Mikael B. Skov is a Vice Dean and Professor at the Technical Faculty of IT and Design of Aalborg University , Denmark. His research spans human-AI interaction, robotics, and user experience, with a focus on trust signaling in clinical AI, swarm robotics, and sound zones for domestic environments. Role: Vice Dean for Research Department: Computer Science Research Interests: Skov investigates how humans interact with AI and robots in healthcare and domestic settings, emphasizing trust calibration, alert design, and acoustic comfort. His work includes developing frameworks for UX maturity in robotics organizations and studying long-term adoption of sound zone systems. Recent Projects: As principal/co-investigator, he leads the HERD project on human-AI collaboration in robot swarms (2021–2025) and supervises Data og Bæredygtig Mad (2020–2023), an HCI perspective on sustainable food systems. Publications: His 2024 work includes studies on AI explanations in clinical training, music applications with intermittent interactions, and multi-robot supervision. Earlier projects (2001–2020) focused on mobile device usability, UX practices, and context-aware computing.
James A. Evans is the Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology and Data Science at the University of Chicago, where he is a faculty member in the Department of Sociology within the Division of the Social Sciences. He is the director of Knowledge Lab and the Faculty Director of the Masters Program in Computational Social Science . He holds additional affiliations as an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute , External Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub, Vienna , and Visiting Faculty Researcher at Google . Education: B.A. in Anthropology, Brigham Young University (1994) M.A. in Sociology, Stanford University (1999) Ph.D. in Sociology, Stanford University (2004) His research centers on the collective system of thinking and knowing , exploring how ideas emerge, spread, and evolve through social and technical systems. He investigates innovation, collective intelligence, and the science of science , using large-scale data modeling, machine learning, generative AI, and network analysis to study knowledge creation. His work spans domains including science, technology, law, and religion, with a focus on how AI is reshaping discovery processes. The most recent publications highlight trends in AI and scientific discovery , with a strong emphasis on innovation, knowledge systems, and human-machine intelligence . His research increasingly explores AI as a transformative agent in science , including the concept of 'alien intelligence' and the development of complementary AI to augment human capacity. Projects like the $20M NSF-funded APTO initiative aim to build language models that predict technological outcomes by analyzing historical data. Scientific Recognition and Funding: Research supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) , National Institutes of Health (NIH) , Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) , and philanthropic sources Work published in Nature, Science, PNAS , and leading social science journals Featured in The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, Wired, NPR, BBC, Le Monde , and others James Evans advises on science policy and funding strategies, emphasizing the importance of diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and demographic balance in fostering innovation. He critiques current academic incentives and proposes alternative discovery regimes. He leads Knowledge Lab , a collaborative research environment that conducts seminars, grants, and employment opportunities in computational social science and AI.
Hasti Seifi is an Affiliated Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science (DIKU), University of Copenhagen, specializing in Human-Centred Computing. Her research focuses on haptics, augmented reality, and human-robot interaction. Institution: University of Copenhagen Department: Department of Computer Science Section: Human-Centred Computing Research interests include: Designing innovative haptic feedback systems Exploring tactile experiences in augmented reality Developing human-robot interaction frameworks Creating generative models for haptic design Investigating social touch technologies Advancing mid-air and ultrasound haptic interfaces Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on: Generative haptic modeling for AR/XR systems Human-robot interaction dynamics Text input in extended reality environments Visual-haptic multisensory integration Ultrasound mid-air haptic design tools Social touch technologies
Kohei Nakajima is an Associate Professor at the Department of Intelligent Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo. He holds concurrent positions at the Department of Creative Informatics and the Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AI Center). As an Endowed Chair in Advanced Artificial Intelligence Education, he leads the Physical Intelligence Lab, which focuses on the intersection of soft robotics, nonlinear dynamics, and physical computing. His research interests center on Physical Reservoir Computing (PRC), a paradigm that exploits the natural dynamics of physical systems for computation, with applications in soft robotics, spintronics, and quantum machine learning. Nakajima's work demonstrates how physical systems can inherently process information without traditional digital computation, leveraging phenomena like chaos, bifurcations, and embodied intelligence. Nakajima's publications reveal a strong focus on understanding how physical systems can perform computational tasks. His recent work spans from biological applications (jellyfish cyborgs, ostrich-inspired robotics) to fundamental theoretical advances in reservoir computing. The research demonstrates how physical phenomena can be harnessed for information processing, with implications for energy-efficient computing and novel robotic control paradigms. As the organizer of the Reservoir Computing Seminar, Nakajima has built a vibrant research community exploring the nature of information processing across disciplines. His lab actively recruits graduate students and postdocs, indicating strong research momentum and institutional support for his work in physical intelligence.
Jesper Liniger is an Associate Professor at AAU Energy within the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Aalborg University. He works in the Esbjerg Energy Section focusing on Offshore Renewable Energy Systems and is affiliated with AAU BLUE – Marine & Maritime Research. His office is located at Niels Bohr Street 8, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark. Research Interests Marine Growth Engineering and automated cleaning solutions for offshore structures Underwater robotics including Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous inspection systems Wind turbine engineering with emphasis on hydraulic pitch systems and fault detection Fluid power engineering applications in marine environments Development of robotic solutions for offshore renewable energy infrastructure Research Trends Dr. Liniger's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on developing robotic solutions for offshore renewable energy infrastructure. His work bridges theoretical control systems with practical marine applications, particularly addressing marine growth (biofouling) challenges on offshore structures. The research shows increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, combining robotics, fluid mechanics, and wind energy systems to create integrated solutions that improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs in offshore environments. Scientific Awards Innovation Project of the Year (2024) - For underwater robotics development Esbjerg Universitetspris (2018) - University award recognizing research excellence Advising and Research Leadership Dr. Liniger actively supervises PhD students and serves as principal investigator or supervisor on multiple major projects including "NextGen Robotics" for offshore wind farms and "Towards Enhancing Perception and Navigation for Autonomous Underwater Inspection Drone." His research portfolio includes collaborations with industry partners like Vattenfall and Business Center Funen, demonstrating strong industry-academia connections focused on practical applications with economic impact. Research Teams and Facilities Liniger is part of AAU BLUE – Marine & Maritime Research, which provides specialized facilities for marine robotics testing and development. His work involves close collaboration with researchers in control systems, fluid mechanics, and renewable energy. The research group has developed experimental frameworks for testing underwater and surface vehicle operations, with recent media coverage highlighting their innovative approaches to solving marine growth challenges on offshore structures.
Kaj Grønbæk is a Professor and Head of Department at Aarhus University's Department of Computer Science. His research focuses on Augmented Reality , Human-Robot Interaction , and Interaction Design , with specific interest in hybrid user interfaces and immersive authoring systems. Academic Rank: Professor Department: Department of Computer Science Email: kgronbak@cs.au.dk Research Interests : Combines Augmented Reality with Pervasive Computing to create novel Interactive Rooms and Urban Environments . Specializes in Experimental Systems Development and Mobile Interfaces . Article Trends : Recent publications focus on Virtual Reality applications in industrial settings, Augmented Reality for robotics, and Haptic Feedback mechanisms. The work spans Human-Computer Interaction , Immersive Technologies , and Collaborative Systems . Scientific Awards : Best Student Paper Award (2017) CHI 2021 Best Paper Award ISS 2019 Best Paper Award Red Dot Design Award for 'Wisdom Well' (2007) Grants & Projects : Leads DIGITAL RESEARCH CENTRE DENMARK (2020-2025) and MADE FAST WS5 project (2020-2024). Participates in CoronaLytics and HealthD360 initiatives.
Agnieszka Radziwon is an Associate Professor at the Department of Business and Sustainability, University of Southern Denmark, specializing in Open Innovation, SME ecosystems, and digital transformation. Her research explores interorganizational collaboration, blockchain applications, and sustainable innovation. Current external position: Research Fellow at University of California, Berkeley Key projects: EU-funded EINST4INE (2020-2024) Active in 32 professional activities including conferences, workshops, and doctoral consortiums Her work focuses on: Open Innovation in SMEs and regional ecosystems Blockchain technology in governance and voting systems Smart factories and manufacturing collaboration Responsible digital transformation for societal impact Scientific honors include the FESTO Prize for Young Researchers and Scientists (2013) . Recent publications address blockchain stigma, collaborative innovation in wind energy, predictive tools for technology ecosystems, and rural-urban food procurement cooperation.
Emanuela Marchetti is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science , University of Southern Denmark. Her work bridges STEAM education, computational thinking, and playful learning methodologies. Key research areas: Data Privacy in Education, Human-Robot Interaction, Transmedia Literacy Projects: Taxonomies (2025), SPADATAS Handbook (2025), LabSTEM (2020-2022) Research Interests focus on integrating creativity into STEM through art-science collaborations, as seen in the Taxonomies project. Her recent work explores GDPR education via game design, AI's role in co-creative learning, and social robotics for welfare contexts. Publication Trends show interdisciplinary exploration of data fragility, digital tools for education, and ethical technology design. Articles span computational thinking through card games, AI emotion-based assessment, and GDPR gamification. Contact: emanuela@sdu.dk | Phone: 65 50 10 36
Jacob Nielsen is an Associate Professor at the SDU Metaverse Lab, affiliated with the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute at the University of Southern Denmark. His research spans robotics, audiometry, and educational technology, with a focus on user-centered design and accessibility. Current Role: Associate Professor, SDU Metaverse Lab Key Themes: Modular Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, User-Operated Audiometry His recent work emphasizes democratizing audiometric testing through smartphone applications and self-administered methods, while earlier contributions include educational robotics frameworks for children and rehabilitation systems using industrial robots. Collaborations extend to clinical audiology and STEM engagement projects in Africa. 2024-2025: 5 publications in user-operated audiometry and hearing aid calibration 2017-2020: TEDx talks and youth robotics programs in Denmark Jacob actively contributes to public discourse through 51 media appearances, including discussions on social innovation, robotics in education, and Denmark’s future technologies.
Niels van Berkel is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Aalborg University, affiliated with The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. His research focuses on Human-Centered Computing and AI for societal benefit, with key projects including the HERD initiative on human-robot collaboration and initiatives to enhance mental health through digital tools. He leads multiple research projects involving AI ethics, healthcare applications, and swarm robotics. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Research interests span AI explainability, human-AI interaction design, and the ethical implications of AI systems in healthcare and daily life. He has supervised 1 doctoral student and contributed to over 169 research outputs across journals, conferences, and datasets. Notable contributions include work on chatbot-driven data collection, coordination in AI development teams, and swarm robotics for search & rescue. His project 'AI for the People' emphasizes technology's role in improving societal wellbeing, while collaborations with medical professionals address chronic pain management and telehealth innovations. He received the DIS 2024 Honourable Mention and has actively engaged with media to communicate research impacts, including discussions on AI ethics and robot swarms. His work bridges technical innovation with human-centric design principles, addressing challenges in explainable AI, moral agency perceptions, and sustainable urban mobility solutions.
Kathrin Kirchner is an Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics at DTU. Her research focuses on transformative effects of digital technologies in workplaces, including AI, data science, and hybrid work dynamics. She explores how these technologies impact employee well-being, organizational strategies, and business models. Currently, she designs courses on analytics, leadership with data, and AI adoption in organizations. She has held editorial roles at the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Electronic Markets. Kathrin is also a Board member of the Scandinavian Academy of Industrial Engineering and Management (ScAIEM). Her education includes a PhD in Information Systems from Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany), with postdoctoral work in healthcare process mining. She previously taught at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. Research interests span digital platforms, knowledge work, algorithmic management, and virtual collaboration. Notable projects include CVEinAI (Critical Virtual Exchange in AI) and studies on AI’s impact on managerial work. Awards include Researcher of the Year 2024 and ICIS 2023 Best Paper (Runner-Up). Teaching includes master’s courses like “From Analytics to Action” and bachelor-level “Innovation Pilot.” She supervises PhD students and advises on AI implementation challenges. Her work aligns with UN SDGs related to quality education and decent work.
Mohammad Naser Sabet Jahromi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark. He is affiliated with the Visual Analysis and Perception Centre for AI Ethics, Law and Policy. His research focuses on explainable AI (XAI), biometrics, machine learning, and ethical AI applications in legal and medical domains. He actively participates in interdisciplinary projects like REPAI: Responsible AI for Value Creation (2023-2027), which explores AI ethics, computational discourse analysis, and value-driven AI systems. His educational background is not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but his research trajectory indicates strong expertise in computer science and AI systems. Key research interests include interpretable machine learning models, privacy-preserving biometric systems, and AI applications in asylum adjudication and educational assessment. Recent work emphasizes developing XAI frameworks like SIDU-TXT for NLP, verifying machine unlearning mechanisms, and automating large-classroom assessments. His projects bridge technical AI advancements with societal implications through collaborations with legal and ethical scholars. Notable contributions include datasets evaluating XAI methods in medicine and methodologies for transparent AI decision-making. He has participated in conferences such as ICPR 2024 and JURISIN 2023, showcasing interdisciplinary research impact.
Patricia Wolf is a Professor in the Department of Business & Management at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. She is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary research centers, including the Centre for Integrative Innovation Management (C*I2M), the SDU SCC Elite Center PACA, and the SDU Climate Cluster, reflecting her broad impact across innovation, climate futures, and societal transformation. Her research focuses on innovation management, foresight methodologies, artificial intelligence in social contexts, knowledge management, and climate futures. She explores how organizations and societies can envision and enact sustainable futures, particularly through participatory and creative methods such as scenario development, flash fiction, and citizen science. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating AI, climate imagination, and participatory futures, with increasing emphasis on emotional dimensions like climate anxiety and hopeful envisioning. Her work bridges theory and practice, often involving collaborations with SMEs, educational institutions, and environmental organizations to co-create actionable strategies. Innovative Teaching Award 2024 John Bessant Best Paper Award (2023 and 2021) SCC Fast track - uddelingsrunde november 2024 Patricia Wolf has secured significant grant funding for projects such as FUSION, PACA, and CFF, where she serves as Principal Investigator or Co-PI. These projects focus on mobilizing youth, educators, and communities to engage in climate future fiction and responsible innovation. She has supervised PhD students and contributed to curriculum development in innovation and foresight education. Her teaching includes courses on innovation management, knowledge management, and organizational processes. She leads and participates in interdisciplinary teams across SDU, including collaborations with the Department of Sports Science, the Climate Cluster, and external partners in Denmark and Germany. Her labs and research groups emphasize co-creation, narrative methods, and future-oriented design, fostering a culture of integrative and socially responsible innovation.
Beatriz Soret is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Electronic Systems, part of The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. Her research focuses on satellite communications, IoT, wireless networks, and AI-driven network systems. She leads and collaborates on projects like STELLAR (2019-2021) and SATNEX V WI Y4.6 (2024-2025), addressing latency, reliability, and real-time data challenges in 6G and satellite networks. Her work emphasizes distributed computing, edge computing for Earth observation, and semantic communication frameworks. Key publications include advancements in RAN slicing for VR traffic, coded distributed computing, and AI-integrated network layers. She actively contributes to special issues on distributed intelligence and 6G technologies. Her research spans theoretical and experimental analyses of delay, age of information, and network performance in scenarios like LEO satellite constellations and industrial IoT. She collaborates with institutions globally, advancing non-terrestrial networks and smart connectivity solutions.
Rikke Gade is an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology within The Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University. Her research focuses on Visual Analysis and Perception, AI for the People, and Mobility and Tracking Technologies. She has established herself as a leading researcher in computer vision applications across multiple domains including sports analytics, animal welfare, and human-computer interaction. Dr. Gade earned her PhD in Computer Vision from Aalborg University in 2015 with her dissertation "Taking the Temperature of Sports Arenas - Automatic Analysis of People." Prior to this, she completed her M.Sc. in Informatics with specialization in Vision, Graphics and Interactive Systems in 2011, and her B.Sc. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering in 2009. Her research interests span Computer Vision, Image Processing, Robot Vision, and Thermal Imaging with applications in diverse fields. She has pioneered work in using thermal imaging for sports analytics, developing systems for tracking athletes and analyzing movement patterns in sports arenas. More recently, her research has expanded into AI applications for animal welfare, particularly developing computer vision systems for detecting pain and stress in horses through facial expression analysis. Dr. Gade's publications reveal a clear progression from foundational work in thermal imaging and sports analytics toward more complex applications in healthcare, animal welfare, and smart building systems. Her most recent work shows increasing focus on ethical AI applications that serve societal needs, as evidenced by projects like "AI for the People" and research on equine pain detection. Best Paper Award at Conference CISBAT 2021 (Lausanne, Switzerland) Dr. Gade actively supervises PhD students, including Alves, J.M. on equine affective state assessment. She has secured significant research funding, including a major grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark for developing AI systems to detect pain in horses. Her collaborative approach is evident in her involvement in multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning computer science, veterinary medicine, and building science. She leads the Visual Analysis and Perception research group at Aalborg University, focusing on practical applications of computer vision technologies. Her team works closely with industry partners on real-world implementations, particularly in sports analytics and animal welfare applications. Current projects include developing AI systems for road damage detection in collaboration with Faxe Kommune and creating advanced tracking systems for sports performance analysis.
