Dr. Corinna Oschatz is affiliated with the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in the Political Communication & Journalism department. Her research focuses on negative campaigning, narrative persuasion, media's role in political knowledge dissemination, and public opinion dynamics. She holds a Doctorate and is reachable at c.m.oschatz@uva.nl. Research Interests: Her work bridges political communication theory and practical journalism impacts, analyzing how media narratives shape voter perceptions and democratic engagement. She explores strategies in political messaging and the ethical dimensions of journalistic practices in polarized environments.
Prof. Dr. Manja Stephan is a Professor for Transregional Central Asian Studies with a focus on Islam and Migration at the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAW) at Humboldt University of Berlin since May 2020. She also serves as Project Director of the Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies (BGSMCS) since 2011. Previously, she was a Junior Professor for Cross-Sectional Issues of Islam in Asian and African Societies at the same institution from 2010 to 2020. Her educational background includes a Doctorate from Martin Luther University Halle/Wittenberg (2009), preceded by doctoral studies at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (2007-2003) and Ruhr University Bochum (2005-2002). She earned her MA in Ethnology and Central Asian Studies from Humboldt University, Free University of Berlin, and University of Leipzig in 2002. Prof. Stephan's research focuses on the anthropology of transregional Islam, Muslim mobilities and religious geographies, and transregional Central Asia and Gulf Studies (particularly Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the United Arab Emirates). Her work also examines Muslim professionalism, religious economies, material religion, and cultural heritage policies. Her current research projects include 'Women's Pathways to Professionalization in Muslim Asia' (funded by DFG) and 'De:Link // Re:Link' (funded by BMBF), which explore gender, religious knowledge, and transregional connections in Muslim Asia. Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on translocal Muslim networks connecting Central Asia and the Gulf region, particularly examining how Tajik migrants navigate religious, economic, and social landscapes across these regions. A significant strand of her research investigates women's professionalization within Muslim contexts, highlighting how religious knowledge intersects with gender and economic mobility. Principal Investigator at the Berlin Graduate School for Muslim Cultures and Societies (BGSMCS) Member of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) Member of the American Association of Anthropologists (AAA) Member of the Central and West Asia and Diasporas Research Network (CWADRN) Member of the German University Association (DHV) Prof. Stephan has supervised numerous theses and dissertations, with a particular focus on transregional Central Asian studies and Muslim cultures. Her current research projects, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), support graduate students and early-career researchers working on Muslim Asia and transregional connections. She has organized multiple academic events including workshops, lecture series, and summer schools focused on Muslim women's professionalization, cultural heritage in Central Asia, and transregional studies. She leads the ANOR Central Asian Studies Book Series published by DeGruyter and has organized numerous academic events including the Berlin Transregional Talks lecture series and workshops on museums as cultural infrastructures in Central Eurasia.
Tania Burchardt is an Associate Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics (LSE) , where she serves as Deputy Director of STICERD and Associate Director of CASE (Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion). Her work bridges theoretical frameworks like the capability approach with empirical analyses of inequality , disability policy , and applied welfare policy . Key Research Areas : Theories of justice, inequality measurement, time poverty, and social care systems Leadership Roles : Co-led projects on multidimensional inequality, intergenerational exchanges, and child poverty Her recent work explores intra-household resource allocation , social care inequities , and public engagement in policymaking . She has collaborated with organizations like the Nuffield Foundation and Sense about Science to translate research into practice. Scientific Contributions span empirical studies on: Long-term care funding reforms (2015–2020) Disability-related income disparities Time poverty intersections with economic hardship Data-driven policy recommendations for Roma/Gypsy/Traveller communities Multidimensional child poverty frameworks
Cees B.M. van Riel is a visiting professor in the Department of Business-Society Management at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. He previously served as a professor of corporate communication and is a globally recognized expert in reputation management, employee alignment, and corporate branding. His research focuses on corporate communication , organizational identity , employee alignment , and industry reputation . He investigates how organizations build and maintain strong reputations through strategic internal and external communication, particularly during periods of change or crisis. His work bridges academic theory and practical application, influencing both scholarly discourse and corporate practice. His recent publications, including a 2023 article on museum-corporate sponsorships, demonstrate a sustained engagement with themes of mutual value creation, stakeholder management, and reputation dynamics. His body of work consistently addresses reputation management , organizational change , impression management , and corporate branding across diverse sectors. Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Reputation Review Founder of the Reputation Forum The Netherlands (RfN) Founding Director of RSM's International Executive Master Programme in Corporate Communication Co-founder of the Reputation Institute Professor van Riel has supervised numerous academic works and has led major educational initiatives. He has been actively involved in global reputation rankings, including the Forbes-published Annual Reputation Institute Study. His consultancy work with multinational corporations such as ING, Philips, and Shell underscores his impact beyond academia. He has also held editorial and speaking roles, contributing significantly to the dissemination of management knowledge. He is central to a research network focused on corporate communication and reputation, with collaborations spanning multiple countries and institutions. His leadership in founding academic programs and professional forums highlights his role in shaping the field.
Alin Coman is a Professor at Princeton University 's School of Public and International Affairs, leading the Cognition in Collectives Lab . His research explores how cognition emerges and evolves within social contexts, focusing on collective memory, belief dynamics, and emotion regulation through interactions. Education: Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research Research Focus: Integrating laboratory experiments, field studies, social network analysis, and agent-based simulations, his work demonstrates how macro-level phenomena like collective memories and synchronized beliefs arise from micro-level cognitive processes. Key themes include memory convergence, belief propagation in networks, and socially triggered prediction errors. Article Trends: His recent publications address vicarious memory frameworks, emotion regulation contagion, moral narratives, political belief change, pandemic-related belief dynamics, and the role of social norms in cognitive processes. Methodologies often involve network science and experimental paradigms. Advising: Mentors graduate researchers including Ari Dyckovsky, Gracielle Li, and Naomi Vaida. Lab: The Cognition in Collectives Lab employs a social-interactionist approach to study emergent psychological phenomena across groups and networks.
Iain Stewart is Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, holding the UNESCO Chair in Geoscience and Society. He directs research at the Sustainable Earth Institute and serves as Communications Lead for the UKRI Tomorrow's Cities initiative targeting disaster risk reduction in urban environments. His research bridges Earth science and societal concerns through three key areas: 1) Geoscience communication strategies for complex issues like climate change and energy, 2) Cultural responses to geohazards using film and gaming technologies, and 3) Public perceptions of geological resources and subsurface environments. His work applies cognitive and social science frameworks to geoscience communication challenges. Stewart maintains an extensive public engagement profile through BBC television documentaries including 'Earth: The Power of the Planet' and as science consultant for 'Seven Worlds, One Planet'. He serves as President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and Devon Wildlife Trust while advocating for geoscience education globally. His research has been recognized with numerous international awards including an MBE and honors from the Geological Society of America and American Geophysical Union.
Dr. HAJNAL Géza is an Associate Professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Faculty of Civil Engineering, where he serves in the Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering. His office is located in Room K. ép / mf. 12/7, and he can be contacted via email at hajnal.geza@emk.bme.hu or phone at +36 1 463 2362. His teaching portfolio includes active courses such as Hydraulic Engineering, Water Management (BMEEOVVAT43) and Hydrometric Field Course (BMEEOVVAI44). Previously, he taught Hidrogeology (BMEEOGMMET3) and Hydrogeology of Subsurface Water (BMEEOGMDT81). HAJNAL's research specializes in hydrogeology , with emphases on karst aquifer dynamics, groundwater flow modeling, climate impacts on hydrology, and hydraulic engineering. His work integrates field measurements (e.g., drip-water monitoring in Buda Castle Cave) with advanced numerical modeling to address complex hydrological challenges in Hungarian watersheds. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2013–2025) reveals dominant themes: 73% focus on karst/fractured aquifers , 20% on hydrological modeling techniques , and 7% on socio-environmental conflicts. Recurrent technical subfields include seepage flow validation, transmissivity determination, and rainfall-runoff sensitivity. No scientific awards, grants, student advisees, or lab affiliations are documented in the provided materials.
Filip Vermeylen is a Full Professor in the Department of Arts and Culture Studies at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. He holds a PhD from Columbia University (2002) and is currently the Research Director of his department, playing a key role in shaping research agendas in cultural economics and art markets. His research focuses on the economics of art and culture, with a deep interest in the historical development of art markets since the Renaissance, the concept of artistic quality, the role of intermediaries such as dealers and auction houses, and the rise of emerging art markets, particularly in India. He is a board member of The International Art Market Association (TIAMSA) and co-founder of the Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab (RASL), which fosters interdisciplinary dialogue between arts and sciences. Vermeylen’s recent scholarly output reveals a strong thematic continuity in global art markets, including studies on Dutch Golden Age painting, the business model of Christie’s, and the commodification of Indian traditional art. His publications span art history, economic history, media studies, and cultural policy, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach. He frequently presents at international conferences and organizes academic events, such as workshops on applied arts and the internationalization of art trade. He has supervised several research projects and students, contributing to the training of next-generation scholars in cultural economics. His public engagement includes media contributions on figures like Rubens, Van Eyck, and John Maynard Keynes, demonstrating a commitment to knowledge dissemination beyond academia. Board member, The International Art Market Association (TIAMSA) Co-founder, Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab (RASL) Research Director, Department of Arts and Culture Studies Active in ERMeCHS research clusters: Heritage & Identity (HI), Value in the Creative Economy (VCE)
David Germano is Professor of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia's College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Religious Studies. He also holds a Clinical Professor appointment in Nursing and serves as Director of multiple centers including the Tibet Center, the Contemplative Sciences Center, and SHANTI (Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Network of Technological Initiatives). Since 2000, he has directed the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, establishing himself as a leading figure in Tibetan studies and digital humanities. Germano earned his B.A. from Notre Dame University in 1984 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1992. His academic career at UVA progressed from Assistant Professor (1992-1998), to Associate Professor (1998-2011), and finally to Professor (2011-present). His research focuses on the Nyingma and Bön lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly tantric traditions and Buddhist philosophy from the eighth to fifteenth centuries. He also studies Tibetan history and literature, contemporary Tibet (especially regarding religion, education, and technology), and digital humanities. Germano is particularly interested in engaged scholarship that inserts higher education into a socially transformative role across various sectors. Germano's publications reveal a consistent focus on Tibetan Buddhist traditions, with particular emphasis on Dzogchen (Great Perfection) teachings, visionary movements, and the intersection of traditional practices with contemporary contexts. His work spans religious studies, anthropology, digital humanities, and Tibetan cultural studies, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Tibetan Buddhism and its modern manifestations. As a leader in digital humanities, Germano has pioneered numerous initiatives including the Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library, the Tibetan Unicode Project, the Tibetan Literary Encyclopedia, and the Tibetan Language Learning Resources initiative. He has also co-directed the UVa-Machik Geotourism Initiative and the Tibetan and Himalayan Historical GIS project, demonstrating his commitment to innovative approaches for preserving and disseminating Tibetan knowledge.
Lin Chen is the Chair Professor of Finance and Stelux Endowed Professor in Finance at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), serving as Associate Dean (Research and Knowledge Exchange) in the Faculty of Business and Economics. He holds a PhD from the University of Florida and has held academic leadership roles at HKU and Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). His research focuses on financial technology, banking systems, corporate finance, and economic development, with notable contributions to understanding financial resilience during crises and institutional reforms. Educations: PhD/MBA in Finance from University of Florida, B.E. in Engineering from South China University of Technology Leadership roles: Associate Dean (HKU), Board Member of HKU-Standard Chartered FinTech Academy, Currency Board Committee member Research interests span financial innovation , banking competition , corporate governance , and ESG integration . Key projects include RGC Theme-based grants on FinTech stability/inclusion and HK's financial center development. His work is published in top journals like Journal of Financial Economics and Review of Financial Studies . He has advised major institutions including Hong Kong Monetary Authority, World Bank, and China Construction Bank. Awards include the Jensen Prize (2011), Nobel nomination (2016), and honorary professorships from Edinburgh and Berkeley. Grants coordination includes HK$24.4 million FinTech project (2020-2025) and leadership roles in research centers like HKU’s Financial Innovation & Development Centre. Active in editorial roles for Management Science and policy advisory groups. Media engagements include BBC, Bloomberg, and Harvard Law School forums. Current initiatives focus on Web3.0 development in HK and financial inclusion strategies.
Margaret Carlyle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Sociology at the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan. She is a graduate student supervisor and member of UBCO’s Science and Technology Studies (STS) Collective. Her academic journey includes postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and University of Cambridge, and a Visiting Assistant Professor role at the University of Minnesota. Research Interests: Carlyle specializes in the history of medicine, science, and technology within early modern France and transatlantic contexts. Her work examines women’s roles as experimentalists, artisans, and translators in scientific knowledge formation, utilizing archival and museum sources. Key themes include scientific imaging, medical technologies, gender and women’s studies, and the intersection of race and science in the French Atlantic World. Selected Articles: Recent publications analyze Enlightenment anatomy education, reproductive technologies, and transnational scientific networks. Her research spans topics from midwifery training to fetal representation in media, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with medical humanities and material culture. Scientific Awards: SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2021–2023) UBCO Curricular Innovation Grant (2023) CIHR Project Grant (2023–2027) Molina Fellow at Huntington Library (2014) Teaching & Public Engagement: Offers courses on science and empire, reproductive technologies, and pandemics. Created the SSHRC-funded Reproductive Technologies podcast and co-curated the University of Chicago’s 'Fetus in Utero' digital exhibition. Collaborates on medical education tools for chronic gynecological pain.
Marwa Elshakry is an Associate Professor at Columbia University, specializing in the history of science, technology, and medicine in the modern Middle East. Her research bridges cultural and intellectual history with the study of scientific exchange and adaptation. Ph.D. — Princeton University (2003) M.A. — Princeton University (1997) B.A. — Rutgers University (1995) Her work critically examines the cultural politics of scientific translation, the role of religion in shaping scientific discourse, and the transnational movement of ideas. She has published extensively on topics like Darwinism in Arabic, the intersection of science and scripture, and the colonial dynamics of scientific knowledge transfer. Marwa's publications highlight themes such as the historiographical challenges of mapping science's global journey, the theological interpretations of scientific concepts in Islamic contexts, and the impact of missionary activities on scientific education in the Ottoman Empire. Her scholarship underscores the agency of non-Western actors in recontextualizing scientific knowledge.
Dr. Sophie Adams serves as an ARC DECRA Fellow in the Department of Sociology at La Trobe University, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of human geography and Science and Technology Studies. Her work critically examines the social dimensions of climate change mitigation and adaptation, with particular emphasis on renewable energy transitions and the societal implications of technological solutions to environmental crises. Adams' research program centers on the politics of environmental knowledge , investigating how climate science informs policy formation and the negotiation of social objectives in decarbonisation processes. She employs qualitative and participatory methodologies to analyze climate change adaptation in energy systems , social license for technological interventions , and the redistribution of expertise in public health and environmental governance. Her scholarship consistently addresses power dynamics in knowledge production and the democratic challenges of sustainability transitions. Analysis of her publication trajectory (2019-2025) reveals increasing focus on energy-social interfaces, with significant contributions to understanding virtual power plants, demand-side management, and the role of modeling in climate policy. Her work demonstrates methodological innovation through participatory approaches while maintaining critical engagement with resilience thinking and adaptation frameworks. Scientific recognition includes: Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (ARC DECRA) Supported by her DECRA fellowship, Adams leads independent research projects examining the societal dimensions of energy transitions. Her collaborative work spans geography, public health, and energy engineering, as evidenced by interdisciplinary co-authorship patterns. Current projects investigate Australian householders' conditions for participating in virtual power plants and the social implications of climate modeling in adaptation planning, reflecting her commitment to socially relevant environmental research.
Jocelyn Davies is a University Fellow at the Faculty of Arts and Society, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University. She lives and works in Alice Springs and has specialized in arid rangeland environments. As a geographer and predominantly qualitative researcher, she is skilled in participatory action research methods with extensive experience in Aboriginal land management initiatives across Australia. Her research profile demonstrates significant engagement with: Climate change adaptation in arid environments (70% research focus) Land management practices (66% research focus) Protected area management (61% research focus) Rangeland systems (59% research focus) Dr. Davies' scholarly work shows a strong international dimension, with research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, Vietnam, and Inner Mongolia. Her fingerprint analysis reveals significant contributions to Environmental Impact Assessment (52%) and Ecosystem Function studies (52%). Her publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output with significant impact, particularly her 2020 article on Indigenous adaptation pathways which has received 117 Scopus citations and influenced policy development. Her research has been widely disseminated through platforms like Mendeley with hundreds of readers across multiple publications. Dr. Davies' work contributes substantially to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action, life on land, and reduced inequalities through her focus on indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable land management practices. She maintains active research collaborations across multiple countries and has documented 16 research outputs with significant policy engagement, including references in multiple policy documents and news outlets. Her current work focuses on documenting the 50-year history of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress through participatory methods.
Michael D. Smith is a Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, with joint appointments at Heinz College and Tepper School of Business. His research employs economic and statistical methods to analyze digital markets, focusing on firm and consumer behavior in online environments. Education: B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Summa Cum Laude), University of Maryland M.Sc. in Telecommunications Science, University of Maryland Ph.D. in Management Science and Information Technology, MIT Research Interests: Professor Smith investigates the economics of digital information markets, consumer behavior in online platforms, and policy implications of technological disruption. His work spans copyright enforcement, digital advertising, and the impact of piracy on legal media consumption. Publications: His recent studies examine AI’s role in copyright policy, effectiveness of anti-piracy measures, and market dynamics in digital streaming. Articles often bridge economics, computer science, and public policy. Awards: National Science Foundation CAREER Award Multiple Best Teacher Awards at CMU Recognized as a Top 100 Emerging Engineering Leader (NAE, 2020) Best Paper Runner-Up (Information Systems Research, 2006) Editorial and Industry Roles: Served as Senior Editor at Information Systems Research and Associate Editor at Management Science . Prior to academia, he worked in telecommunications at GTE and Booz Allen Hamilton, earning a patent for AI applications in network design. Contact: mds@cmu.edu | Office: 4800 Forbes Avenue, Hamburg Hall 2204, Pittsburgh PA 15213
