Jakob Merane is a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich's Professorship of Law, Economics and Business, and a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute and Harvard Law School. He holds a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich and law degrees from the University of Basel, with additional studies in applied statistics. His research focuses on AI-driven legal enforcement, legal technology, and compliance-by-design approaches, leveraging computational and empirical methods. Merane's work includes developing tools like SwiLTra-Bench for multilingual legal translation and LEXam for benchmarking AI legal reasoning. He has contributed to GDPR compliance studies, automation of legal enforcement processes, and quantitative analyses of Swiss legal datasets. Awards include the 2024 Young Scholar Prize from the German Law and Economics Association. Teaching responsibilities include ETH's Law & Tech course since 2020, emphasizing AI regulation and interdisciplinary collaboration between law and computer science. Merane's research also addresses AI liability in medical contexts, digital advertising regulations, and ethical AI integration in legal systems. His work bridges legal theory with practical applications, aiming to enhance justice accessibility through technology.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Leese is a full professor of History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Sinology. He specializes in 20th-century Chinese history, focusing on the Communist Party's legacy and transitional justice. Current research includes a dual biography of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, and analysis of PRC information systems. Education: PhD in International History (2006, International University Bremen). Academic roles include ERC grant leadership (2014-2019) and FRIAS Senior Fellowship (2018-2019). Awards include Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship (2022/2023). Key publications: Maos langer Schatten (2021) Justice After Mao (2023) Chinesisches Denken der Gegenwart (2023) Research emphasizes Mao's political impact, historical justice mechanisms, and institutional memory. Maintains a digital archive of Mao-era documents (maoistlegacy.de).
Marcus Smith is an Associate Professor in Law at the Charles Sturt University , where he teaches LAW222 Technology Law and directs the Bachelor of Laws program. He holds advanced degrees from the Australian National University (PhD, LLM) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil). His research spans technology law and regulation , focusing on genomic data governance biometric identification AI ethics blockchain policy cybersecurity surveillance law He leads the Contemporary Threats to Australian Security research group and serves as Chief Investigator on an NHMRC-funded project (MRF2015531) addressing genomic dataset governance. His recent work analyzes algorithmic bias in facial recognition AI in healthcare blockchain's regulatory challenges post-pandemic cybercrime surveillance ethics data security frameworks He actively supervises PhD and honours students in technology law and contributes to law reform through submissions to international bodies like the UN Human Rights Council .
Shiri Azenkot is an Associate Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech and Cornell University, affiliated with the Information Science Department and Technion’s Computer Science Department. Her research focuses on accessibility innovations in emerging technologies, particularly addressing needs of people with vision impairments and neurodiverse populations. She holds a PhD from the University of Washington, advised by Richard Ladner and Jacob Wobbrock, and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Education: PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from University of Washington (advisors: Richard Ladner, Jacob Wobbrock). Research interests include VR/AR accessibility, assistive technology design, inclusive education tools, and ethical AI applications. Current projects explore social VR avatars for invisible disabilities, AR navigation aids, and AI moderation systems against ableist hate speech. Her work is funded by NSF, AOL, Verizon, and Facebook. Recent publications address video accessibility for ADHD users, AI-driven scene descriptions for blind users, and tactile learning materials co-designed with educators. She leads the XR Access initiative promoting inclusive virtual/augmented reality. Awards include the UW Graduate Medal (2020), NSF CRII Award (2017), and AT&T Labs Fellowship (2014). Her research bridges academic innovation with industry impact through collaborations with tech companies and disability advocacy groups.
Richard Jochelson serves as Dean of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba (Robson Hall), a position he has held since July 1, 2016. Previously, he taught criminal law for 10 years at the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Jochelson holds a Ph.D. in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, an LLM from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, an LL.B. with Gold Medal from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and a B.Sc. in Zoology with Distinction from the same institution. He completed his legal training as a clerk at the Alberta Court of Appeal and Court of Queen's Bench before working at a major Canadian law firm. Dr. Jochelson's research program centers on critical issues in criminal justice and constitutional law, with primary interests in police powers jurisprudence, sexual regulation (particularly obscenity and indecency law), jury systems and representativeness, and legal pedagogy. His interdisciplinary approach bridges law with sociology and psychology, bringing empirical and theoretical rigor to legal scholarship. His work consistently addresses social justice concerns, examining how vulnerable populations interact with the justice system and how concepts like risk, precaution, and visibility shape legal decision-making. He has developed a distinctive methodology combining doctrinal analysis with empirical research on judicial behavior and jury decision-making. His recent publications reveal evolving scholarly priorities that respond to contemporary legal challenges. The 2025 article "Morbid Matters" addresses medical assistance in dying within federal corrections, while his 2024 works on youth terrorism cases and agnotology demonstrate expansion into new interdisciplinary territories. His longstanding commitment to police powers scholarship continues with "Ancillary Police Powers in Canada" (2024). The pandemic period saw significant contributions to understanding digital justice, mental health in legal education, and remote court proceedings. His criminal law scholarship maintains focus on jury representativeness, particularly regarding Indigenous inclusion following Bill C-75's elimination of peremptory challenges. Students' Teacher Recognition Award (CATL) - 2018 Dr. Jochelson has secured multiple SSHRC Insight Grants as both Principal and Co-investigator, demonstrating his ability to lead interdisciplinary research teams. His mentorship extends to junior academics and students, with several publications co-authored with emerging scholars. He has built significant research infrastructure, notably assembling nearly 40 interdisciplinary scholars across Canada for Robsoncrim.com, which has elevated the Criminal Law Edition of the Manitoba Law Journal to prominence as one of Canada's preeminent criminal law publications. As Dean of Law, Dr. Jochelson provides leadership in academic governance and legal education innovation. His service includes extensive committee work on academic affairs, workload policy, and hiring/tenure committees. His commitment to universal design principles informs both his teaching approach and administrative leadership, emphasizing accessibility and student-centered pedagogy that allows flexible evaluation methods tailored to individual learning preferences.
Sascha van Schendel is an Assistant Professor in Data Protection & Cybersecurity at the Department of Law & Markets, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She is affiliated with the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization and contributes to the Sectorplan SSH-Breed research initiative on the influence of digitalization on work, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. Her research lies at the intersection of law, technology, and fundamental rights, with a focus on data protection, privacy, algorithmic governance, and the regulation of emerging technologies in public and environmental domains. She has published widely on topics including GDPR compliance, privacy by design, smart energy systems, AI in criminal justice, and the legal implications of predictive policing. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward the regulation of data in public infrastructure (e.g., energy grids), algorithmic accountability in law enforcement, and the integration of legal and technical perspectives in privacy-preserving systems. Her work spans environmental law, criminal procedure, and digital constitutionalism, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: While no formal PhD or Master’s students are listed, Dr. van Schendel has been involved in significant research projects such as the NWO-funded Megamind project on smart energy grids, indicating experience with competitive grant funding. She actively collaborates with legal scholars and contributes to public policy debates, including responses to national legislation like the Dutch Cybersecurity Bill. Labs and Teams: She is a core member of the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization, a research hub focusing on the legal challenges of digital transformation. Her work is embedded in interdisciplinary collaborations involving law, technology, and public policy experts.
Dr. Yawei Zhao is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Manchester. She specializes in digital technologies, urbanization, and lifestyle migration. Her research explores data centers, PropTech, and the intersection of lifestyle migration with small city urbanization. Funded by the British Academy, IJURR Foundation, and Mitacs Canada, her work appears in journals like Urban Geography and Housing Studies . Prior to Manchester, she was a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, where she earned her PhD in Geography. She holds degrees from McGill University, City University of Hong Kong, and National University of Singapore. Her research interests include urban governance, ecological civilization, and China's urban dynamics. Notable projects examine the Belt and Road Initiative's AI governance platforms and the impact of virtual tourism on cultural heritage sites. She co-leads PhD supervision on topics such as internal migration in China and animal rights in urban governance. Dr. Zhao actively contributes to interdisciplinary platforms like Digital Futures, Manchester China Institute, and Manchester Urban Institute. She organized the 2022–2023 conference ‘Making Rent: Generational Inequality and the Housing Crisis.’
Rafael Grohmann is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), with a graduate cross-appointment at the Faculty of Information (iSchool). He leads the DigiLabour Initiative and is a researcher with Fairwork, focusing on Critical Platform and Data Studies. His research emphasizes platform labour, the platformization of work, and resistance strategies among workers in Latin America. Grohmann holds a PhD in Communication from the University of São Paulo and has held prior academic positions at institutions in Brazil, including Unisinos University. His research interests span platform cooperativism, public policies for technology and labor, AI's impact on work, and data-driven labour practices. He is an editorial board member for Big Data & Society and Work, Employment and Society , and contributes to UCLA’s Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2). His work examines intersections of technology, labour precarity, and solidarity economies, with a focus on global South contexts. Recent publications analyze click farm labour in Brazil, gender dynamics in platform cooperatives, and global-local trends in platform worker organizing. Grohmann’s work bridges critical theory with action research, advocating for fair work standards in digital economies. He participates in initiatives like the Platform Cooperativism Consortium and the Labor Tech Research Network.
Benjamin Lange is a Research Professor and Junior Research Group Leader in the Ethics of AI and Machine Learning at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) and the Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML). He is also an Associate Research Fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Institute for Practical Ethics and a member of LMU's Zentrum für Ethik und Philosophie in der Praxis (ZEPP). His research bridges foundational ethical theory with practical challenges in technology, business, and organizational ethics. Lange holds a BSc from the London School of Economics, and a B.Phil and D.Phil from the University of Oxford. He previously held visiting positions at Google’s Responsible Innovation team and the University of Hamburg. His research focuses on ethical frameworks for AI, digital ethics, and corporate responsibility. Key themes include the ethics of human-AI collaboration, moral partiality in relationships, and organizational ethics. He has advised the European Commission on AI governance and developed assurance audit methodologies for algorithmic systems, including work for NYC’s AI Bias Law. His consulting practice focuses on helping organizations build ethical cultures through capabilities like moral imagination and compliance frameworks. Lange’s work has been featured in media such as CBS News, Business Insider, and ZDF heute journal. He is completing a book on the ethics of interpersonal relationships and partiality, aiming to connect philosophical insights with practical applications. His recent publications explore moral imagination in engineering teams, bias mitigation in AI systems, and the ethical implications of digital duplication technologies. He advises Fortune 500 companies, startups, and public institutions across sectors including finance, technology, and education. His approach emphasizes aligning ethical practices with organizational growth and social impact through tailored ethical frameworks and stakeholder engagement strategies.
Sahana Udupa is a Professor of Media Anthropology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), Germany, and a Fellow at the Harvard Berkman Klein Center. She leads the Center for Digital Dignity, an international network addressing online political expression challenges. Her research focuses on extreme speech, disinformation, and platform governance, with notable work including a UN-commissioned paper on countering online hate and an award-winning 2024 article on AI and extreme speech. She holds ERC grants, including a consolidator grant for a cross-national study on small social media platforms (2024–2029). She chairs an LMU Center for Advanced Studies research group on encrypted messaging and extreme speech, co-editing a forthcoming book on WhatsApp (NYU Press). Awards include the Francqui Chair and ICA’s Outstanding Article Award. Affiliations: Harvard Berkman Klein Center, LMU Munich, ERC-funded projects Grants: €2M ERC consolidator grant, multiple international fellowships Her advisory roles include MediaWell (SSRC) and editorial boards of leading journals. Current projects include a symposium on encrypted messaging and a UN policy report on extreme speech.
Stefan Bechtold is a Full Professor of Intellectual Property at ETH Zurich since 2013 and Associate Vice President IP Policy (2023–2026). He is affiliated with the ETH AI Center and serves on global advisory boards including the Academic Advisory Board of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. His interdisciplinary research bridges law, economics, and computer science.
William Brown is an Associate Professor of Film in the Department of Theatre & Film within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. He earned his D.Phil. from the University of Oxford and joined UBC in January 2022 after teaching positions at the University of Roehampton, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, and New York University Abu Dhabi. At UBC, he serves as Graduate Advisor for Cinema and Media Studies. His research spans multiple intersecting fields including film-philosophy, digital media, posthumanism, and critical race theory. Brown approaches cinema through both theoretical scholarship and practical filmmaking, creating works that blend fiction, documentary, and video essays. His academic contributions include numerous books that have shaped contemporary film theory, particularly exploring the relationship between cinema and philosophical concepts in the digital age. Brown's publications reveal a consistent trajectory toward understanding cinema's relationship with ecological thought, nonhuman perspectives, and decolonial approaches. His recent work focuses on navigating from the 'White Anthropocene' to the 'Black Chthulucene,' examining how cinema can represent and intervene in ecological crises while challenging dominant Western perspectives. Nominated for Best Monograph by British Association of Film and Television Studies Society (2018) Book Reviews Editor for Studies in European Cinema and Film-Philosophy Conference Report Editor for Cinema: Journal of Philosophy and the Moving Image Brown has supervised five PhD dissertations to completion, four of which successfully combined practice and theory. His teaching encompasses both film production and film history/theory. As an active filmmaker, he has created approximately 15 no-budget feature films that have received recognition from prestigious critics and festivals including Sight & Sound Films of the Year and American Online Film Awards. He is a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences and has presented at venues including the British Film Institute's Philosophical Screens series.
Armelle Choplin is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva's Department of Geography and Environment within the Geneva School of Social Sciences, and affiliated with the Global Studies Institute since 2019. She serves as Director of the Institute of Environmental Governance and Territorial Development (IGEDT), leading research on urban transformations in the Global South. Research Focus Her research examines urban policies, social transformations, and development challenges in African cities and the Global South. Core interests include: urban planning dynamics, governance frameworks, construction industry impacts, poverty alleviation, sustainable development pathways, globalization effects, digital innovation in urban contexts, and postcolonial urban studies. Her geographical specialization focuses on West Africa and MENA regions. Publication Analysis Recent publications (2017-2024) demonstrate consistent focus on material urbanism, governance innovations, and spatial justice in African cities. Key thematic clusters include: urban material flows (concrete, energy), participatory planning methods, transnational urban corridors, and postcolonial urban theory. Methodologically, her work combines spatial analysis with political economy and ethnographic approaches. Research Leadership She directs multiple international projects including: Global Urb: Global Urbanism from the South MatéRhône: Construction materials in Rhone Valley West African Coastal Corridor study (Accra-Lagos axis) URBACOT: West African Coastal Urban Dynamics Observatory Map&Jerry: Participatory mapping in Cotonou Student Advising Currently supervising eight doctoral candidates researching urban development topics across Africa. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on urban globalization, metropolitan governance, spatial justice, and regional project development at both bachelor's and master's levels.
Stacey Lantagne is a Professor of Law at Western New England University School of Law , joining in 2022. Her research explores the intersection of digital creativity and intellectual property law, focusing on fanfiction and internet memes. She actively engages with pop culture and fan studies communities as a presenter and guest speaker. Education : B.A. summa cum laude, Boston College (English major, Computer Science minor) J.D. cum laude, Harvard Law School Her work addresses evolving legal challenges in digital communication, trademark expansion, and fair use doctrine. Articles like “Building a Better Mousetrap” and “Mutating Internet Memes” highlight her expertise in copyright law’s adaptation to internet culture. She serves on the Legal Committee of the Organization for Transformative Works , advocating for fan creators. Prior roles include teaching at the University of Mississippi and Loyola University New Orleans, along with intellectual property litigation experience at Goodwin Procter and Drinker Biddle & Reath.
Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich. Her research focuses on sustainability goals in global food systems, analyzing policies and institutional arrangements related to poverty reduction, gender equality, and food security in lower-income countries. She leads the Food Systems Economics and Policy Group, affiliated with the Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), World Food System Center (WFSC), and ETH4D. Education: PhD Agricultural Economics (summa cum laude), University of Göttingen (2017) MSc Agricultural Economics, University of Hohenheim (2013) BSc Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel-Witzenhausen (2011) Professional Experience: Since 2022: Assistant Professor (tenure track), ETH Zürich 2020–2022: Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen 2019–2020: Postdoc, Cornell University 2018–2019: Postdoc, University of Minnesota 2017–2018: Postdoc, University of Göttingen Research Interests: Her work explores diverse actors in food systems (farmers, cooperatives, companies) and their roles in sustainable development. Current research emphasizes policy design for decent work, gender equality, and resilience in global agrifood supply chains. Teaching: She teaches the course World Food System in ETH Zürich’s Autumn Semester 2025.
