Dr Kangfeng Ye is a Researcher at the Department of Computer Science, University of York. His work focuses on probabilistic programming, formal verification, and model-based software engineering for robotics and cyber-physical systems. PhD in Computer Science (2016), University of York Research roles in projects like CHEDDAR, SESAME, RoboTest, RoboCalc, and INTO-CPS His research bridges formal methods with practical applications in autonomous systems, security protocols, and robotics. He employs tools like PRISM, Isabelle, and RoboChart to ensure software reliability. Recent publications highlight trends in probabilistic modeling, formal verification of security protocols, and robotics safety assurance. His work intersects with 6G networks, agriculture robots, and controller synthesis from diagrams.
Bethany Shorey Fennell, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Markey Cancer Center's Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program, with a primary appointment in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Holding a doctorate from Washington State University (2020), she specializes in tobacco and cannabis use research, cervical cancer survivorship interventions, and health communication strategies. Ph.D., Washington State University (2020) M.S., Washington State University (2017) B.S., John Brown University (2009) Her research bridges public health and behavioral science, focusing on: Tobacco cessation among cervical cancer survivors Cannabis-tobacco co-use patterns Culturally tailored interventions for underserved populations Message reactance and health warning effectiveness Health disparities in substance use Recent publications span topics including: Intersectional analysis of cannabis-tobacco co-use Long-term smoking abstinence mechanisms Mobile health (mHealth) interventions for quitline services Global health strategies for HIV-positive tobacco users Demographic disparities in FDA warning responses Her grant portfolio includes: Health Communications for Adults Smoking Nondaily (National Cancer Institute, 2025-2027) Appalachian Tobacco Regulatory Science Team (NIDA, multiple subprojects 2023-2025) ACCESS Project (smoking relapse prevention for cervical cancer patients) As a core member of the Appalachian Tobacco Regulatory Science Team (AppalTRuST), she contributes to tobacco control initiatives targeting rural populations and develops interventions using the Health Belief Model framework.
Waqar Saleem serves as Associate Professor of Computer Science at St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he teaches Algorithms, Programming, and Computer Graphics. Previously, he was founding faculty at Pakistan's Habib University, establishing its Computer Science program while holding administrative roles as Program Director and Assistant Dean. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Saarland University / Max Planck Institute for Informatics (2010) M.S. in Computer Science, Saarland University / Max Planck Institute for Informatics (2005) B.S. in Computer Science, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University (2002) Dr. Saleem's research explores computer graphics, competitive programming, and pedagogical innovation in theoretical computer science. He champions student-centered teaching that balances rigor with accessibility, emphasizing mathematics and logic as foundational to computational problem-solving. His work reflects deep commitment to interdisciplinary engagement and classroom diversity. A member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), he actively promotes cultural exchange through his lived experience across four continents and ongoing German language studies.
Professor Antonios Bikakis is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL). He serves as the Director of Research in the Department of Information Studies and co-director of the Knowledge, Information and Data Science research group. His educational background includes: PhD in Computer Science from the University of Crete (2009) M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Crete (2004) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2002) Professional Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher and Professional Education from University of London Professor Bikakis's research focuses on foundational aspects of Artificial Intelligence, with particular emphasis on Knowledge Representation, Nonmonotonic Reasoning, Computational Argumentation, Semantic Technologies, and Multiagent Systems. His work extends to developing knowledge-based systems for Digital Cultural Heritage, Digital Libraries, Ambient Intelligence, and E-commerce applications. He has made significant contributions to contextual reasoning in Ambient Intelligence environments, argumentation frameworks, and knowledge graphs. His research bridges theoretical AI with practical implementations in cultural heritage and everyday problem-solving scenarios. His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong trend toward integrating large language models with structured reasoning for commonsense applications, developing knowledge representation for crisis management and cooking domains, and advancing semantic technologies for cultural heritage. His work consistently combines theoretical rigor with practical applications, particularly in the cultural heritage sector where he has made significant contributions to digital museum technologies and knowledge representation. His notable scientific achievements include: Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Logic and Argumentation (CLAR 2021) Extensive editorial work including Special Issues on Semantic Web for Cultural Heritage Significant citations for his work on Crypto collectibles and museum funding (194 total citations) Professor Bikakis actively supervises PhD students and MSc dissertations in Knowledge, Information and Data Science and Digital Humanities programs. He has secured major research funding through projects including "Repurposing of Resources" (Leverhulme Trust), "CORDIAL-AI" (ESRC), and "CrossCult" (European Commission Horizon 2020). His collaborative approach is evident in his extensive network of co-authors across European institutions and his service on program committees of major AI conferences (IJCAI, AAAI, ECAI, KR). As co-director of the Knowledge, Information and Data Science research group, he leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI theory and cultural heritage applications. The group develops technology that combines the latest advancements in semantic technology, mobile computing, and context-aware systems to create engaging experiences with cultural heritage materials, reflecting his commitment to making AI research impactful in real-world settings.
Ira Sarma is a Researcher at the Institute of Indology and Central Asian Studies at Leipzig University, where she has been working since 2007. She teaches Modern South Asian Studies and Hindi, contributing to the university's programs in South Asian cultures and languages. Dr. Sarma's academic journey began with studies in Cologne and Bonn, followed by significant positions at SOAS University of London (where she completed her PhD and served as a teaching assistant), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (as a Hindi lecturer), and the Venice International University (as a visiting lecturer for one semester). Her research focuses on literary and cultural studies with particular expertise in literary theory, textual criticism, literary geography, visual storytelling, graphic novels, and adaptation studies. She has made substantial contributions to understanding Hindi literature and film, Margaret Bourke-White's Partition photographs, Indian graphic novels, and Indian horror literature. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional literary analysis with contemporary visual culture studies, examining how narratives transform across media and historical contexts. Analysis of her recent publications (2018-2024) reveals a consistent focus on adaptation processes, visual storytelling techniques, and South Asian cultural representations. Her work demonstrates growing interest in graphic narratives and their relationship to traditional literary forms, as well as the political dimensions of visual representation in South Asian contexts. Dr. Sarma is currently working on two research projects focused on adaptation, continuing her exploration of how narratives travel across time, space, and media forms in South Asian cultural production.
Mario Román is a Research Associate at the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford , affiliated with the Compositional Systems and Methods Group at Tallinn University of Technology. His work bridges category theory , functional programming , and probabilistic programming , focusing on formal semantics and mathematical notation. His research interests include monoidal and premonoidal categories , Markov categories , and coinductive methods for dataflow programming. He explores the algebraic structures underlying quantum programming and stochastic processes , often applying graphical calculi and string diagrams. Recent work trends, as seen in his publications, emphasize distributive monoidal categories for program logics, effectful Mealy machines for bisimulation, and partial Markov categories for probabilistic reasoning. His collaborations span institutions in Europe and Asia, including Tallinn, Oxford, and Tokyo. Scientific Awards : Kleene Award, 'Monoidal Streams for Dataflow Programming', LiCS’22 Distinguished Paper, 'Effectful Mealy Machines: Bisimulation and Trace', LiCS’25 Best BSc Thesis, Spanish Royal Mathematical Society, 2018 International Mathematical Olympiad Honorary Mention, 2012 Mario has contributed to community initiatives as a member of the Compositionality Journal Executive Board and served on program committees for Applied Category Theory and Mathematical Foundations of Programming Semantics .
Nabeel Siddiqui is an Assistant Professor of Communications at Susquehanna University. His work bridges computational methods with humanities scholarship, focusing on digital humanities and computer science applications. Ph.D., College of William and Mary MA, George Mason University BA, University of Southern Mississippi Research interests include Digital Humanities , Machine Learning , Statistical Modeling , and Reproducibility in Research . He develops tools for data wrangling and digital scholarship workflows, emphasizing cross-cultural and multilingual approaches. Recent publications examine computer vision datasets , neural networks for image classification , and statistical validity in humanities research . His work also addresses inclusivity challenges in academic conferences and the materiality of data in scholarly ecosystems.
Ömer Durmaz is a Lecturer in the Graphic Design Department at Dokuz Eylül University's Faculty of Fine Arts. With a career spanning over two decades in design, he has established himself as a prominent figure in Turkish design education and research. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary design practice, focusing particularly on the visual culture of the Ottoman and early Republican periods in Turkey. Durman graduated from Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graphic Department in 1999 with a project on interactive interface design. Before his academic career, he worked professionally as an art director in Istanbul for major brands from 1999 to 2002. His design career began in 1993 as a part-time position, transitioning to full-time work after 1997. Dr. Durmaz's research interests span multiple dimensions of graphic design history and practice. He has made significant contributions to understanding the evolution of visual communication in Turkey, particularly during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic. His work on women in design history, including studies on pioneering female designers like Sabiha Sertel and Sabiha Bozcalı, has helped illuminate previously overlooked aspects of Turkey's design heritage. He also investigates packaging design, color theory, and the historical development of advertising infrastructure such as advertising columns. His interdisciplinary approach connects design history with social, economic, and cultural studies, revealing how visual communication reflects broader societal transformations. His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on documenting and analyzing Turkey's visual culture heritage. Through his publications, Durmaz has created an important body of work that examines how design practices evolved during periods of significant social and political change. His research often centers on forgotten or marginalized figures in design history, particularly women designers whose contributions were previously undocumented. This work has helped establish a more complete narrative of Turkish design history that acknowledges diverse voices and perspectives. Dr. Durmaz has been actively involved in academic discourse through numerous conference presentations, interviews, and talks. His work has been featured in design journals and publications, contributing to both academic and professional design communities in Turkey. He has collaborated with other scholars on projects examining design history and practice, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field through scholarly exchange.
Professor Dorota Kołodyńska is a distinguished set and costume designer and educator at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where she serves as a full professor in the Faculty of Scenography. She runs her own Costume and Stage Design Studio and has established herself as one of Poland's leading theatrical designers with over 100 productions to her credit across major national theaters and opera houses including the National Theatre, Polish Theatre, Dramatic Theatre, and Polish Royal Opera. Her educational background includes studies at the Faculty of Graphic Arts and Department of Scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw under Professor Janusz Stanny, Professor Andrzej Sadowski, and Professor Marcin Jarnuszkiewicz, complemented by a year of set design studies in Milan through the European Community TEMPUS program at Nuova Accademia di Belle Art. Professor Kołodyńska's creative work spans Set Design , Costume Design , Stage Design , Theatrical Production , and Fashion Design . Her portfolio demonstrates remarkable versatility across classical and contemporary theater, opera, musicals, and film. She has developed a distinctive approach that bridges traditional theatrical design with contemporary aesthetics, evident in her work on both classical productions like Handel's Rinaldo and modern musicals like We Will Rock You . Her collaborations with renowned directors including Krystyna Janda, Jarosław Kilian, and Wojciech Kępczyński showcase her ability to interpret diverse theatrical styles. Her creative output reveals consistent innovation in theatrical design with particular emphasis on cultural reinterpretation, as demonstrated by her participation in the Global Qipao Invitational Exhibition where she reimagined traditional Chinese dress. Professor Kołodyńska has made significant contributions to Polish theater by bringing international musical productions to Polish audiences through original, non-replica versions that respect both source material and Polish theatrical traditions, having designed costumes for 11 world-famous musicals including Cats , Grease , and Mamma Mia! Her work has been featured in prestigious international exhibitions including at the National Silk Museum of China in Hangzhou, the State Theatre Museum in Moscow, and the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw. These exhibitions highlight the cross-cultural significance of her contributions to costume and stage design. Professor Kołodyńska's studio serves as an important training ground for emerging designers, continuing the tradition of Polish theatrical excellence while embracing new creative approaches. Her collaborations span across various theatrical genres from classical opera to contemporary drama and large-scale musical productions, demonstrating her versatility and enduring influence on Polish performing arts.
Andrea Giuseppe Francesco Bruno is a Professor at Ababo's School of Arts, Department of Comics and Illustration, teaching Comic Art II (12 CFA) for Comic Book Languages students and Digital Technologies and Applications (6 CFA) for both Comic Book Languages and Illustration for Publishing programs. His research and creative work focuses on: Comic Book Creation and Narrative Structure Digital Publishing Technologies and Workflow Visual Storytelling Techniques Graphic Narrative Development Editorial Design Principles Sign and Style in Visual Communication Bruno is an accomplished comic artist whose works have appeared in numerous Italian and international publications. As co-founder of the Canicola group (2005), he created the magazine of the same name. His notable publications include 'Sabato Tregua' (2009) and 'Cinema Zenit' (2014/2016, new edition 2022). His illustrations have been featured in the New York Times Sunday Review, and he exhibited at Geneva's Centre d'Art Contemporain in 2014. His pedagogical approach emphasizes student originality through comprehensive guidance from concept to completion, with particular attention to sign and style development. Courses integrate technical instruction with artistic exploration through workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects. His awards include: Micheluzzi - Nuove strade (Napoli Comicon 2000) Best illustrator (Napoli Comicon 2010) Lo straniero 2000 award Gran Giunigi - Best Single Author (Luccacomics 2007) Bruno has collaborated with musician Vasco Brondi, cartoonist David B, and Accademia Perduta theater company. His office hours are Fridays 10:00 AM-1:00 PM by appointment, primarily for thesis projects, with students required to email in advance.
Piero Deggiovanni is a Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna within the Department of Design and Applied Arts. He teaches History of Contemporary Art (ABST47) for Graphic Design, Product Design, and Film and Audiovisual Languages programs, as well as History and Theory of New Media (ABPC66) and Theory and Analysis of Cinema and Audiovisual Media (ABPC65) for Experimental Cinema and Animation students. Professor Deggiovanni specializes in the intersection of art and digital technologies, with particular expertise in video art, media hybridization, and net.art. His research examines the poetics of reduction from Cézanne to contemporary practice, the transition from aesthetic to noetic in neo-avant-garde movements, and the relationship between body and video in audiovisual arts. He has developed significant theoretical frameworks for understanding accelerationist aesthetics, theories of the spectacle, and the historical development of net.art from conceptual origins to post-internet art forms. Deggiovanni's scholarly contributions have established foundational frameworks for digital art studies. His 2006 publication 'Notes for a Phenomenology of Net.art' became a standard reference in university courses, while his more recent works continue to shape discourse in contemporary digital art. His research bridges historical art movements with cutting-edge digital practices, creating valuable analytical tools for understanding artistic evolution in the digital age. His notable publications include 'Critical Anthology of Italian Video Art, 2010-2020' (2019) and the forthcoming 'The Aesthetic and the Noetic: New Synergies between Body and Video' (2024). He co-authored 'Francesco Baracca and the Heroic Ideal. From Myth to Logo' (2018) with Valeria Roncuzzi, examining media dissemination of heroic figures. His 1999 organization of Italy's first net.art exhibition marked him as a pioneer in the field. Deggiovanni is actively involved in the 'Archiving and cataloging the Native Digital Single-Channel Video Art Collection of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna,' an experimental project developing technical procedures and standards for preserving digital artworks. His teaching methodology emphasizes practical application of theoretical concepts, requiring students to develop discipline-specific creative projects that demonstrate their understanding of course material.
Stefano W. Pasquini (Bologna, 1969) is Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna (ABABO), teaching Art Publishing for Graphic Art, Printing Process Techniques for Fashion Design, and Multimedia Languages for Painting programs. He has exhibited internationally at venues including ICA London, National Portrait Gallery, MAMbo Bologna, and MACRO Rome. His research focuses on contemporary art publishing, multimedia artistic practices, and traditional printing techniques adapted for modern applications. Pasquini explores the intersection of historical printmaking methods with digital innovation, particularly in fashion contexts, while examining how multimedia language has evolved in contemporary communication. Member of Board, Forum for Contemporary Art (since 2018) Curator, Studio Cloud 4 gallery (2013-2016) Host of 'Suppiej Coxo Spaziale' art program on Radio Città Fujiko Editor of 'Obsolete Shit' magazine Pasquini has authored numerous publications including 'Accidental//Coincidental' (2008), 'Incorporeo' (2015), 'Elia – Artista' (2016), 'I margine del combattimento' (2017), and 'Untitled Book' (2019), while contributing over 500 articles to art magazines such as 'New York Arts' and 'Collezioni Edge'.
Paola Squizzato is a Professor at Ababo, teaching Digital Image Processing and Digital Applications for Art across Photography, Fashion Design, and Graphic Art programs since 2009. She previously taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome (2013-2014), Brera (2018-2021), and Lecce (2021-2022). She earned a Painting degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna and a DAMS degree (Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo) from the University of Bologna with a photography thesis. Her research explores expressive language through digital-analog integration in artistic creation, emphasizing color management, eco-sustainable printing workflows, and AI applications. She investigates professional post-production techniques using Adobe Creative Cloud and open-source tools to advance photographic and graphic experimentation while maintaining environmental consciousness. Professor Squizzato supervises student projects requiring multiple revisions, evaluating both theoretical understanding and technical execution of post-production workflows. Final projects undergo digital archiving after printed presentation, with regular lab attendance critical for mastering hands-on techniques. Her teaching incorporates practical laboratory sessions where students utilize graphics tablets, studio lighting, and specialized printing equipment to experiment with digital negatives, contact printing, and alternative eco-friendly methods within a collaborative studio environment.
Markus Weisbeck is a Professor of Graphic Design at Bauhaus University Weimar and has taught at the Paju Typography Institute in Korea since 2017. As founder of Studio Markus Weisbeck (established 1997) and member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 2011, he bridges academic practice with professional design work. His studio specializes in custom concept solutions across corporate and cultural design, visual research, and contemporary art applications. Weisbeck's research interests center on visual communication, typography, and the intersection of design with contemporary art and technology. His work explores the boundaries between applied and experimental design, with particular focus on visual research methodologies and the development of new graphic forms. He has developed frameworks for understanding design as a form of knowledge production, emphasizing improvisational processes and visual intelligence. His approach examines how design thinking can address complex societal challenges while maintaining aesthetic rigor. His recent projects demonstrate a trajectory toward increasingly interdisciplinary work that integrates AI technology, sustainable design principles, and international cultural exchange. The German Design Award projects (2022-2025) showcase his evolving approach to visual systems, while works like 'DO THE STARS NEED A REASON TO SHINE?' and 'BAUHAUS FUTURE FICTION' represent his theoretical contributions to design discourse. His publications and exhibitions consistently explore the relationship between visual form, conceptual frameworks, and cultural context. Weisbeck founded the 'Space for Visual Research' in 2013 as a workshop and laboratory for experimental research on new graphic and abstract imagery, conducting workshops across China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Iran. This initiative reflects his commitment to global design education and cross-cultural exchange. His studio has received numerous commissions from major cultural institutions worldwide, demonstrating the practical application of his research. His work extends beyond traditional design practice into artistic production, with exhibitions at venues including Kai Middendorff Gallery, Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig, and international biennales. This dual practice as both designer and artist informs his pedagogical approach, emphasizing the interconnection between creation, research, and theoretical reflection in contemporary design practice.
Giovanni Maria Martini is a University Researcher at the University of Naples L'Orientale specializing in Islamic intellectual history within the Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean. His academic profile demonstrates expertise in Sufism, particularly visual representations in mystical texts and cross-cultural knowledge transmission across premodern Islamic societies. Dr. Martini's research focuses on the intersection of visual culture and mystical practice in Islamic traditions, examining how diagrams and graphic representations functioned as cognitive and spiritual tools within Sufi literature from the 13th-16th centuries. His scholarly work centers on figures like Shīrīn Maghribī (d. 810/1408) and the school of Ibn al-ʿArabī, with particular attention to Persianate cultural spheres and the transmission of spiritual knowledge across geographical and cultural boundaries. His methodological approach combines traditional philology with visual analysis to understand how textual and graphical elements worked together to facilitate spiritual realization. His publication record reveals consistent scholarly output with a clear thematic progression toward understanding the material dimensions of religious experience in Islamic intellectual traditions. Recent works demonstrate increasing interest in European reception of Islamic mystical traditions, as evidenced by studies on Athanasius Kircher's engagement with Islamic occult knowledge and European interpretations of the Qur'an. This research bridges Islamic studies, visual culture studies, and the history of cross-cultural encounters between Islamic and European intellectual traditions. Among his scholarly recognitions, Dr. Martini serves as a member of the editorial committee for Oriente Moderno since 2023. His research has been supported by prestigious fellowships including the Gerda Henkel Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Naples L'Orientale (2019-2020) and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Alexander von Humboldt Kolleg for Islamicate Intellectual History at the University of Bonn (2016-2018). Dr. Martini teaches 'Islamistica' across multiple degree programs at the University of Naples L'Orientale, including Archaeology: Asia, Africa and Mediterranean; Languages and Comparative Cultures; Ancient Cultures and Archaeology: Asia, Africa and Mediterranean; Political Sciences and International Relations; and Languages and Cultures of Oriental and African Studies. His teaching focuses on providing students with historical-critical understanding of Sufism as a mystical-spiritual current of Islam, with particular attention to its manifestations in Mediterranean contexts and contemporary European societies.
