Dr. Han Du is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and leads the Du Research Lab. His methodological expertise includes Bayesian statistics, longitudinal data analysis, structural equation modeling, meta-analysis techniques, and machine learning applications in psychological research. Dr. Du's substantive research applies quantitative methods to developmental, clinical, cognitive, educational, and health psychology. His recent publications focus on transgender adolescent stress assessment, LGBTQ+ mental health in military contexts, social network interventions for HIV prevention, and minority stress theory applications. He teaches advanced statistical methods and supervises graduate students in quantitative psychology.
Giovanna Gioli is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at Bath Spa University's School of Sciences. She is a co-investigator in the Leverhulme Trust-funded project Digital Climate Futures , exploring decolonial and justice perspectives in climate change adaptation. Her research focuses on political ecology, climate migration, gender equity, and socio-ecological resilience in mountain regions of the Global South, particularly South Asia. PhD in Political Philosophy (University of Parma) MA in Political Philosophy (University of Pisa) MSc in European Studies and Migration (London School of Economics) Her research interests intersect political ecology, climate change adaptation, and the socio-cultural dimensions of migration. She examines how gender, conflict, and environmental hazards shape livelihoods and vulnerability in regions like Pakistan, Nepal, and the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Her work challenges dominant narratives, advocating for justice-oriented approaches to digitalized climate adaptation and decolonizing environmental research frameworks. Gioli has contributed to major projects such as HI-AWARE, analyzing vulnerability in glacier-dependent river basins, and authored commissioned reports for UN Women on migrant workers' socio-economic impacts in Nepal. She also co-edited Water Security across the Gender Divide and Thinking as Anarchists , advancing interdisciplinary debates in environmental humanities and critical theory. Teaching: Directed BSc Global Development and Sustainability at Bath Spa University (2020–2025), module leader for Cities and Environment , and teaches interdisciplinary research methods in environmental humanities. Grants: Leverhulme Trust (Digital Climate Futures, 2023–2026), HI-AWARE (2014–2018), and others addressing environmental migration and vulnerability. She is affiliated with the Research Centre for Environmental Humanities and the Climate, Hazards and Environmental Change Research Cluster at Bath Spa University. Her work bridges philosophical inquiry (e.g., Deleuze, Sartre) with applied research on environmental displacement, emphasizing the need for equitable, community-centered solutions.
Kevin Schut, a Teaching Professor at Trinity Western University's School of the Arts, Media + Culture, is a Game Studies scholar with expertise in video games, religion, ethics, and media ecology. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies (2004) and BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History (1996), and has held leadership roles including Associate Dean and Chair of Media + Communication. His 2013 book Of Games & God explores Christian perspectives on gaming. PhD, Communication Studies, University of Iowa (2004) BA, Communication Arts & Sciences & History, Calvin College (1996) His research focuses on moral decision-making in games, media's cultural impact, and technology-religion intersections. Recent projects include analyzing procedural generation in No Man’s Sky and faith-based game design frameworks. Key awards include the 2013 Word Guild Best Book award and TWU's 2009 Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award. He teaches courses like Video Games and Culture and Media, Culture, and Criticism .
Kathryn Lanouette is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Science Education at William & Mary’s School of Education. She holds faculty affiliate appointments in the Arts & Sciences (ENSP, IIC). Her research explores place-based pedagogies, emerging technologies, and their roles in fostering joyful, ethical science and data science learning for K-8 students. She collaborates with schools, museums, and youth-serving organizations to design curricula and outdoor learning experiences. Education: Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of California, Berkeley (2017) M.A. in Museum and Childhood Education, Bank Street Graduate School of Education B.A. in Politics, Oberlin College Research Interests: Lanouette focuses on intersections between emotion, place, and data literacy, emphasizing participatory approaches to environmental and socio-ecological education. Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for equitable, interdisciplinary STEM+ curricula that connect students to local ecosystems and global challenges. Recent Trends in Publications: Her articles emphasize participatory methodologies (e.g., digital mapping, data storytelling), socio-political dimensions of learning, and ethical frameworks for data science education. Recent work highlights collaborations between educators and community organizations to co-create knowledge about climate change and socio-ecological systems. Awards: Outstanding Short Paper Award (2025), International Society of the Learning Sciences NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ postdoctoral research (2017–2020) Teaching & Mentorship: Lanouette teaches courses on education research, science pedagogy, and applied conservation sciences. She mentors students through interdisciplinary projects, such as the NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ initiative and NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include partnerships with UC Berkeley’s Science Education Lab, museums, and K-12 schools to develop place-responsive curricula and community-driven data projects.
Lara Buchak is a Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, where she returned after 12 years at UC Berkeley. Her work bridges decision theory, ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of religion. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton (2009). Her research focuses on risk analysis in decision-making, ethical implications of risk attitudes (e.g., climate policy, biomedical ethics), and the rationality of faith. Notable contributions include her 2013 book *Risk and Rationality*, which argues that diverse risk preferences can be rational. Current projects explore faith as commitment despite counterevidence and the role of worst-case arguments in ethics. Her recent articles emphasize normative theories beyond expected utility, applications of decision theory to climate and biomedical ethics, and philosophical analyses of faith and tradition. She has also engaged with free will, group decision-making, and religious definitions. Buchak’s work intersects formal philosophy with practical ethics, offering frameworks to address complex societal challenges through rigorous theoretical foundations.
Tuna Kuyucu is an Associate Professor at Boğaziçi University specializing in urban sociology, sociology of law, and ethnic conflict. His research examines institutional dimensions of urban transformation, including projects like 'Why Urban Transformation Doesn't Happen' analyzing regeneration failures in Istanbul. He directs investigations into housing economy changes in industrialized Turkish cities and nationalism manifestations. His publications focus on urban governance conflicts, social movements, and legal frameworks shaping informal settlements. Recent work analyzes counterspace formation in Istanbul and neoliberal penality during Turkey's AKP period. Research consistently explores intersections of law, property rights, and state power in urban contexts.
Mike M. Mochizuki is an Associate Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs , The George Washington University, specializing in Political Science and International Affairs . He holds the Japan-U.S. Relations Chair in Memory of Gaston Sigur and has directed the Sigur Center for Asian Studies (2001–2005). His research focuses on Japanese politics, U.S.-Japan relations, and East Asian security dynamics. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University Research Interests: Professor Mochizuki’s work explores the intersection of Japanese foreign policy, strategic alliances in the Asia-Pacific, and regional security challenges. His scholarship addresses historical reconciliation, military basing rights (notably in Okinawa), and the geopolitical implications of U.S.-Japan-China triangular relations. He co-directs the Memory and Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific project and contributes to journals like Foreign Affairs and International Security . Publications: His notable works analyze the U.S.-Japan alliance’s role in East Asian security, including edited volumes on Okinawa, China-Taiwan relations, and nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula. He is currently finalizing a book on the U.S.-Japan alliance and China’s rise, alongside a co-edited volume on historical reconciliation in East Asia.
Jane Anna Gordon is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut with cross-disciplinary affiliations in American Studies, El Instituto, Global Affairs, Philosophy, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her work bridges political theory with African diasporic, Caribbean, and decolonial frameworks. Research Focus: Specializing in modern and contemporary political theory, Gordon explores Africana political thought, theories of enslavement, political theories of education, and social science methodologies. Her scholarship emphasizes creolization, critical resistance, and interdisciplinary epistemologies. Recent Publications: Her recent works include Statelessness and Contemporary Enslavement (2020) and Creolizing Rosa Luxemburg (2021), alongside co-edited volumes on Caribbean thought and Richard Wright. These reflect her engagement with decolonial theory, radical democracy, and critical race studies. Leadership Roles: Former President (2014-2016) of the Caribbean Philosophical Association, she directs the CPA Summer School and co-edits the Creolizing the Canon and Global Critical Caribbean Thought book series. She also co-edits the open-access journal Philosophy and Global Affairs .
Linda J. Peake is a Professor at York University in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. She previously served as Director of The City Institute (2013–2023) and is a leading feminist geographer specializing in urbanization, gendered urban insecurities, and marginalized communities in the global south, particularly Guyana. Her work intersects with mental health advocacy, co-chairing the AAG Affinity Group on Mental Health. Education : PhD in Political Geography, University of Reading BA (Honours) in Geography, University of Reading Research Interests : Focuses on feminist and anti-racist geographies, urban placemaking, mental health in academia, and global south urbanization. She co-leads the SSHRC-funded GenUrb project investigating gendered urbanization impacts in six global south cities. Recent Projects : GenUrb Partnership Grant (2017–2024) Summer Institute in Urban Studies (2022) China-Canada Initiative on Urbanization (2020–2021) Publications : Recent works include Urbanization in a Global Context (2nd ed., 2022) and A Feminist Urban Theory for Our Time (2021) . Her articles address feminist urban theory, pandemic impacts, and decolonial methodologies. Awards : Honors include the AAG Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2022), and multiple research excellence awards from York University. Editorial Roles : Serves on editorial boards of Urban Geography and Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society .
Zackaria Chacko is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland and a founding member of the Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics (MCFP). His research focuses on theoretical particle physics, addressing unresolved questions in the Standard Model through novel frameworks like weak scale supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and composite Higgs models. His work intersects with experimental efforts at the Large Hadron Collider, dark matter detection, neutrino oscillation studies, and gravitational tests. Affiliations: Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics (MCFP) Teaching: Courses include Mathematical Methods for Physics I/II, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, and Advanced Quantum Field Theory. Research Interests: Chacko explores dark matter, baryogenesis, and neutrino physics, with connections to cosmological observations (e.g., cosmic microwave background) and precision measurements. His theories aim to resolve gaps in fundamental physics, such as the hierarchy problem and matter-antimatter asymmetry. Awards: Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Labs/Teams: Active contributor to MCFP’s theoretical physics initiatives, collaborating on projects bridging particle physics and cosmology.
Deborah M. Weissman is the Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. Her work focuses on domestic violence, gender and human rights, political economy, and critical legal theory. She has published extensively on intersections between law, social control, and marginalized communities. Research Interests: Her scholarship examines the political economy of gender-based violence, neoliberalism's impact on legal advocacy, and the criminalization of survivors. She advocates for community-driven legal reforms and human rights frameworks. Collaborations: Weissman frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and institutions like the University of Miami School of Law, Syracuse University, and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Scientific Awards: Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law Recent Publications: Highlights include analyses of lifelong criminalization of gender violence survivors (2025), economic justice in domestic violence policy (2023), and critiques of carceral systems (2021). Her work spans journals like Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy and North Carolina Law Review .
Heather Dorries is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed to the Department of Geography and Planning and Centre for Indigenous Studies at the University of Toronto. Her work bridges Indigenous world-making and settler colonial urbanization, focusing on planning processes as tools of racial capitalism. Education PhD, University of Toronto MScPl, University of Toronto BA, McGill University Research Interests Dorries explores how Indigenous intellectual traditions—including environmental knowledge, legal orders, and cultural production—can inform anti-colonial planning practices. Her research interrogates the structural violence of settler colonial urbanization and develops theoretical frameworks for decolonizing planning. The recurring themes in her articles include Indigenous sovereignty , racial capitalism , and anti-colonial planning . Her work emphasizes the intersection of Indigenous urbanism and systemic critiques of colonialism. Contact & Affiliation Based at the Downtown Toronto (St. George) campus, she can be reached at heather.dorries@utoronto.ca in Sidney Smith Hall, Room 5016C.
Aleksandra Cavoski is a Professor of Law at the Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, and serves as Director of Global Engagement for the College of Arts and Law. She is also affiliated with the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action and the Centre for Environmental Research and Justice, reflecting her strong commitment to interdisciplinary and sustainability-focused legal scholarship. Her research lies at the intersection of environmental law, EU law, and public international law, with a particular focus on the connections between law and science, policy, and language. She explores how legal frameworks are shaped by social, political, and scientific contexts, especially in areas such as environmental governance, climate action, and regulatory innovation. Environmental Law EU Law Law and Science Legal Translation New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Circular Economy and Plastics Regulation Energy Transition and Critical Minerals Her recent publications and research projects highlight a consistent focus on regulatory innovation and sustainability, particularly in the use of NAMs for chemical safety, the legal challenges of promoting recycled plastics, and the geopolitics of critical minerals for clean energy. These works reflect a multidisciplinary trend integrating law with environmental science, public health, and policy analysis. Her scientific recognition includes being appointed as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Bayreuth in 2018. This honor reflects her international standing in legal academia. She actively supervises PhD students on topics such as renewable energy policy, hydraulic fracturing, and legal translation. Her research is supported by major grants from the European Commission and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), including projects like RECREATE and PrecisionTox, which aim to transform regulatory science and sustainability law. She leads and co-leads major interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Health-centred Systems Approach towards Net-Zero (Heal-NZ) and the development of a circular economy for medical plastics, demonstrating her role in bridging law with science and public health.
Tony N. Brown is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Rice University, directing the Racism and Racial Experiences Workgroup (RARE) and the STaRT@Rice Program. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1998), with prior tenure at Vanderbilt University. His research focuses on critical race theory, examining mechanisms of racism's impact on mental health, racial identity, and societal structures. Key themes include anti-Blackness, racial trauma, and systemic inequities. Brown has secured federal funding for his work and contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications. He was a finalist for Rice University’s 2023 George R. Brown Award for Teaching Excellence. Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (1998) M.A. in Sociology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (1993) B.S. in Sociology, University of Maryland - Eastern Shore (1991) Research interests span racial socialization, health disparities, and quantitative methods. His work combines community-based surveys with policy analysis, addressing contemporary issues like racial apathy among white populations and the mental health implications of racial discrimination. Notable projects include studying the psychological effects of Barack Obama’s presidential elections on Black communities and analyzing racialized stress in military veterans. His recent articles emphasize the intersection of race, politics, and mental health, with studies on Black nationalist tendencies and viral racism during the pandemic. Awards include recognition for teaching excellence and contributions to sociological scholarship. Brown actively collaborates across disciplines, holding roles in Rice’s sociology department and interdisciplinary programs.
Sheena Malhotra is a Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she serves as Director of Queer Studies and Academic Director of the MA in Humanities Program. She holds concurrent appointments within the College of Humanities and Gender and Women's Studies Department, with extensive administrative experience including former roles as Associate Dean of the College of Humanities (2017-2019) and Chair of Gender and Women's Studies (2009-2013). Her academic trajectory bridges Indian film/television production and critical academia. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Communication Studies (1999) from the University of New Mexico, an M.A. (1993) from Pepperdine University, and a B.A. (1991) from DePauw University. Research interests span Media and Gender , Postcolonial Analysis of Indian Media , Queer Diasporic Audiences , and Racialized Implications of Silence , with methodological roots in intercultural communication and feminist theory. Her publication portfolio reveals consistent thematic evolution toward intersectional analyses of globalization, media, and identity. Early work focused on Indian television commercialization and Bollywood's cultural politics, while recent scholarship examines neoliberal impacts on youth imaginaries and queer coalition-building. Key methodological threads include postcolonial critique, discourse analysis, and embodied feminist approaches across 15+ peer-reviewed articles and two major books. Silence, Feminism, Power: Reflections at the Edges of Sound (2013, Palgrave MacMillan) - Co-edited anthology exploring silence as political strategy Answer the Call: Virtual Migration in Indian Call Centers (2013, University of Minnesota Press) - Co-authored ethnographic study of call center labor National Television Award nominations (India, 1995) during executive television production career Her advisory work includes five years on SATRANG's board (serving South Asian LGBTQIA+ communities in SoCal) and founding directorship of CSUN's Queer Studies Program. Current teaching includes GWS 351 (Gen Race Clas Sex) with hybrid/online course design expertise. Documentary film production remains integral to her scholarly practice through projects like The Shape of Water (2006) examining global feminist organizations.
