Ben Nobbs-Thiessen is an Assistant Professor of History and Chair of Mennonite Studies at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a PhD from Emory University (2016), with prior roles as a research associate at Arizona State University (2016–18) and a teaching fellow at Washington State University (2018–2020). His research focuses on Mennonite migrations across the Americas, environmental change, and indigenous-settler relations. He teaches courses on Latin American Mennonites and Mennonite Studies II. His research combines archival work, field studies, and oral histories from Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. His 2020 book Landscape of Migration examines Bolivia’s lowland colonization and its intersection with Mennonite and indigenous communities. Current projects include a century-long study of Mexico-Canada Mennonite migrations linked to water scarcity and neoliberal reforms. His publications span journals like Journal of Latin American Studies and Agricultural History , addressing topics like frontier development, foodways, and border conflicts. His transnational approach bridges environmental, migration, and colonial histories. He contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Newberry Consortium in American Indian Studies and the Centre for Rupert's Land Studies.
Claire Bowern is Professor of Linguistics at Yale University specializing in historical linguistics, language documentation, and Australian Indigenous languages. Her research employs computational phylogenetics to study language evolution and supports language revitalization through digital archives and fieldwork methodologies. Recent publications address: Phylogenetic signal in lexical evolution across language families Digital infrastructure for endangered language documentation (FLEx software analysis) Decolonizing linguistics pedagogy and research practices Her work consistently integrates linguistic, anthropological, and computational approaches to analyze language diversity and change. She contributes to global databases including Grambank and D-PLACE, examining links between linguistic, cultural, and environmental patterns.
Dr. Gavin Morris is a Lecturer in Education at Charles Darwin University's College of Education, with over two decades of teaching experience in Australian schools. His academic qualifications include a PhD from Charles Darwin University (2019), Master of Education from University of Sydney (2016), and Bachelor of Education from James Cook University (2000). Morris specializes in Indigenous research methodologies, Health & Physical Education, and Sport Science. His qualitative work focuses on trauma healing, truth-telling, and decolonization practices in Aboriginal communities, particularly using Dadirri (deep listening) methodologies. Recent research explores digital platforms for cultural preservation and community resilience. As a registered postgraduate research supervisor, Morris contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate programs while maintaining active fieldwork in remote Northern Territory communities like Nauiyu at Daly River.
Roswitha Skare is a Professor of Documentation Science at the Department of Language and Culture, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, within the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Teacher Education. She is actively engaged in research and teaching, focusing on documentation studies, public libraries, archives, museums (LAM sector), digitalization, and film history. Her research interests include: Documentation and document theory Paratext and digital documents Public libraries and their role in society Libraries and social media Migration and refugee services in libraries Film history, especially silent films and early documentaries Cultural memory and Sámi cultural resilience Institutional convergence in cultural policy Her recent publications (2019–2025) reveal a strong focus on public libraries during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of libraries in supporting immigrants and refugees, theoretical developments in document studies, and historical film analysis—particularly Robert Flaherty’s Nanook of the North . She frequently collaborates with scholars such as Andreas Vårheim, Noah Lenstra, and Sigrid Stokstad. Her work appears in journals like Journal of Documentation , Library & Information Science Research , and Proceedings from the Document Academy . Roswitha Skare teaches courses such as: MDV-1001: Multimediale dokumenter: Historie, teori og analyse MDV-1203: Bibliotek og formidling MDV-1207: Dokumentinstitusjoner og digitalisering MDV-1206: Prosjektoppgave i bibliotek- og dokumentasjonsvitenskap She supervises bachelor’s, project, and master’s students in library and documentation science. She is a member of the research group Engaging Conflicts in a Digital Era (ENCODE) and participates in projects such as LAMCOM – Libraries, archives, and museums in the community and SAMCOM - Sámi cultural centers as community and cultural resilience infrastructure , which explore the societal roles of cultural institutions and Indigenous resilience. No scientific awards are listed in the provided text.
Clare Harris serves as Professor of Visual Anthropology and Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford, concurrently holding curatorship of Asian Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum and a Fellowship at Magdalen College. Her academic leadership spans institutional administration, museum curation, and doctoral supervision within Oxford's anthropological ecosystem. Her educational foundation includes a BA from the University of Cambridge and MA/doctorate from SOAS, University of London. Early career roles comprised Lecturer in Anthropology of Art at the University of East Anglia (1994-1998) before her Oxford appointment. Harris pioneers research at the intersection of visual anthropology, Tibetan studies, and museum decolonization. Her work critically examines Himalayan visual culture, colonial/post-colonial photography, and museum representation politics, evolving toward digital repatriation and community-centered curation. She integrates anthropological fieldwork (conducted in Tibetan diaspora communities since the 1990s) with art historical analysis and archival research. Her 13 recent publications (2004-2022) reveal a progressive trajectory from Tibetan art history toward urgent museum decolonization debates, with consistent focus on photographic practices and cross-cultural representation. Key thematic developments include the shift from historical analysis to active digital repatriation projects and increased engagement with contemporary artists. Harris's accolades include: Fellowship of the British Academy (2019) E. Gene Smith Prize for The Museum on the Roof of the World (2014) Visual Anthropology Prize for In the Image of Tibet (2000) She currently supervises five DPhil students while examining over 25 completed doctorates globally. Research funding spans British Academy personal grants, Leverhulme Trust support, and major collaborative projects including AHRC, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and EU grants—most notably the current AHRC-funded Decolonising the Museum: Digital Repatriation of the Gaidinliu Collection . At the Pitt Rivers Museum, Harris leads high-impact curatorial initiatives including the Abramović collaboration ( Gates and Portals ), Nyema Droma's Performing Tibetan Identities , and community projects like My Tibet Museum , establishing innovative frameworks for museum-public engagement.
Timo Kaartinen serves as Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology and Vice Dean for Research and Doctoral Education at the University of Helsinki 's Faculty of Political Science . Since 1992, he has conducted extensive research in Southeast Asia with a focus on Indonesia, exploring communicative practices, narratives, and cultural responses to uncertainty. His teaching spans social change in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, covering environmental anthropology, political anthropology, cosmologies, religions, and linguistic anthropology. PhD in Anthropology, University of Chicago (2001) Docent (Adjunct Professor), University of Helsinki (2011) Research interests center on ethical discourse in Indonesian Islamic universities, resource politics in oil palm estates, and linguistic anthropology with emphasis on storytelling, folk poetry, and minority language revitalization. His work combines ethnographic focus on Southeast Asia with theoretical contributions to frontier studies and postcolonial anthropology. Recent publications examine frontier temporalities (2020-2025), Islamic transformations (2019), and oral narrative structures (2017-2013). Key projects include ARCTIC Research Centre (2025-2029), Diversity in Society and Life (DIVSOL) (2025-2030), and Religious Movements in Ethical Life (2019-2023). Grants from the Academy of Finland and University Profiling Funding support these initiatives. Academic activities include keynote speeches at international conferences (e.g., Empowering Local Wisdom 2014, Labor Migration in Asia-Pacific 2013) and editorial roles. He has conducted fieldwork in Indonesia since 1992, focusing on Bandanese cultural heritage and Maluku religious dynamics . His methodological approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with historical document analysis .
Kristin Schwain is a Professor in the Department of Art History at the University of Missouri's School of Visual Studies. She holds a PhD in Art History and Humanities from Stanford University and a BA in Art History and Humanities from Valparaiso University. Her interdisciplinary research examines marginalized objects and practices in American art history, emphasizing their cultural significance through lived experience. Her educational background includes: PhD in Art History and Humanities, Stanford University BA in Art History and Humanities, Valparaiso University Dr. Schwain's research centers on American Material and Visual Culture, Art and Religion, Arts of the African Diaspora, and Public Humanities. She investigates overlooked artifacts to reveal their influence on everyday life, challenging assumptions about modernization's impact on religious expression. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance through studies of traditional craft, artist books, photojournalism, and mass-produced objects as lenses into social practices. Her recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on art-religion intersections in American cultural history, from Henry Ossawa Tanner's biblical paintings to Afro-Cuban religious themes in Ediciones Vigía artist books. This body of work reveals evolving methodologies for uncovering marginalized narratives through interdisciplinary frameworks spanning visual culture, material studies, and diaspora scholarship. Her scholarly recognition includes: First Biennial National Basketry Association Book Award for Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America Dr. Schwain has secured major grants from the Smithsonian Institution, Luce/American Council of Learned Societies, Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Research Center. Her collaborative public humanities projects with the Missouri School of Journalism's Pictures of the Year International and Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney department store collection demonstrate institutional partnerships that translate academic research into community engagement. She actively collaborates with the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri on exhibitions like Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America and Juan Roberto Diago: Foraged Materials, Assembled Histories , fostering cross-generational dialogues through multi-venue traveling shows and digital initiatives including The iCatalog .
Ashley Cordes (Coquille/KōKwel) serves as an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Media in Environmental Studies and Data Science at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences. She is also a recent American Council of Learned Societies Fellow whose research bridges Indigenous science and technology studies, digital media, and environmental/place-based studies. Her educational background includes a PhD in Media Studies with an outside area in Native American Studies from the University of Oregon (2019), an MA in Communication from Hawaii Pacific University (2012), and a BA in Communication with a Journalism Certificate from Loyola Marymount University (2010). Cordes' research centers on how Indigenous culture and technology producers leverage digital media, emerging technologies, and discourse to advance Tribal sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and the resurgence of Indigenous knowledge systems. Her work specifically examines AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency through Indigenous epistemologies, challenging dominant narratives about technological progress and financial systems. She has published in journals such as Cultural Studies >Critical Methodologies , Journal of International and Intercultural Communication , and Feminist Media Studies , and is the author of Indigenous Currencies: Leaving Some for the Rest in the Digital Age (MIT Press). Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on decolonial approaches to technology, with particular attention to Indigenous data sovereignty, environmental justice, and alternative economic systems. The trajectory of her work shows increasing engagement with AI ethics from Indigenous perspectives, culminating in her contributions to the Indigenous Protocol and Artificial Intelligence position paper. American Council of Learned Societies Fellow Contributor to Indigenous Protocols and Artificial Intelligence Working Group Cordes actively mentors doctoral students in Indigenous digital media and participates in multiple research collectives including Abundant Intelligences, CHoRUS Network (focusing on ethical data gathering in Indigenous contexts), Indigenous Protocols and Artificial Intelligence, and the Climate Resilience Taskforce. Her community-engaged work includes the Storying on the Coquille River project, which addresses climate change impacts on salmon populations through digital humanities approaches. She maintains strong connections to her Coquille Nation community, serving on the Climate Resilience Taskforce and as Chair of the Culture and Education Committee, ensuring her academic work remains grounded in community needs and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Brett Gilley is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver Campus. His primary affiliation is within the Faculty of Science. He specializes in geoscience education with a focus on inclusive fieldwork practices, collaborative learning strategies, and accessibility in STEM education. He is currently not accepting students for advising. His research interests span geology and geoscience education, with a strong emphasis on making field experiences accessible for students with disabilities, developing innovative teaching methodologies, and fostering inclusive learning environments. Gilley has contributed to projects like the Earth Science Experiential and Indigenous Learning (EASEIL) initiative, which integrates Indigenous knowledge and community partnerships into curriculum design. Notable trends in his publications include advancing universal design in geoscience field courses, evaluating collaborative testing strategies, and exploring the impact of technology (e.g., ChatGPT) on student research practices. His work often bridges pedagogical innovation with practical implementation in large undergraduate science programs. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to inclusive education and curriculum development reflect a commitment to equitable STEM education. His professional activities include mentoring faculty through UBC’s evidence-based pedagogy graduate course and participating in interdisciplinary curriculum development teams.
Professor Holly Thorpe is a Professor of Sociology in Te Huataki Waiora / School of Health at the University of Waikato, specializing in Sport and Human Movement. She serves as Associate Dean Research in the Division of Health PVC Office and is an internationally recognized sociologist of sport, physical culture and gender whose work has earned prestigious fellowships and awards including Fulbright, Leverhulme, and Royal Society honors. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Waikato and Papa Reo Level 1 certification from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, reflecting both academic excellence and cultural engagement with Māori language and knowledge systems. Professor Thorpe's research centers on equity and inclusion in sporting cultures, with particular attention to women's health and wellbeing, sport and gender, and the impact of social media on athletic experiences. She employs critical and feminist theoretical frameworks with expertise in qualitative methods to examine how sport, physical activity, and health intersect in rapidly changing social landscapes. Her work spans gender studies, feminist methodologies, sports science, sociology of health, and digital media studies within sporting contexts, with a strong commitment to community-engaged research. Her extensive publication record reveals consistent thematic focus on contemporary issues including menstruation in sport, digital technologies and athlete experiences, pandemic impacts on wellbeing, and the gendered dimensions of mega-sport events. Her work frequently employs intersectional analysis and collaborates across disciplines to address complex questions about embodiment, identity, and social change in sporting cultures, particularly as they relate to women and marginalized communities. Professor Thorpe's significant scholarly recognition includes: Royal Society Early Career Research Excellence Award for Social Sciences (2018) Fellow of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (2018) Royal Society James Cook Fellowship for a two-year project focused on women's wellbeing through and beyond pandemic (2021) She actively supervises students and has secured substantial research funding including the Te Punaha Matatini CORE Research Institute project 'Youth Wellbeing in Uncertain Times: The Voices of Rangatahi from Flood-Effected Tairāwhiti Gisborne' (2023-2025). Professor Thorpe collaborates extensively with international and national sports organizations including the International Olympic Committee, High Performance New Zealand, Sport New Zealand, Skateistan, and Voice in Sport to ensure her research has real-world impact on policy and practice. She serves as Series co-editor for 'New Femininities in Digital, Physical and Sporting Cultures' and maintains active media engagement through The Conversation and other outlets. Professor Thorpe leads several significant research initiatives including 'Reimagining Fields of Play' (2023) and co-organized the 'Gender, Health and Wellbeing Symposium' (2022), demonstrating her commitment to creating spaces for critical dialogue about sport, gender, and health while advancing culturally responsive methodologies that center Indigenous and diverse perspectives.
Claudia Berger is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the School of Information, Pratt Institute, and serves as the Digital Humanities Librarian at Sarah Lawrence College. They are actively engaged in digital scholarship, critical making, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of libraries, technology, and the humanities. Education: MSLIS and Advanced Certificate in Digital Humanities, School of Information, Pratt Institute MA in Classics & Ancient History, University of Exeter BA in Electronic Media & Art and Classics, Bard College at Simon’s Rock Their research focuses on innovative methodologies in digital humanities, particularly data physicalization, digital environmental humanities, and critical engagement with data through craft and tactile experiences. They explore how digital tools can be reimagined through embodied and inclusive practices, often integrating queer perspectives and ecological awareness into scholarly work. Their recent publications reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary making, environmental justice, and pedagogical innovation in library and information science. Themes include countermapping, plant-human relations, craft-based digital scholarship, and inclusive professional identity formation. Their work bridges technical practice with critical theory, emphasizing accessibility and material engagement. Professional Service: Editor, dh+lib and dh+lib Review Deputy Secretary, Association for Computers and the Humanities (ACH) Former Librarian, The Mellon Foundation (supporting research in higher learning, arts and culture, public knowledge, and humanities in place) Claudia Berger is deeply involved in mentoring and shaping the future of information professionals through curriculum analysis, editorial work, and collaborative projects. While no formal grants or advising relationships are listed, their leadership in digital humanities education and community-building initiatives demonstrates significant scholarly impact. They maintain an active public research presence through a Zotero repository on physical data visualization.
Michael Classens is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the School of the Environment, University of Toronto , specializing in social and environmental justice within food systems. He serves as Undergraduate Associate Director, emphasizing community-based learning and integration of Indigenous and community knowledge into pedagogy. Education: PhD in Environmental Studies (York University, 2015), MA (University of Windsor), BA (Western University) His research explores environmental injustice/racism , food systems governance , and prefigurative learning spaces , particularly through campus food initiatives and critical cartography. He has published extensively on food solidarity, racialized food insecurity, and transformative pedagogies. Recent publications (2021–2024) analyze neoliberal responses to food crises, anti-racist food system frameworks, and campus foodscapes as sites of radical pedagogy. Keywords span environmental justice, critical race theory, urban agriculture, and labor studies. Scientific Awards: 2024 A&S Outstanding Teaching Award (Early Career, Faculty of Arts and Science) He advocates for informal and prefigurative learning , connecting classroom knowledge to real-world justice movements. His work bridges academic research with grassroots activism, focusing on equitable food systems and decolonizing educational practices.
Bruno Takahashi is the Brandt Endowed Professor of Environmental Communication at Michigan State University, holding a joint appointment in the School of Journalism and AgBioResearch. He serves as Research Director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and maintains affiliations with the Health and Risk Communication Center, the Environmental Science and Policy Program, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at MSU. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Dr. Takahashi earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Universidad de Lima, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science from SUNY ESF. Bachelor's in Communication, Universidad de Lima, Peru M.S. in Environmental Science, SUNY ESF Ph.D. in Environmental Science (specializing in environmental communication and participatory processes), SUNY ESF Dr. Takahashi's research program focuses on news coverage of environmental issues, environmental journalism practices in Latin America and U.S. Latino media, and identity in science communication. His work emphasizes counter-hegemonic environmental discourses in Latin American contexts, examining complex networks of actors, media, and communication processes embedded in post-colonial and social and environmental justice dynamics. He has conducted extensive field research in Peru, Bolivia, and Puerto Rico, with particular attention to environmental communication during disasters and in Indigenous communities. His recent scholarly output reveals a strong trend toward examining climate change communication through diverse cultural lenses, with significant attention to Latin American perspectives, immigrant experiences in the United States, and identity factors in science communication. His publications frequently address decolonial approaches to environmental communication and the need for more inclusive international scholarship that centers Global South perspectives. Scientific awards and recognitions include: 2024 AEJMC First Place in Latin American Communication Research 2021 Fellow of the Institute for Diverse Leadership, AEJMC 2019 Knudson Latin America Book Prize Multiple top paper awards from ICA and AEJMC conferences Dr. Takahashi actively mentors a diverse research team of Ph.D. students, post-doctoral associates, and MA students, with former students now holding positions at universities including University of Nevada, University of Minnesota, and Emory University. His research is supported by significant grants including a $2.8 million NSF grant for the SciComm Identities Project, funding from the Climate and Land Use Alliance, and multiple State Department and Embassy grants for environmental journalism training in Latin America. He has developed and led education abroad programs to Peru (2018, 2024) and the Netherlands/Belgium (2022), providing experiential learning opportunities for students in environmental communication. As Research Director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Dr. Takahashi leads initiatives supporting environmental journalists globally. His current projects include examining environmental discourses in the Peruvian Amazon related to oil spills affecting Indigenous communities, studying decolonial environmental journalism practices in Bolivia and Peru, and co-leading Working Group 5 on Public Engagement and Governance for The Lancet Countdown Latin America, which has generated significant media coverage in outlets like CNN and El País.
Sandra Ajaps is a Lecturer in Education at the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), University of Manchester, with a strong research focus on sustainability education, critical pedagogy, and decolonising education. She actively contributes to the academic community through teaching, research, and leadership in specialized research groups. Her educational background includes: PhD in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University (awarded 2021) MPhil in Psychology and Education from the University of Cambridge (2014) BSc(Ed) in Geography Education from the University of Nigeria (2010) Ajaps' research interests center on transforming educational approaches to address environmental challenges through decolonial frameworks. Her work explores how indigenous knowledge systems can inform sustainability education, particularly in Nigerian contexts, while examining the intersections of civic engagement, environmental conservation, and critical pedagogy. She investigates how educational institutions can better integrate place-based knowledge and decolonial methodologies to address climate change and sustainability challenges. Her research output reveals a strong trajectory in examining sustainable development through decolonial lenses, with particular emphasis on indigenous knowledge systems, environmental education, and civic engagement in Nigeria. Her publications demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach that bridges education, environmental science, and social justice. Her notable awards include: New York University Steinhardt PhD Fellowship (2015-2019) New York University Doctoral Research Grant (2018) Simms Prize for best results in Education, University of Cambridge (2014) Cambridge Assessment and Santander Award for Master's Program (2013-2014) University of Nigeria's Prizes for top graduating student in both the Faculty of Education and Department of Social Science Education (2010) Ajaps supervises graduate students, including ten MA students and two PhD students as co-supervisor during the 2021/2022 academic year. She teaches across multiple programs including International Education, Education for a Sustainable Environment, and Sustainability Education on the BSc Education programme. Her research is closely tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to quality education and sustainable communities. Within the Manchester Institute of Education, she is an active member of both the Green Research in Education Group (GRiEG) and the Power, Inequality, and Activism research group, contributing to collaborative research initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and social justice in educational contexts.
Professor Laura Funk is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Manitoba, located within the Faculty of Arts. Her work focuses on social and critical gerontology, examining care work, family caregiving, and palliative care policy. She has led multiple SSHRC-funded research teams and participated in Tri-Council grants addressing aging, home care, and family care work. Funk’s research explores how care practices engage broader societal discourses on age, responsibility, and care in contexts of eroding formal supports. Education: PhD in Sociology, University of Victoria (2008) MA in Sociology, University of Victoria (2002) Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Gerontology, Simon Fraser University (2000) BA (Honours) in Sociology, University of British Columbia (1997) Research Interests: Care work, family/friend caregiving, palliative care policy, service-integrated housing for older adults, and aging in the context of systemic and policy changes. Her work bridges academic inquiry with public advocacy, including op-eds and consultations with Manitoba’s Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat. Key Contributions: Funk’s research addresses structural barriers for older adults, including housing access, navigation of formal supports, and the emotional labor of care workers. She has published widely on topics like aggression in care settings, dying at home preferences, and feminist care activism. Recent projects include SSHRC-funded studies on care mobilization and a community-based inquiry into low-income housing supports for older adults. Awards: 2019 Canadian Association of Gerontology Recognition Award 2015 Rh Institute Outstanding Contributions Award 2010 Anselm Strauss Award Teaching & Outreach: Funk teaches courses on aging, qualitative research, and end-of-life care. She is known for mentorship and received a 2023 teaching award from the Arts Student Body Council. Her outreach includes collaborations with Manitoba’s Public Interest Law Centre and community-based projects like Lions Place and Indigenous Seniors Research initiatives.
