Dr. Thomas Bennett is a Lecturer in Law at City Law School, City, University of London, specializing in Media Law, Privacy Law, and Defamation Law. He holds degrees from Newcastle University (LL.B (Hons)) and City University (LL.M (Distinction)), and a Ph.D. from Durham University (2018). His research focuses on judicial decision-making in common law, legal philosophy, and the interplay between law and language. He teaches Tort Law and Media Law and supervises Ph.D. students in these areas. Key achievements include co-founding the Media Law Podcast (2018) and being a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Bennett has authored multiple books and articles, including Law and Imagination in Troubled Times (2020) and The Campbell Legacy (2017). His work bridges legal theory with practical applications in media and privacy law. Education: Ph.D., Durham University (2018) LL.M. (Distinction), City University LL.B. (Hons), Newcastle University Awards: Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2018–present) Bennett’s recent publications analyze tensions between free speech and privacy, judicial coherence in defamation cases, and the evolution of common law privacy torts. His research emphasizes the role of legal imagination in shaping jurisprudence, particularly in troubled socio-political contexts.
Mohammad Modarres is the Nicole J. Kim Eminent Professor at the University of Maryland within the A.J. Clark School of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Center for Risk and Reliability (CRR) and is a Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Modarres co-founded the world's first degree-granting graduate curriculum in reliability engineering at the University of Maryland and has established himself as an international expert in reliability and risk analysis. Dr. Modarres received his educational credentials from prestigious institutions: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT Dr. Modarres' research spans multiple critical areas in engineering risk and reliability. His primary interests include probabilistic risk assessment, uncertainty analysis, probabilistic physics of failure, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. His work encompasses both experimental investigations and sophisticated probabilistic model development. He has made significant contributions to materials degradation science, prognosis and health management systems, and nuclear safety analysis. His research bridges theoretical developments with practical applications in complex engineering systems, particularly in nuclear power and aerospace sectors. Analysis of Dr. Modarres' recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating advanced data science techniques with traditional reliability engineering. His work increasingly incorporates machine learning, deep learning, and entropy-based approaches to solve complex problems in prognostics and health management. There's a clear focus on multi-unit systems, particularly in nuclear power applications, and a growing emphasis on data-driven methodologies for remaining useful life estimation and failure prediction. His research maintains a strong foundation in probabilistic methods while embracing cutting-edge computational approaches. Dr. Modarres has received numerous prestigious honors and awards throughout his distinguished career: Nicole Y. Kim Eminent Professorship in Engineering Minta Martin Professorship in A.J. Clark School of Engineering University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher (2019) Tommy Thompson Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to nuclear safety (American Nuclear Society) Fellow, American Nuclear Society Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Life Fellow of IEEE 1996 Maryland Inventor of the Year Award (in Information Sciences) FDA Commissioner Special Citation for Contributions to Risk Assessment Methods (2004) 2008 International Research Leadership Award (Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management) Honorary Doctorate from Universidad Da Vinci de Guatemala As the founding director of the Center for Risk and Reliability, Dr. Modarres has built a world-renowned program that has awarded over 500 Ph.D. and master's degrees. His research has been supported by significant grants from government agencies and industry partners, particularly in nuclear safety, aerospace reliability, and critical infrastructure protection. He has mentored numerous students who have gone on to become leaders in reliability engineering across various industries. His center collaborates extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international organizations on risk assessment methodologies. The Center for Risk and Reliability (CRR), which Dr. Modarres directs, serves as a hub for multidisciplinary research in risk and reliability engineering. The center has recently renovated its facilities to enhance collaboration among researchers from different engineering disciplines. CRR maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders including Amazon Lab126 (as evidenced by their collaboration on device durability research) and has been instrumental in advancing probabilistic risk assessment tools used in nuclear power plant safety analysis. The center hosts regular seminars, workshops, and international conferences, positioning itself at the forefront of risk and reliability research globally.
Nichole Denise Pinkard is the Alice Hamilton Professor of Learning Sciences and Faculty Director of the Office of Community Education Partnerships at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy. She founded the Digital Youth Network (DYN) and developed L3, a social learning platform connecting youth's learning across multiple environments. Education: PhD, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 1998 MS, Computer Science, Northwestern University BS, Computer Science, Stanford University Research Focus: Designs socio-technical systems to support ecological models of learning, emphasizing community-level learning ecosystems and pedagogical-based social networks. Her work bridges technology and urban education contexts to reimagine learning documentation and opportunities. Awards: 2010 Common Sense Media Award 2004 Jan Hawkins Award 2000 NSF Early Career Fellowship Projects & Initiatives: Leads Chicago City of Learning and Digital Youth Divas programs, advancing digital equity and youth empowerment through technology. Collaborates with city agencies to create existence proofs for innovative urban learning models.
Vasilis Kostakis is a Professor of Technology Governance and Sustainability at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Estonia, and a Faculty Associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center. He is also the founder of the P2P Lab, a global initiative exploring peer-to-peer production systems, and a founding member of the 'Tzoumakers' rural makerspace and CommonEn energy cooperative in Greece. Research Interests : Kostakis focuses on technology governance, sustainability, and commons-based systems. His work critiques traditional economic models and advocates for decentralized, community-driven approaches to energy, production, and knowledge-sharing. Key themes include post-growth economics, cosmolocal scalability, and the intersection of digital technology with local initiatives. Key Contributions : He has pioneered frameworks like 'cosmolocalism' (balancing local and global systems) and 'design global, manufacture local' (Dgml), emphasizing localized production using global digital designs. His projects, such as TheOtherSchool.art and the P2P Lab, aim to democratize access to technology and knowledge. Labs & Collaborations : The P2P Lab acts as a hub for global commons research, while his hometown initiatives in Ioannina, Greece, exemplify grassroots sustainability. Collaborations span academia, civil society, and policy-making to reimagine socio-technical systems.
Shannon D. M. Moore is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education , University of Manitoba , where she teaches media education , social studies education , social justice pedagogy , and research methodologies. Her work critically examines the impacts of neoliberal reforms on public education, hockey culture , and gender-based sexual violence in schools. Education: 2014 — PhD, University of British Columbia 2008 — MA, University of British Columbia 2000 — BEd, University of British Columbia 1999 — BA, University of British Columbia Her research focuses on media literacies , neoliberalism , and creative pedagogies . Recent projects include the SSHRC-funded study We Interrupt this Programming , which analyzes institutional responses to gender-based violence, and co-planning the Hockey Conference 2025 in Winnipeg. She also serves as managing editor of the Manitoba Social Science Teachers' Association Journal and co-hosts the podcast Public Good . Recent publication trends include critiques of EdTech neoliberalism , education privatization , and homophobic/transphobic discourses in mainstream media. Her work bridges critical pedagogy with policy analysis and cultural studies , emphasizing the intersection of public education and social justice . Scientific Awards: Invited to testify before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on the Status of Women (2024) for her research on hockey culture and gendered violence Community & Leadership: As a founding member of People for Public Education and organizer of the Hockey Conference 2025, she advocates for systemic resistance to neoliberal education policies and works to amplify marginalized voices in educational discourse.
Professor Dinusha Mendis is a leading academic in Intellectual Property and Innovation Law at Bournemouth University, where she serves as Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management (CIPPM). Her expertise bridges copyright law with emerging technologies like 3D printing, AI, blockchain, and the Metaverse, informed by extensive research and consultation with entities such as the European Parliament, UKIPO, and corporations like HP and Chanel. She holds a PhD from Edinburgh University and has authored seminal works on the intersection of technology and IP. BSc in Law from Aberdeen University LLM and PhD from Edinburgh University Called to the Bar of England and Wales Her research focuses on copyright challenges in immersive environments , AI-generated content regulation , and blockchain/NFTs . She led major studies for the European Commission and UKIPO , including the first peer-reviewed work on 3D printing and IP. Her 2019 co-edited book with Stanford and QUT scholars established foundational frameworks for additive manufacturing legal analysis. Recent publications highlight AI copyright disputes (2024 The Conversation ), NFT legal ambiguities (2022), and pandemic-era 3D printing (2020). Trends show increasing emphasis on decentralized IP systems and machine learning's impact on creative industries . Scientific Awards & Grants JSPS Visiting Professorship (2023) Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Grant (2024) EU Commission Research Funding (2020) AHRC Grant for 3D Jewellery Study (2017) As a PhD supervisor, she mentors researchers on AI copyright (Benjamin White), crypto-art (Bahar Dagli), and music creation law (Elizabeth Bailey). She contributes to global IP policy through the World Economic Forum's Metaverse Governance Team and EU IPR Enforcement Projects .
Anthony Niblett is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Law, Economics, & Innovation at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He is an Affiliate Researcher with the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and co-founder of Blue J, a startup leveraging AI for tax and legal professionals. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University (2009) M.A. in Economics, Harvard University (2006) LL.B. (Honours), University of Melbourne (2003) B.Com. (Honours in Economics), University of Melbourne (2003) Bigelow Fellow, University of Chicago His research bridges artificial intelligence , innovation , and legal theory , with a focus on contract law , competition policy , and judicial behavior . He explores how machine learning transforms legal practice, regulatory frameworks, and judicial decisions. His work includes self-driving contracts , computational antitrust , and the personalization of law . Recent publications analyze AI’s role in legal disagreement , gender gaps in employment law , and computational merger reviews . His articles emphasize the intersection of technology , economics , and legal reform . Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Law, Economics, & Innovation Bigelow Fellow, University of Chicago He serves as an Academic Advisor at the Future of Law Lab and contributes to Blue J , advancing AI applications in legal domains. His teaching includes Contract Law , Torts , and Economic Analysis of Law .
Prof. Claudio J. Tessone is a Professor of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies at the Department of Informatics, University of Zurich. He serves as Head of the Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies group, Chairman of the UZH Blockchain Center, and is incharge of the NetSci Society. His academic background includes a PhD in Physics (Complex Systems) and an Habilitation in Complex Socio-Economic Systems from ETH Zurich. Education: PhD in Physics (2006): Thesis on synchronization in stochastic systems, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain Habilitation (2015): Thesis on agent-based modeling of socio-economic systems, ETH Zurich Master in Physics (1999): Thesis on stochastic resonance, Instituto Balseiro, Argentina Research Interests: Prof. Tessone specializes in modeling complex socio-economic and socio-technical systems, with a focus on blockchain-based systems. His work explores crypto-economics, blockchain scalability, decentralized finance (DeFi), and the interplay between micro-level agent behavior and macro-level emergent properties. Notable areas include transaction network analysis in Bitcoin/Ethereum, consensus mechanisms (Proof-of-Stake/Work), and blockchain governance models. Publications Trends: Recent articles emphasize empirical blockchain analysis (e.g., Ethereum microvelocity, Bitcoin mesoscopic structure), DeFi arbitrage strategies, and privacy-preserving blockchain applications in healthcare. His work bridges theoretical agent-based models with real-world blockchain datasets, addressing both technical and socio-economic dimensions of distributed ledger technologies. Grants & Labs: Director of the UZH Summer School on Blockchain and Certificate of Advanced Studies program. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations through the URPP Social Networks (2015–2021) and ETH Zurich’s Systems Design group (2007–2014). Labs/Initiatives: Leads the UZH Blockchain Center, a hub for academic-industry research on blockchain applications in finance, governance, and digital transformation.
Jiang Hu is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, holding the Eric D. Rubin '06 Endowed Professorship. He also serves as Co-Director of Graduate Programs and is affiliated with the Computer Science & Engineering department. His research focuses on VLSI design automation, machine learning applications, and hardware security. He has held roles as editor for IEEE Transactions on CAD and ACM Transactions on Design Automation, and chaired the 2012 ACM International Symposium on Physical Design. Education: B.S. in Optical Engineering (Zhejiang University, 1990), M.S. in Physics (1997), and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (University of Minnesota, 2001). He worked at IBM Microelectronics before joining Texas A&M in 2002. Research interests include energy-efficient VLSI circuits, on-chip communication fabrics, analog layout automation, and AI-driven EDA. Recent work emphasizes machine learning for design closure, privacy-preserving frameworks, and systolic array-based architectures. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2016) Humboldt Research Fellowship (2012) Multiple best paper awards at DAC, ICCAD, and ASPDAC Advising and grants: Leads initiatives like the SLICE project, NSF workshops on ML-EDA infrastructure, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of ACM TODAES since 2024. His work bridges academic research and industry applications in EDA and semiconductor design. Labs/Teams: Active contributor to open-source tools like ALIGN for analog layout generation and collaborations on machine learning for EDA commons.
Séverine Dusollier is a Professor of Intellectual Property at the Law School of Sciences Po Paris and holds a Senior Chair at the Institut Universitaire de France. She serves as Director of the Law School's Research Centre and Head of the Master in Innovation Law, actively contributing to doctoral committee activities. Her expertise spans copyright law , digital rights , and intellectual property frameworks. Key roles : Research Centre Director, Master in Innovation Law Head International engagement : Founding Member of the European Copyright Society, ATRIP member Her research focuses on digital copyright issues , authorship concepts , contractual protections for creators , and the evolution of exceptions and limitations . Recent work explores generative AI implications, public domain dynamics , and inclusive property models . She has held visiting positions at Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, and Cambridge. Notable scientific awards include: ERC research grant (2014–2019) Senior Chair, Institut Universitaire de France CSPLA (French Copyright Council) membership Her publications emphasize digital transitions , IP openness , and fair remuneration in streaming , reflecting her dedication to reconciling traditional IP structures with modern technological realities.
Dr. Sheryl Staub-French is a Professor and Head (Pro Tem) in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Applied Science. She directs the BIM TOPiCS Lab, focusing on digital delivery methods for sustainable construction using BIM. Her research spans over 100 publications in BIM, VDC, and collaboration frameworks. She previously served as Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), advancing inclusive practices in engineering education. She holds a BS from Santa Clara University and MS/PhD from Stanford University. Her research interests include BIM implementation challenges, design coordination, 4D visualization, and sustainable construction innovation. She teaches courses like CIVL 300 (Construction Engineering), CIVL 426 (Virtual Design and Construction), and advanced BIM topics. Her lab collaborates with industry/government to develop BIM guidelines and tools. Notable projects include UBC’s Brock Commons Tall Wood Building and studies on IPD adoption barriers in Canada. Her work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing digital transformation and EDI. She has pioneered BIM-based methods for facility management and energy modeling, addressing gaps in information quality and handover processes. Her contributions span policy development, tool innovation, and educational reforms to enhance construction sector efficiency and inclusivity.
Raymond Ku is the John Homer Kapp Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He has served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Co-Director of the Center for Law, Technology and the Art. His work focuses on Constitutional Law, Cyberlaw, Privacy, and Copyright, with an emphasis on how technology and evolving societal norms intersect with individual liberties. Education Juris Doctor (J.D.), New York University (1995) Bachelor of Arts (A.B.), Brown University (1992) Professor Ku’s research explores the tensions between free speech and copyright, the implications of digital technology on privacy, and the constitutional boundaries of surveillance. His publications span topics like peer-to-peer file sharing, reproductive rights, and data privacy, reflecting a commitment to addressing contemporary legal challenges through interdisciplinary lenses. His scholarship appears in prestigious law reviews, including Berkeley, Chicago, and Vanderbilt. He authored the first casebook on cyberspace law. Awards include the 2009 Distinguished Teacher Award and being voted Professor of the Year by the 2009 graduating class. Raymond Ku clerked for Judge Timothy K. Lewis and practiced constitutional, intellectual property, and antitrust law before transitioning to academia. He has taught at multiple institutions, contributing to legal education and research related to technology and civil liberties.
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.
Marshall Steinbaum is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Utah and a Senior Fellow in Higher Education Finance at the Jain Family Institute. His empirical research focuses on employer power in labor markets, with applications to antitrust policy, student debt, and economic inequality. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago and a B.A. (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. Steinbaum's research investigates: The dynamics of labor market concentration and its impact on wages Antitrust enforcement in franchising and gig economies Student debt crises and higher education financing Historical and policy-driven causes of economic inequality His recent publications analyze trends in franchising restrictions, mergers' labor market effects, and student debt cancellation impacts. Articles consistently emphasize employer power, regulatory gaps, and structural inequities across labor and education sectors.
Dr. Susana Castro-Kemp is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE), where she serves as Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) since September 2023. Previously, she was a Reader in Education at the University of Roehampton for eight years. Her work focuses on inclusive education policy and practice globally, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early childhood intervention, and mental health in schools. The IOE has been ranked number one in the world for Education for several consecutive years, providing an ideal environment for her impactful research. Dr. Castro-Kemp holds a PhD in Psychology jointly awarded in 2012 by the University of Porto (Portugal) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). Her doctoral research was fully funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology/European Commission and the Global Education and Development Studies scholarships. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and a Recognised Research Supervisor by the UK Council for Graduate Education. Dr. Castro-Kemp's research centers on policy regulating education, health, and welfare services for children, particularly those with support needs. She examines inclusive education practices from users' perspectives, policy models leading to effective inclusive pedagogy, and country-level policy impacts on outcomes for children with special educational needs. Her work moves away from diagnostic labels toward engagement and civic participation as educational outcomes. She also investigates inclusion and early intervention in low- and middle-income countries, mental health in schools, and quality of early childhood education. Her recent publications reveal several key trends in inclusive education research. There's growing emphasis on understanding educational experiences through the voices of children and families rather than diagnostic labels. Much of her work examines the implementation gap between inclusive education policy and classroom practice. She has conducted significant research on how children with special educational needs experienced the pandemic, revealing both challenges and unexpected "silver linings" for some groups. Her corpus analysis of Ofsted reports shows narrow focus in early childhood education inspections, while her work on SEND policy increasingly takes an international comparative approach. Dr. Castro-Kemp has received recognition for her impactful work, including: Best Digital Humanities Project for Community Engagement Prize (2023) from the National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of South Africa for her project "Optimising collaborations and reducing inequalities of Early Childhood Intervention in post-Covid-19 South Africa" Dr. Castro-Kemp has secured approximately £1.3 million in research funding from various sources including ESRC, British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, and private sponsors. Her current major project is 'ScopeSEND' (2024-2026), funded by the Nuffield Foundation (£250,000), examining international SEND policies. She has led numerous projects including "Transdisciplinary provision for children with disabilities in the Global South" (£3,500), "Optimising collaborations in South Africa" (£47,200), and "Froebel meets Ofsted" (£19,185). As a supervisor, she mentors MA/MSc and PhD students in education policy, early childhood, and inclusive education, having been nominated for student choice awards for excellent feedback and outstanding research supervision. As Director of the UCL Centre for Inclusive Education since 2023, Dr. Castro-Kemp leads a team focused on advancing knowledge exchange and research in inclusion and special needs. The Centre works with schools, educators, parents, and early years settings to translate research into practice. Her international collaborations include work with the World Health Organization as a technical advisor on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) system in educational contexts. She also serves on the SEN Policy Research Forum and has provided oral evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee.
