Pieter van Goor is a Research Fellow at the Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Systems Theory and Robotics (STR) group. He holds a PhD in Control Theory (completed 2022) and dual bachelor's degrees (BEng/BSc, 2018). His research focuses on equivariant systems theory, state estimation, and robotics applications. Key contributions include equivariant observer design, Lie group-based control, and geometric data fusion. Education: Bachelor of Engineering (Research & Development) (Honours) in Mechatronics (ANU, 2018) Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (ANU, 2018) PhD in Control Theory (ANU, 2022) Research Interests: Equivariant systems theory, nonlinear control, robotics applications, state estimation on Lie groups, sensor fusion, and geometric control methods. His work emphasizes symmetry exploitation in filter design and observer construction for systems with inherent geometric structures. Grants & Collaborations: Active collaborations include work with Robert Mahony and institutions like the IEEE. Research spans theoretical frameworks (e.g., equivariant filters) and applied systems (e.g., ArduPilot autopilot, event cameras). Labs/Teams: Member of the Systems Theory and Robotics (STR) group at ANU, focusing on advanced control theory and robotics.
Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Qingguo Li is a Professor and Associate Head at the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering , Queen's University , and a member of the Ingenuity Labs Research Institute . He specializes in biomechanical system design, energy harvesting, wearable sensors, gait analysis, and load carriage systems. His research integrates robotics, biomedical engineering, and sensor technology to develop human-centric devices and mobility aids. Current Roles : Professor, Associate Head, Queen's University Research Institute : Ingenuity Labs Research Institute Lab : Bio-Mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory His work focuses on biomechanical energy harvesting , IMU-based motion analysis , and assistive device development . Key applications include stroke rehabilitation, gait monitoring, and wearable power generation systems. Articles span cable-driven robots , smart walkers , and 3D printing mechanisms , emphasizing human-robot interaction and dynamic modeling . The lab explores sensor calibration , adaptive control algorithms , and human movement optimization . Areas of impact include rehabilitation engineering , load carriage stability , wearable sensor accuracy , and assistive robotics . His team develops solutions for gait asymmetry detection , post-stroke mobility , and low-cost energy systems , leveraging machine learning and kinetic modeling .
Adam Marcus is an Associate Professor of Architecture at Tulane University School of Architecture and serves as Research Director of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism. He directs Variable Projects, an award-winning design and research studio operating at the intersection of architecture, computation, and fabrication, and is a partner in Futures North, a public art collaborative dedicated to exploring data aesthetics. His educational background includes: Master of Architecture from Columbia University Bachelor of Arts from Brown University Adam's research focuses on critical approaches to design computation, digital fabrication, and robotics, exploring how these technologies enable new modes of ecological, material, and public engagement. His work particularly emphasizes climate adaptation, buoyant ecologies for sea level rise, computational representation, and multispecies architecture. He integrates these interests through practical design-build projects that address ecological challenges while advancing architectural representation and fabrication techniques. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on computational approaches to architectural representation and ecological design. The works consistently explore the intersection of digital technologies with ecological imperatives, particularly focusing on climate adaptation strategies, multispecies collaborations, and innovative drawing protocols that bridge analog and computational paradigms. His book 'Drawing Codes' represents a significant contribution to rethinking architectural drawing in the computational age. Notable awards include: Selected as one of the '30 Most Admired Educators' by Design Intelligence (2013) Recipient of the New Faculty Teaching Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (2016) Adam has served on ACADIA's Board of Directors from 2015 to 2021 and currently serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Architectural Computing. His teaching at Tulane includes design studios and courses in computational design and digital fabrication with ecological applications, building on his decade of experience at California College of the Arts where he co-founded the Architectural Ecologies Lab. He leads research initiatives through Tulane's Center on Climate Change and Urbanism, developing practical design solutions for ecological challenges, particularly those related to climate change and sea level rise. His Buoyant Ecologies Float Lab project exemplifies this approach, creating 'optimized upside-down benthos for sea level rise adaptation' that has received attention from major media outlets including Smithsonian Magazine and Architectural Record.
Martin Bechthold is the Kumagai Professor of Architectural Technology at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD), serving concurrently as the GSD’s Academic Dean. He holds affiliations with Harvard’s Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. His academic career bridges architecture, materials science, and engineering, with a focus on innovative material systems and design robotics. Bechthold earned a Diplom-Ingenieur in architecture from RWTH Aachen University and a Doctor of Design from Harvard GSD. He previously practiced architecture in Europe with firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Santiago Calatrava. His research groups, including the Material Processes and Systems (MaP+S) Group and the Design Robotics Group, explore topics like multi-material 3D printing, carbon-negative materials, and biofabrication. He founded the Laboratory for Design Technology to foster industry-academia collaborations. His research interests span structural innovation, architectural ceramics, and the perception of materials. He has authored seminal works such as Innovative Surface Structures and Ceramic Material Systems , and his peer-reviewed papers appear in Nature Reviews and Advanced Functional Materials . He teaches advanced courses on material systems, design methods, and structural design. Bechthold’s work emphasizes sustainable technologies and cross-disciplinary design, with projects like the Concrete Origami and Ceramic Futures exhibitions showcasing experimental material applications. He holds patents in material innovation and has curated influential design exhibitions.
Mikael Johansson is a Professor at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH), specializing in Control Technology . He teaches and coordinates courses such as Distributed Optimization (FEL3311) and various advanced-level degree projects in computer science, electrical engineering, and systems engineering. His research spans Control Systems , Machine Learning , and Optimization , with a focus on asynchronous algorithms, federated learning, and applications in energy systems and construction. His work includes 15 recent publications on topics like neural networks, distributed optimization, and battery technology. Notable areas of contribution are in asynchronous learning, federated learning with privacy constraints, and quasi-Newton methods for optimization. His research bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in urban design, healthcare, and autonomous systems.
Dr. Ali Kashani is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on sustainable and low-carbon concrete materials, robot-aided construction (particularly 3D printing), and Circular Economy-aligned applications. Leadership in cementitious materials innovation Expertise in 3D printing for construction Advocate for waste valorisation and carbon capture Dr. Kashani has secured approximately $7 million in research funding and holds a patent in lightweight concrete foam. His work spans 70+ publications with 9,000+ citations, including media coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Fifth Estate. He actively contributes to professional organizations such as MECLA, RILEM, and ASTM. Recent research trends include AI and optimization algorithms for sustainable concrete mix design, chloride diffusion modeling, and 3D printing performance analysis. His publications often address waste material integration, durability assessment, and eco-friendly construction practices. Scientific Awards: National and NSW Awards for 'Excellence in Concrete' (Technology and Innovation) from the Concrete Institute of Australia Churchill Fellowship for Digital Construction and 3D Printing sponsored by AVJennings Dr. Kashani serves as Co-Chair of the cement and concrete working group at MECLA and contributes to RILEM and ASTM committees. His email is ali.kashani@unsw.edu.au , and his office is located in the Civil Engineering Building (H20), Level 2, Room CE204, UNSW.
Dr. Rhiannon Firth is a Lecturer in Sociology of Education in the Department of Education, Practice and Society at the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL). She also serves as the Programme Leader for the MA in Sociology of Education. Her academic career spans interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Sociology, Education, and Politics, with a focus on utopian ideals and pedagogical practices of social and ecological movements. Dr. Firth's educational background includes: First Class BA (Hons) in Combined Studies (Politics, English Literature and Economic and Social History) from the University of Leicester ESRC-funded MA in Political Science (Distinction) from the University of Nottingham PhD in Political Sociology from the University of Nottingham Her research focuses on how grassroots social movements create knowledge and mobilize social change around global "wicked" problems including inequality, climate change, technological developments, and pandemics. She has conducted funded research with self-managed sustainable communities in the UK and USA, grassroots disaster relief movements including Occupy Sandy New York and COVID-19 Mutual Aid London, and organizations using automation technology in experimental ways. Dr. Firth's recent publications reflect her ongoing exploration of utopian and dystopian themes across multiple domains. Her work spans analyses of pandemic responses, ecological breakdown, industrial technology, and community organizing. A strong thread throughout her scholarship examines how prefigurative politics and mutual aid practices offer alternatives to mainstream approaches to social organization, particularly in times of crisis. Her research increasingly focuses on the intersection of technology, labor, and utopian thinking, particularly examining how automation and cybernetics might be reimagined through radical social movements. Among her significant recognitions: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), earned in 2017 ESRC funding for her MA studies Dr. Firth has secured research funding from multiple sources including ESRC, ISRF, EPSRC, HEFCE, local councils, and UCL Grand Challenges. She supervises MA dissertations annually and currently mentors one PhD student. Her professional activities include media engagement (such as appearing on BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze), conference presentations, and serving as ECR Representative for the Utopian Studies Society of Europe. She is actively involved with research groups and networks focused on utopian studies, social movements, and critical pedagogy, contributing to the vibrant intellectual community around alternative futures and radical educational practices.
Higher Institute of Education and SciencesPortugal
Nuno Miguel Fonseca Ferreira is a Full Professor at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra (ISEC), part of the Polytechnic of Coimbra, where he currently serves as President of the Scientific Council. His academic career spans over 25 years at ISEC, progressing from Assistant to Professor Coordenador Principal. He has held significant leadership positions including Vice-President of ISEC (2001-2005), Pro-President of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (2009-2010), President of ISEC (2010-2013), and Vice-President of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (2013-2017), where he was responsible for internationalization initiatives. His educational background includes a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Porto (1996), a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (2006), and a Habilitation Title (Aggregation) from the same institution (2020). His research focuses on Robotic Systems, with specialization in cooperative robotic systems as evidenced by his Habilitation work. Professor Ferreira's research spans multiple domains of robotics and intelligent systems, with particular emphasis on multi-robot coordination, environmental applications, and medical robotics. His work bridges theoretical control systems with practical applications across diverse fields including forestry, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. He has developed innovative approaches to robotic manipulation, sensor integration, and human-robot interaction, often incorporating advanced techniques from artificial intelligence and machine learning. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward practical applications of robotics in real-world environments, particularly in forestry maintenance, industrial automation, and medical applications. The research shows progression from theoretical control systems to applied robotics in challenging environments, with increasing integration of computer vision, deep learning, and collaborative systems. His work spans both fundamental robotics research and immediate industrial applications, reflecting a balance between academic inquiry and practical implementation. Professor Ferreira has supervised two doctoral theses and participated in numerous research projects with substantial funding. His leadership extends to coordinating 15 of the 33 national and international R&D projects he has participated in, demonstrating significant grant acquisition and management capabilities. His international collaborations through Erasmus+ and other European programs highlight his role in fostering global research partnerships. He is an integrated member of GECAD (Research Group in Engineering and Intelligent Computing for Innovation and Advanced Development), a Portuguese R&D unit classified as Excellent by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of LASI (Associated Laboratory for Intelligent Systems), the Portuguese laboratory associated with Artificial Intelligence, connecting him to a broader national research ecosystem.
Daniel Cardoso Llach is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture , where he chairs the Master of Science in Computational Design program and co-directs the CoDe Lab . His scholarship merges history, science and technology studies (STS), and computational design , focusing on the cultural and socio-technical dimensions of design automation. Education: PhD and MS in Architecture: Design and Computation from MIT , BArch from Universidad de los Andes Research Grants: Supported by the Graham Foundation for historical CAD exhibitions and by the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation for postwar computational design research in Germany His work interrogates the politics of software, the materiality of computational systems , and the ethical implications of AI/robotics in architectural practice. Recent projects include reconstructing early CAD systems and analyzing data-driven urban technologies. Scientific awards include: Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship (2024–2025) ACM CSCW Methods Mention for emulation-based software research (2021)
Dr. Amon Göppert serves as Professor and Chair of the Intelligence in Quality Sensing group at RWTH Aachen University's Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL). His work integrates artificial intelligence into manufacturing processes to enhance quality control, production efficiency, and sustainable practices. Göppert's research spans intelligent manufacturing systems with core expertise in AI-driven production engineering, circular economy applications, and advanced assembly systems. He investigates how machine learning optimizes production ramp-up, disassembly processes, and flexible manufacturing while developing sensor-based quality control solutions for industrial applications. His recent publications reveal strong trends toward AI implementation in production planning, with emphasis on worker assistance systems for disassembly, digital twin applications for real-time control, and mobile robotics in line-less assembly environments. Key focus areas include sustainable manufacturing, metrology innovation, and adaptive scheduling systems. Göppert leads multiple high-impact research initiatives: AI-driven Product Development: Machine learning for smart measurement strategies in metrology MetaVision Consortium: Industrial metaverse applications for AI-supported vision systems Generative AI for Non-Destructive Testing optimization Cluster of Excellence Internet of Production participation As Chief Engineer at WZL, he oversees technical implementation of research projects and collaborates with industry partners to translate innovations into practical manufacturing solutions, particularly in adaptive assembly systems and quality sensing technologies.
Teresa Vidal-Calleja is an Associate Professor and Research Director at the Robotics Institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She holds a Deputy Head of School (Research) role in the School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Her research focuses on robotics perception, alternative sensing, inertial fusion, SLAM, and applications in manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction. Education: B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering (UNAM, 2000), M.Sc. Electrical Engineering (CINVESTAV-IPN, 2002), Ph.D. Automatic Control (Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 2007). Postdoctoral Experience: LAAS-CNRS (France), Australian Centre for Field Robotics (Sydney). Research Interests: Teresa’s work spans robotics perception, sensor fusion, autonomous navigation, and collaborative robotics. She leads projects on next-gen infrastructure robotics (ARC Discovery Grant) and is co-lead of the Australian Cobot Centre. Her innovations target hazardous environments, infrastructure maintenance, and human-robot collaboration. Funded Research: Includes grants for robotic sensors, satellite docking systems, and multi-robot collaboration. Recent projects involve Navantia, the NSW Space Research Network, and industry partnerships. Professional Roles: IEEE Senior Member, Treasurer of the Australian Robotics and Automation Association, and Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Robotics and other journals. She chairs conferences like the Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automation. Labs/Teams: UTS Robotics Institute, collaborating with global institutions like ETH Zürich and DLR. Her work integrates robotics with industries such as agriculture and construction, emphasizing sustainability and safety.
Dr. Ding Zhou is an Assistant Professor at the School of System Design and Intelligent Manufacturing (SDIM) at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He holds a PhD in Industrial Design from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia (commenced 2018), and prior academic roles include Associate Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts (2009–2018). His research focuses on cross-disciplinary innovation at the intersection of Industrial Design and STEM Education, emphasizing human-centric technology integration. He has conducted visiting research at the University of Virginia (2012) and Victoria University of Wellington (2014–2015). Education: PhD in Industrial Design, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia (ongoing since 2018) M.A. and B.A. in Industrial Design (exact institutions unspecified) Research Interests: Dr. Zhou’s work bridges design science and education, prioritizing how technology enhances human experiences. Key areas include 3D printing applications in STEM education, exoskeleton robotics, computational design aesthetics, and user-centric design processes. He advocates for pedagogical frameworks that cultivate students’ transdisciplinary problem-solving skills through integrated STEM tasks. Articles Trends (2022–2025): Recent publications highlight advancements in 3D printing for education and manufacturing, human-robot interaction, and smart classroom technologies. Notable themes include scalable computer vision systems for posture detection, topology optimization in additive manufacturing, and BIM-enabled construction processes. Labs & Teams: He leads the Design Science and Educational Innovation Lab (DSEIL), focusing on translating theoretical research into practical educational tools and technologies.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Lawrence Sass is a Professor and Chair of the Computation Group in the Department of Architecture at MIT's School of Architecture + Planning. His research focuses on design innovation using digital fabrication, particularly in low-cost housing and construction automation. He pioneered methods to reduce home construction steps through computational tools, including the concept of Snap Assembly building systems showcased at MoMA in 2008. His work has inspired startups in digitally fabricated housing. B.Arch from Pratt Institute (1990) Master’s (1994) and PhD (2000) from MIT Research interests include sustainable construction techniques, 3D printing in architecture, and material optimization. He co-founded LuBan3D, a software system enabling large-scale 3D modeling with affordable tools. Current projects explore AI and robotic systems for home production. Awards include the prestigious MacVicar Faculty Fellow recognition. His teaching includes courses like Design Computation (4.500) and Tiny Fab (4.501), emphasizing computational methods in architectural design. Collaborations include work with Singapore-based researcher Prof. Lujie Chen on large-scale fabrication software. His lab focuses on integrating digital tools into physical production workflows, aiming to democratize construction through accessible fabrication technologies.
Jun Wang is Assistant Professor and Director of the Mississippi Transportation Research Center in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mississippi State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from McMaster University, with research interests spanning smart construction, sustainable infrastructure, human-robot collaboration, and construction safety. Awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER grant ($557,391) for VR and AI research in construction robotics, he leads projects sponsored by NSF, DOT, CDC, and industry partners. Key research areas include: Virtual Reality and AI for safety training Human-in-the-loop cyber-physical systems Sustainable infrastructure development Construction automation technologies His recent publications explore drone systems for marine debris management, VR safety training, AI-powered PPE detection, and digital twin frameworks, with work appearing in leading engineering and computing venues.
