Dr. Alessio Russo is a Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). As a recognized expert in urban ecosystem services and green infrastructure, his research bridges environmental design with human health and climate change mitigation. His research emphasizes enhancing urban human health and wellbeing through biodiverse green spaces, participatory design, and nature-based solutions that address thermal comfort, pollution removal, food production, and water runoff. Key projects include 2023-2024: Urban rewilding aesthetics & people's needs in blue/green infrastructure (UKRI RECLAIM Network Plus) 2023: Climate-resilient public spaces (RPA Small Grants, UoG) 2021-2022: Shared vision for urban greening (UCL & Net Zero Innovation Programme) His scholarly output spans 2014-2025, focusing on nature-based urban regeneration aligned with SDG 11. He serves as Associate Editor for Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems and sits on editorial boards of Urban Planning, Discovering Cities, and Urban Resilience and Sustainability. Professional memberships include IFLA, ICOMOS-IFLA, and IUCN CEM.
Minh Hue Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in EAL/TESOL Teacher Education at Monash University's School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education within the Faculty of Education. She holds a PhD in Education (TESOL focused) from Monash University and has taught at Vietnam National University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne. Her educational background includes: PhD in Education (TESOL focused), Monash University (2015) MA in Applied Linguistics, Victoria University of Wellington (2008) BA in English Language Teaching, Vietnam National University (2003) Nguyen's research centers on teachers' professional learning, curriculum, and pedagogy in TESOL and EAL contexts, with specific focus on emotional experiences, identity development, mentoring, agency, and collaboration. She explores sociocultural contexts of teacher development through activity theory and sociocultural perspectives, examining how institutions support teachers' learning journeys from preservice to in-service stages. Recent work investigates professional learning for teacher educators and implementation of the Victorian EAL Curriculum. Her 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong thematic focus on language teacher agency, identity negotiation, and multilingual pedagogies. The research increasingly examines emotional dimensions of teaching, cross-cultural identity tensions, and collaborative models between EAL and content teachers, with significant contributions to understanding how teachers navigate complex educational contexts while developing professional identities. Her scientific recognition includes: Penny McKay Award Special Commendation Monash Education Research Community's Publication Award ATEA/Kay Martinez Award for Best Paper Monash Dean of Education’s ECR Project Award Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Vietnamese Government Merit-based Scholarships Nguyen actively supervises PhD research in TESOL teacher professional learning, teacher identity, and curriculum development, though is currently unavailable for new PhD students until 2027. She contributes to editorial boards for Teaching and Teacher Education, Second Language Teacher Education, and System journals, and serves on the Australian Teacher Education Association. Her work supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through inclusive pedagogical frameworks. She leads research projects including 'Elucidating practices to assist EAL learners to acquire specialised science vocabulary' and 'Establishing an online community-of-practice model for learner agency during work placements,' demonstrating commitment to practical educational innovations.
Karen Panetta is a Professor at Tufts University School of Engineering with appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Academic Services. She currently serves as Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering and holds the title of Distinguished Professor. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Northeastern University M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Northeastern University B.S. in Computer Engineering, Boston University Dr. Panetta's research focuses on developing efficient algorithms for simulation, modeling, and signal and image processing for security and biomedical applications. Her work brings together artificial intelligence, machine learning, and visual sensing systems to create solutions for robot vision and biomedical imaging. She develops algorithms inspired by the human visual system to enable machines to 'see' like humans, with applications in homeland security, biomedicine, facial recognition, and search and rescue operations. Her research has significant humanitarian applications, addressing global challenges facing women and children. Dr. Panetta has received numerous prestigious awards including induction into the National Academy of Engineering (2023), the Presidential Award for Science and Engineering Education and Mentoring (2011), and the IEEE Award for Distinguished Ethical Practices (2013). She is a fellow of multiple prestigious academies including the National Academy of Inventors, European Academy of Sciences and the Arts, and IEEE. Member, National Academy of Engineering (2023) Presidential Award for Science and Engineering Education and Mentoring (2011) IEEE Award for Distinguished Ethical Practices (2013) Fellow, National Academy of Inventors Fellow, European Academy of Sciences and the Arts Fellow, Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association As an educator and mentor, Dr. Panetta founded the nationally acclaimed Nerd Girls program to promote engineering to young students, particularly women. She previously served as worldwide director for IEEE Women in Engineering and editor-in-chief of the IEEE Women in Engineering magazine. Her approach to graduate education emphasizes the importance of building strong collaborative relationships between faculty and students, with a focus on proactive communication and documentation of research progress. Dr. Panetta's humanitarian research applies engineering solutions to global challenges, including developing technology to help doctors find cancerous tumors, security screeners find concealed weapons, and law enforcement agencies find criminals and missing children. Her work demonstrates a commitment to 'Doing The Right Thing' by addressing issues affecting populations with limited resources or 'voice' in society.
Shrirang Mare is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Western Washington University (WWU), focusing on computer security and privacy with emphasis on usable security solutions for diverse user groups including low-literate individuals, the elderly, and cross-cultural populations. His research bridges human-computer interaction and cyber-physical systems to create accessible security mechanisms for emerging technologies. His educational background includes a PhD in Computer Science from Dartmouth College (2016), where his dissertation on seamless authentication for ubiquitous devices established his research trajectory. Dr. Mare's research interests encompass security and privacy, human-computer interaction, and cyber-physical systems, with specialized focus on security for low-literate users and developing regions. His work consistently addresses real-world applicability through field studies in countries like India and Pakistan, examining mobile payment systems, SMS fraud, and smart home privacy challenges. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2018-2024) reveals a dominant trend in wearable-based authentication systems (wristbands for desktops/smartphones) and privacy solutions for consumer IoT, particularly smart homes. His research uniquely combines technical security mechanisms with deep user-centered design principles, often targeting underserved populations in developing regions. No scientific awards or fellowships were mentioned in the provided documentation. Teaching responsibilities include Privacy Enhancing Technologies, Object Oriented Design, and Data Structures at WWU, with prior guest lectures at UC Berkeley and the University of Washington; no current advisees or grant funding details were specified. Dr. Mare operates within the Computer Science Department at WWU but no dedicated research lab or team structure was referenced in the source materials.
Professor Kjetil Grimastad Lundberg serves at the Institute for Welfare and Participation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), appointed Professor of Welfare Sociology in 2020 after joining HVL in 2018. A University of Bergen PhD graduate (2012), he previously worked as Researcher II at Uni Research Rokkansenteret (2011-2018). His academic credentials include: PhD in Sociology, University of Bergen, 2012 Master's in Sociology, University of Bergen, 2007 Lundberg's research critically examines intersections of welfare systems, poverty, and marginalization through institutional ethnography. He investigates street-level bureaucracy in NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), digitalization impacts, and child/family perspectives in low-income contexts, emphasizing stigma, power dynamics, and activation policies. His work bridges theoretical sociology with practical welfare challenges. His 15 most recent publications (2017-2024) reveal consistent focus on welfare-state dynamics, with recurring themes of work inclusion mechanisms, user experiences in complex interventions, and poverty's structural dimensions. Methodologically, he employs qualitative institutional ethnography across European Societies, European Journal of Social Work, and Social Policy and Society, demonstrating longitudinal analysis of policy evolution. Lundberg supervises multiple PhD candidates on work inclusion and poverty interventions while leading the NAV-funded project 'Barneperspektiv i Nav' (2023-2027) and participating in three additional studies addressing long-term poverty effects and cross-sectoral coordination. His grant portfolio spans NAV-FOU, Sparebankstiftelsen, and NFR funding. He contributes to HVL's 'Rights, Democracy and Welfare' research group, advancing critical welfare sociology through teaching in social science, sociology, and social work programs while examining urban poverty, bureaucratic practices, and marginalized family experiences.
Melissa Landers-Potts is an Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Programs and Principal Lecturer at the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences (Department of Human Development and Family Science). She focuses on active and universal design for teaching and learning, emphasizing inclusive excellence. Her roles include overseeing undergraduate programs, aligning with the college's 2025 Strategic Plan, and fostering teaching excellence. She earned a Ph.D. (1998), M.A. (1994), and B.A. (1990) in Sociology/Anthropology from the University of Georgia and Carleton College. Her research explores socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and technology's impact on human development, with a focus on marginalized populations. She designs inclusive curricula and integrates service-learning, partnering with private-sector mental health companies for global adolescent mentorship programs. Recent studies include effects of economic stress on children, racism/classism, and technology's role in military youth well-being. Recipient of numerous awards, including the UGA Teaching Excellence Award (2022), she mentors faculty in active learning and service-learning initiatives. She chairs multiple committees (e.g., College Curriculum, Scholarships) and advises Phi Upsilon Omicron. Her outreach emphasizes experiential learning and inclusive educational practices.
Dr. Abby Haynes is a Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, affiliated with the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her work focuses on physical activity for healthy ageing and people with disability, employing qualitative research, systems thinking, and realist evaluation. Key research themes include: Healthy Ageing Disability and Physical Activity Implementation Science Knowledge Mobilisation Her recent publications analyze: Inclusive sports programs for children with disability Fall prevention in acute hospitals Telehealth physiotherapy for aged care Realist evaluations of yoga and dance interventions Systems thinking in public health policy These emphasize public health, gerontology, and health equity approaches. Grants include MRFF-funded projects on traumatic brain injury rehabilitation (2024), fall prevention (2023), and aged care mobility (2022).
Dr. Xue Dong (Sarah Dong) serves as a Research Fellow at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics within the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Her work focuses on Indonesian socio-economic development, particularly labor markets, gender equality, and policy interventions in education and business formalization. Education: PhD in Economics from the University of Western Ontario Research Focus: Dr. Dong employs empirical methods including randomized controlled trials to investigate electoral impacts on public spending, financial aid accessibility for low-income students, and microenterprise registration barriers. Her fingerprint analysis reveals 100% concentration on Indonesian contexts with strong emphasis on labor markets (90%) and gender equality (71%). Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological rigor in causal analysis of policy reforms, with consistent regional specialization in Indonesia. Her work bridges academic research and practical development solutions through partnerships with Indonesian institutions. Project Leadership: As Co-Investigator on three major grants, she examines corporate social responsibility in emerging economies (2022-2026), tax registration for MSMEs (2018-2020), and foreign aid effectiveness (2016-2021). These projects involve multi-institutional collaborations across Australia and Indonesia. Academic Service: Registered to supervise graduate students at ANU, she contributes to gender equality discourse through editorial work including the 2023 ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute publication on Indonesian gender dynamics.
Christopher Findlay is an Honorary Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU). He previously served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of the Professions at the University of Adelaide (2011–2018) and Head of the School of Economics at the University of Adelaide (2005–2011). His academic career includes roles as Professor of Economics at ANU’s Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government (1999–2005). He holds a BEc (Hons) from the University of Adelaide (1974), MEc from ANU (1977), and PhD in Economics from ANU (1982). His research focuses on international economics, Australia’s economic relationships with Asia, rural transformation, and climate change adaptation. He has led projects for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) on farmer adaptation to climate change and rural transformation. He is a contributor to the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and has advised APEC and ASEAN Secretariats. Findlay is Vice-Chair of the Australian Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (AUSPECC) and has been involved in the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) since its founding in 1980. His awards include membership in the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (2002) and the Order of Australia (AM, 2007). His work bridges academia and policy, emphasizing regional economic integration, trade policy, and sustainable development. Key contributions include analyses of services trade, global value chains, and structural reforms in Asia-Pacific economies.
Dr. Mildred E. Warner is a renowned Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Her work spans local government service delivery, economic development, environmental sustainability, and multigenerational planning, with a focus on challenging gender biases and promoting social infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth. She collaborates globally with local government associations, planners, and policy groups. Ph.D. in Development Sociology (1997), Cornell University M.S. in Agricultural Economics (1985), Cornell University B.A. in History (1979), Oberlin College Dr. Warner's research interrogates the impacts of privatization, fiscal decentralization, and market-driven approaches on local governance, emphasizing spatial inequality and rural-urban disparities. She investigates age- and gender-based planning, environmental policy, and pragmatic municipalism, with recent work analyzing water affordability, broadband access, and pandemic response strategies. Her comparative international studies span Canada, Ecuador, Honduras, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and China. Her publications highlight trends in privatization , remunicipalization , public-private partnerships , and age-friendly urban planning . These works often intersect with public health policy , environmental justice , and social equity in service delivery. Scientific awards include the Margarita McCoy Award (2020) , Planning for Social Inclusion Award (2006) , and the Excellence in Research Award (2019) . She has secured major grants from the USDA, NIH, Pew Charitable Trusts, and international bodies to fund her work on aging, rural development, and infrastructure equity. Dr. Warner mentors graduate students in planning and public administration, advising on research design and community development. She directs the Local Government Restructuring Lab and co-founded the Community and Regional Development Institute at Cornell. Her expertise is frequently sought in policy circles and media profiles.
Professor Marie Griffiths is a distinguished academic and expert in digital transformation at Salford Business School, University of Salford. She holds the position of Professor of Digital Technologies in Organizations and serves as EDI Lead for Research (2023–present). Her academic career includes significant leadership roles such as PGR Director at Salford Business School (2019–2023) and Head of the Digital Business Research Centre. She previously served as President of the UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) after her tenure as Vice President. Dr. Griffiths earned her PhD in Business Information Systems, establishing the foundation for her expertise in digital transformation. Her research spans multiple critical areas including digital transformation, information systems, gender and IT, AI and disruptive technologies, digital society, privacy and surveillance studies, family surveillance, productivity technologies, and digital education. Her work consistently bridges academic theory with practical business applications, focusing on how organizations respond to digital disruptions and how workforces adapt to emerging technologies. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on strategic digital transformation, digital maturity assessment, and the intersection of technology with social impact. The 2025 second edition of her book 'Strategic Digital Transformation – A Results-Driven Approach' represents a significant contribution to the field. Her research increasingly addresses the gender dimensions of digital transformation, as evidenced by her 2024 work on closing the REF Gender Inequality Gap. She also explores the practical applications of digital technologies in specific sectors including government organizations, healthcare (particularly nursing), and financial technology. Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teacher Awards (multiple) Professor Griffiths has supervised 14 PhD completions and currently oversees doctoral candidates researching fintech, digital transformation, and sustainability. She established the PGR International Women's Network to support female researchers. Her grant leadership includes 11 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) with organizations like Manchester Chamber of Commerce, OPAL, and Hydro-X, securing significant funding from Innovate UK. She has also contributed to policy development through work with the British Standards Institute Steering Group for Digital Maturity. As Head of the Digital Business Research Centre, Professor Griffiths leads a team focused on practical digital transformation research with strong industry connections. Her approach emphasizes people-centric transformation, ensuring that people remain at the heart of any change. The centre's work spans multiple sectors including government, healthcare, finance, and small and medium enterprises, with a particular focus on developing practical tools like digital transformation canvases for different organizational contexts.
Jeanna Matthews is a Full Professor of Computer Science at Clarkson University and an affiliate at Data and Society. She holds a PhD from UC Berkeley (1999) and teaches courses ranging from operating systems to cybersecurity. Her research focuses on algorithmic transparency, AI ethics, and societal impacts of automated systems. Matthews is a prominent ACM leader, serving on multiple committees including the Technology Policy Subcommittee on AI Accountability. She has pioneered work on forensic software analysis in criminal justice systems and delivered DEF CON presentations on virtualization security and adversarial testing. Awards include ACM Distinguished Speaker and Fulbright Specialist roles. Her work emphasizes open-source tools and critical thinking in education, extending to global service learning programs in the Dominican Republic and Brazil. Education: PhD in Computer Science (UC Berkeley, 1999), B.S. in Math/Computer Science (Ohio State, 1994), B.A. in Spanish (SUNY Potsdam, 2016). Research Interests: Cybersecurity vulnerabilities, algorithmic accountability frameworks, automated decision systems in justice contexts, and ethical AI design. Recent projects include investigating bias in DNA forensic software through a Brown Institute grant and analyzing political polarization on social platforms. Awards & Recognition: ACM Distinguished Speaker (2018-present) Fulbright Specialist (2018-present) 2018-2019 Brown Institute Magic Grant ACM SIGOPS Chair (2011-2015) ACM Special Interest Group Governing Board Chair (2016-2018) Teaching & Outreach: Designed courses integrating open-source tools and critical inquiry, including abroad programs in Mexico, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. Advocates for lifelong learning strategies and questioning underlying assumptions in computing systems. Key Projects: Forensic Software Accountability: Examining discrepancies in DNA analysis tools Algorithmic Transparency: Frameworks for auditing automated systems Cybersecurity Education: Adversarial testing methodologies for justice software
Jan Borchers is a full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group, an endowed Chair in the Computer Science Department at RWTH Aachen University. He serves as deputy member of the Faculty Council for Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences (2024-2026) and previously headed the Computer Science Department's Examination Board from 2015 until February 2025. Borchers established his research group in 2003, pioneering modern HCI academic research and teaching in Germany, and opened Germany's first Fab Lab in 2009. Borchers received his PhD 'summa cum laude' in computer science from Darmstadt University of Technology in 2000. Before joining RWTH Aachen, he held faculty positions at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. His PhD thesis, 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design,' became the first book to bring design patterns to HCI. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in new user interfaces for soft robotics, textile user interfaces, 3D printing and personal fabrication, augmented reality, wearable and tangible computing, interfaces for software development, deceptive patterns, and interactive guides and exhibits. He is a member of ACM, SIGCHI, SIGCHI Germany, and GI, and introduced the Interactivity format to the CHI conference in 2005. Recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on deceptive patterns/dark patterns in UI design, textile interfaces, and the impact of generative AI on creative teamwork. His work spans from fundamental research in interaction techniques to practical applications in smart homes, accessibility, and children's interfaces, with a consistent focus on usability and user-centered design. IDC 2025 Best Work in Progress: 'If They Have No Choice, They'll Accept!' CHI'25 Student Games Competition Winner: 'The Deceptive Dungeon' RWTH-Wissenschaftsnacht 2024 Best Science Slam: 'Usability: 4 Prinzipien guter User Interfaces' Multiple CHI/UIST Honorable Mentions and Best Paper awards spanning two decades Author of influential books including 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design' and 'Arduino In A Nutshell' Borchers has provided extensive consulting, training, and user interface design services to major clients including AirBus, Apple, ARD, Bayer, Children's Museum Boston, Daimler, Handelsblatt, OTIS, Scout24, TEDx, and Deutsche Telekom. He actively organizes the Computer Science Department's weekly Faculty Lunch since 2003 and coordinates the department's public relations and web presence since 2010. He leads the Media Computing Group, which has become a leading German lab in terms of archival publications at CHI, the top international conference in HCI. Since March 2025, he serves as faculty patron for TechLabs Aachen, a student initiative providing practical digital skills training.
Yael Feldman Maggor is a Postdoctoral Fellow at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Media Technology & Interaction Design Division and the Digital Futures research center. Her work bridges educational technologies, artificial intelligence, and science education, with a focus on enhancing pedagogy through innovative tools. Research Themes: Generative AI in education, self-regulated learning, learning analytics, chemistry education, and ethical considerations in AI integration. Key Projects: Contributions to the International Journal of Science Education, development of AI-driven evaluation frameworks, and pandemic-era online teaching analysis. Methodologies: Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, educational data mining, and design of interactive learning platforms. Recent publications emphasize cross-cultural trust in AI, generative AI applications in chemistry education, and explainable AI for teacher professional development. She co-authored studies on nanotechnology courses for educators and self-regulation strategies in online learning environments.
Professor Paul A. Raschky is affiliated with the Department of Economics at Monash University , where he also directs the SoDa Labs and co-founded the KASPR Datahaus PTY LTD and IP Observatory . His academic focus spans Political Economy , Environmental Economics , Insurance Economics , and Development Economics , with a specialization in natural hazards and data science applications. Education: PhD (University of Innsbruck, 2008), with a postdoctoral research visit at the Wharton School . Research: Explores intersections of disaster risk , governance , and economic development , leveraging machine learning and big data . Recent Publications: Focus on generative AI productivity , ethnic favoritism , disaster insurance , and conflict economics . Awards: Recipient of the ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in Research (2022) and Dean’s Excellence in Research Award (2016) . Projects: Leads initiatives on internet suppression in Myanmar , news media availability , and AI-driven policy insights in South-East Asia and the Pacific. Future Work: Will be on sabbatical in 2025 , likely expanding on AI applications and disaster resilience .
