool (2003-2020), her work bridges academic research and museum practice. Her current research focuses on colonial-era Tibetan collections, contemporary museum activism, and dissident curatorial practices in exile contexts. Dr. Martin's research interests sit at the critical intersection of colonialism, Tibetan Studies, and material culture studies. She examines how colonial-era museum collections continue to shape contemporary representations of Tibet while exploring pathways for Tibetan agency in museum decision-making. Her practice-led research includes serving as curatorial advisor to the Dalai Lama Centre for Tibetan and Ancient Indian Wisdom (2024-25) and leading the development of the Tibet Museum for the Central Tibetan Administration (2017-2023). She co-convenes the international Tibetan Materiality Network, fostering cross-border collaboration on Himalayan material culture research. Her publication trends reveal a sustained focus on decolonizing museum practices through historical analysis of Tibetan material culture. Early work examined colonial collecting networks and diplomatic gift exchanges, while recent publications address contemporary issues like digital sovereignty, museum representation of diaspora communities, and dissident curatorial methodologies. Her scholarship consistently connects archival research with practical museum interventions, demonstrating how historical understanding can inform ethical contemporary practice. Fellow, Royal Asiatic Society Fellow, Higher Education Academy Dr. Martin has supervised four completed PhDs and currently mentors five doctoral students working on topics spanning South Asian, Himalayan, and Tibetan museology. Her research project "Object Lessons from Tibet and the Himalayas" involves international collaboration with institutions in Copenhagen and explores how material culture can challenge colonial narratives. Her impact work includes developing new museological approaches for representing Tibet, referenced in Wikipedia and cited by policy makers addressing cultural restitution. She leads the Tibetan Materiality Network connecting European and Asian researchers, and her current monograph "The Dissident Museum: Oppositional Curating at the Tibet Museum" (Routledge) documents innovative curatorial practices developed during the Tibet Museum project. Her external roles include curatorial advisory positions with Tibetan cultural institutions and examination duties at UCL and University of Westminster.
Pamela Klassen is a Professor and Chair in the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Anthropology. She has taught at the University of Toronto since 1997 and has been a full professor since 2011. Her academic leadership includes serving as Chair & Graduate Chair of her department (2020-present) and as Vice-Dean, Undergraduate & International in the Faculty of Arts & Science (2016-2020). In 2022-2023, she served as the William Lyon Mackenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at Harvard University. Professor Klassen's research focuses on colonialism, treaties, museums, and public memory. Her work spans several interconnected areas: Anthropology of religion, secularism, and mediation (including digital humanities) Christianity, colonialism, and land in North America & Turtle Island Religion, ritual, and public memory (including museum studies) Religion, spirituality, and gender Her scholarship demonstrates a consistent engagement with how religious practices, memories, and institutions intersect with questions of power, land, and identity in settler colonial contexts. Klassen's work often bridges historical and ethnographic approaches, examining both contemporary religious practices and their historical formations. Professor Klassen's publications reveal a trajectory of increasingly focused attention on the intersections of religion, land, and colonialism, with recent work emphasizing Indigenous perspectives and decolonial approaches to religious studies. Her scholarship moves fluidly between theoretical interventions in religious studies and concrete engagements with public memory projects. Scientific Awards & Honors 2022-2023: William Lyon Mackenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies, Harvard University 2019: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada 2015-2020: Anneliese Maier Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 2015: Northrop Frye Award of Excellence for Integration of Research and Teaching 2014-2017: Distinguished Visiting Professor in Anthropology of Modern Religion, University of Tübingen 2012: American Academy of Religion Award of Excellence for Spirits of Protestantism Professor Klassen has successfully secured significant research funding, including the prestigious Anneliese Maier Research Award which supported her collaborative work with the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre. She has supervised numerous graduate students in religious studies and anthropology, with many going on to successful academic careers. Professor Klassen leads several major collaborative projects including Kiinawin Kawindomowin Story Nations, a digital storytelling initiative with the Rainy River First Nations, and Treaty Conversations, an educational resource about treaty relationships in Ontario. These projects exemplify her commitment to community-engaged scholarship that bridges academic research with public education and reconciliation efforts.
Mariana Dias Paes is an Assistant Professor of Law and Society in the Department of History and Politics at The American University of Paris. Her research focuses on race, citizenship, colonialism, and the law in former Portuguese colonies in Africa and the Americas (particularly Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau) between 1750-1930. Her work examines colonial courts as sites where Africans contested colonialism and asserted rights to freedom, property, and improved working conditions. Education includes: Ph.D. in Law from University of São Paulo and Max Planck Institute for European Legal History (2018) M.A. in Law from University of São Paulo (2014) B.A. in Law from Federal University of Minas Gerais (2010) Her research has wide implications for understanding emancipation, citizenship, decolonization, and race, while unearthing African participation in multiple legal systems. She leads digital humanities projects preserving endangered colonial judicial archives in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. She has led digitization efforts for approximately 10,000 colonial court records and organized endangered judicial collections at national archives.
Prof. Dr. Lisa Schipper is Professor of Development Geography at the University of Bonn since 2023. Her research focuses on understanding vulnerability to climate change in the Global South and the barriers and enablers for adaptation. She has extensive experience working across Central and South America, East Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Her educational background includes: BSc in Environmental Science (1997) from Brown University MSc in Environment and Development (2000) from the University of East Anglia PhD in Development Studies (2004) from the University of East Anglia Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the International Water Management Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2005-2007) Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Oxford, 2021) Prof. Schipper's research centers on socio-cultural dimensions of vulnerability to climate change, including gender, culture, and religion, as well as structural issues related to power, justice, and equity. Her work has demonstrated how understanding underlying development factors driving vulnerability is vital for identifying effective adaptation strategies, yet this knowledge is often absent in adaptation planning. She has made significant contributions to understanding maladaptation - when adaptation efforts inadvertently increase vulnerability rather than reduce it. Her research also explores how religious beliefs influence hazard perceptions and adaptation actions. As Co-ordinating Lead Author of Chapter 18 ("Climate Resilient Development Pathways") for the IPCC Working Group II Sixth Assessment Report, she has helped shape global understanding of how adaptation and mitigation must be integrated with sustainable development efforts. Prof. Schipper's scientific contributions have been recognized with several honors, including: Winner of Emerald Literati Network Award for Outstanding Paper (2017) Selected as one of Climate Policy's "Top 20 Papers" Ida Pfeiffer Visiting Professor appointment (2022/23, declined) She is actively engaged in mentoring and welcomes students interested in supervision, particularly those with research questions related to climate change adaptation and development. Prof. Schipper serves on the editorial boards of Climate and Development (where she is Co-Editor), World Development Perspectives, and Global Transitions - Health. She also participates in several advisory roles including the Science Committee of the Adaptation Futures Conference 2023 and the CLARE Advisors Group. Prof. Schipper leads the AG Schipper research group at the University of Bonn, which focuses on three main areas: Adaptation and Development (examining how development projects can best promote transformative climate change adaptation), Equity and the Politics of Knowledge (understanding how knowledge informs climate resilient development decisions), and Culture and Risk (exploring how clashing worldviews create barriers for policy making and knowledge sharing).
Melissa Kemp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Natural Sciences. She is based at the Jackson School of Geosciences campus in Austin, Texas, with an office in PAT 102. Her research focuses on Quaternary paleontology, conservation paleobiology, and the ecological dynamics of Caribbean and North American biodiversity hotspots. She teaches GEO 391: Broader Impacts in STEM, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and community engagement. Dr. Kemp’s work integrates morphological and molecular data to study evolutionary adaptations, extinction processes, and human impacts on ecosystems. Her NSF CAREER Award supports research on Jamaican fossil ecosystems, while her NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015) advanced studies on North American reptile evolution. She actively promotes equity in STEM through programs like GEOPAths GO Jamaica, which combines service learning with conservation efforts. Key research themes include reconstructing ancient communities, analyzing functional trait diversity in reptiles, and understanding the role of historical contingency in shaping modern biodiversity. Her grants and awards reflect a dual focus on scientific discovery and educational outreach, bridging paleontology with modern conservation challenges.
Maria Antoniak is a Visiting Professor in Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, with an upcoming tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor starting Fall 2025. She holds affiliations with both the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information Science. Her research bridges Natural Language Processing (NLP), cultural analytics, and healthcare, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration with humanities and clinical fields. Education: PhD in Information Science from Cornell University (advisor: David Mimno), MA in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington, and BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She completed postdoctoral work at the Pioneer Centre for AI (Copenhagen) and was a Young Investigator at the Allen Institute for AI. Research focuses on narrative analysis (e.g., birth stories, online healthcare communities), NLP tool reliability, and ethical AI applications. Her work includes developing tools like Riveter for power dynamics analysis and Little Mallet Wrapper for topic modeling. Current projects explore cultural contexts in LLMs and maternal healthcare narratives. Teaching includes courses on NLP for Cultural Analytics and guest lectures globally. She organizes initiatives like the AI for Humanists workshop series and maintains resources for computational humanities. Maria advocates for inclusive academia through initiatives like Grads for Gender Inclusion in Computing and Ukrainian academic support efforts. Her upcoming roles include faculty appointments at CU Boulder and active participation in global conferences (e.g., ACL, COLING). Research spans computational humanities, healthcare informatics, and AI ethics, with a focus on societal impact and methodological rigor.
Michelle MacLeod is a Professor of Gaelic and Head of the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture at the University of Aberdeen, where she has been a faculty member since 2004 and was promoted to Personal Chair in 2019. She is currently Dean for Impact and Engagement and leads research and teaching in Scottish Gaelic language, literature, and identity. Education: M.A. (Hons), PhD (University of Aberdeen) Her research centers on modern Gaelic literature, Gaelic drama, language planning, and the sociolinguistics of minority languages. She is deeply engaged in questions of Gaelic identity, adult language acquisition, and community language policy. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public policy, particularly through her role on Bord na Gaidhlig. The most recent publications show a strong focus on Gaelic cultural expression, language policy critique, and sociolinguistic analysis of new speakers and family language use. Her work increasingly integrates interdisciplinary methods, including digital pedagogy and motivational psychology in language learning. Scientific awards include: Donald Meek Prize for best non-fiction Gaelic book (2021) AHRC Future of Languages Research Fellow (2022) Students' Union & University of Aberdeen Prize for Most Inspirational Lecturer (2024) She supervises PhD students in Gaelic studies and linguistics and collaborates with institutions like Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Comunn na Gàidhlig. Her leadership extends to national language planning and knowledge exchange, reflecting her commitment to the revitalization of Gaelic as a living community language. Michelle MacLeod is a key figure in the Gaelic academic community, leading both institutional and scholarly efforts to sustain and develop Scotland’s indigenous language through research, teaching, and policy engagement.
Professor Douglas Guilfoyle is a Professor at UNSW Canberra within the School of Humanities & Social Sciences, where he joined in 2018. He is a 2022-2025 Australian Research Council Future Fellow working on "Small States' use of law of the sea litigation against greater powers" (FT210100186). He is also a non-resident fellow at the Sea Power Centre - Australia and was a Visiting Legal Fellow at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2018-2019). Professor Guilfoyle's educational background includes: Doctor of Philosophy (International Law), University of Cambridge, 2007 Master of Laws (International Law), University of Cambridge, 2004 Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) Australian National University, 2000 Professor Guilfoyle's research focuses on maritime security, the international law of the sea, and international and transnational criminal law. His particular areas of specialism include maritime law-enforcement, the law of naval warfare, international courts and tribunals, and the history of international law. His work examines how small States use UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) dispute settlement mechanisms to gain political advantages in conflicts with greater powers. His research crosses over from the maritime domain to international criminal law generally, including questions of the effectiveness of international criminal tribunals and the law of superior responsibility. He has made significant contributions to understanding counter-piracy efforts, maritime interdiction operations, and the protection of submarine cables in the context of modern security challenges. Professor Guilfoyle's recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward examining the intersection of emerging technologies and maritime law, particularly regarding autonomous vessels. His work also shows a deep engagement with the strategic use of international law by small states, maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and the evolving role of international courts and tribunals in resolving complex maritime disputes. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical security concerns. Professor Guilfoyle has received several prestigious awards and fellowships: 2022-2025 Australian Research Council Future Fellow Gates Cambridge Scholar, 2004-2007 British Council Chevening Scholar, 2003-2004 British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship, 2012-2013 Professor Guilfoyle has secured significant research funding including an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship ($948,000, 2022-2025) for his project on "The use of strategic law of the sea litigation by small States against greater powers," and an Australian Research Council Discovery Project ($158,000, 2020-2023) on "Legal Regulation of Marine Autonomous Vehicles." His research is informed by extensive consultancy work with various government and international organizations. Prior to joining UNSW Canberra, he held academic positions at Monash University and University College London, and has practical legal experience as a judicial associate in the Australian Federal Court and as a commercial litigation solicitor in Sydney. Professor Guilfoyle is a frequent contributor to leading international law blogs such as EJIL:talk and Opinio Juris, demonstrating his active engagement with the international legal community and current developments in the field.
Catherine Higgs is a Professor in the Department of History and Sociology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. Her research focuses on Southern Africa , Portuguese colonialism , and Atlantic World histories, with emphasis on activism , labor , political history , and women's movements . She teaches courses on African commodities, British and Portuguese colonialism, and contemporary world history. Education: PhD, MPhil, MA (Yale University); BA Honours (Queen’s University) Her research examines intersections of colonial policy , labor exploitation , and transnational activism , including works on cocoa slavery in São Tomé and Príncipe, African nuns' resistance during apartheid, and South African political figures like D.D.T. Jabavu. She has received grants from the National Humanities Center and Rockefeller Foundation . Scientific awards include the 2024 Sol T. Plaatje Translation Award for her role in publishing D.D.T. Jabavu’s travelogue. As a graduate supervisor, she mentors students in African studies and labor history. She served as Head of her department from 2015-2020 and previously taught at the University of Tennessee, University of Nebraska at Kearney, and Rollins College.
Cara Krmpotich is a Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information, specializing in museum anthropology with a focus on decolonizing and Indigenizing practices. She co-directs the Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC), advancing repatriation efforts and Indigenous heritage sovereignty. Krmpotich also co-led DigiLabs, exploring equity and ethics in digital cultural heritage. Her academic leadership includes roles as Past-President of the Council for Museum Anthropology and Board member of the Ontario Museum Association. Education : DPhil, University of Oxford (2004–2008) MA, University of British Columbia (2002–2004) BA, Trent University (1997–2001) Certification in Museum Management and Curatorship, Fleming College (1999–2000) Research Interests : Repatriation of cultural property, kinship and material culture, community-engaged museum practices, digital heritage ethics, and Indigenous sovereignty in cultural institutions. Her work bridges anthropological theory with actionable initiatives to address historical inequities in museum collections. Grants & Collaborations : SSHRC-funded projects on ethical stewardship of Indigenous heritage and digital colonial collections (2013–2025) Canada Foundation for Innovation grants for mobilizing Indigenous heritage research (2018–2025) Initiatives with institutions like the Smithsonian and University of Edinburgh on repatriation and reconciliation Teaching : Courses include Collection Management, Curatorial Practice, and Museums & Indigenous Communities. Krmpotich emphasizes critical pedagogy and practical engagement with museum ethics.
