Achille Varzi is a Full Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University since 2006, specializing in analytic metaphysics, logic, and mereology . His academic journey includes an Assistant Professorship at Columbia (1995–1999) and research roles in Artificial Intelligence at Trento’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (1989–1995). He earned his PhD from the University of Toronto (1994) under Hans G. Herzberger and holds an honorary professorship at Trento. Research Focus: Leading authority in mereology , exploring part-whole relations through numerous publications, edited volumes, and a forthcoming book with A.J. Cotnoir. His work bridges logic, ontology, and philosophy of language. Public Engagement: Active as a public intellectual with media contributions and a philosophical TV program on Italian national television. Publications Trends: Recent works emphasize classical mereology , ontological neutrality , and vagueness . Earlier contributions include foundational texts on spatial reasoning, identity, and paradoxes in logic. Scientific Awards: Recognized with prestigious fellowships and prizes in Italy and Canada, including the David Savan Dissertation Prize for his groundbreaking PhD thesis. Editorial Leadership: Serves as editor of The Journal of Philosophy since 2001.
Hans Tompits is an Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge-Based Systems at Technische Universität Wien (Vienna University of Technology). His research focuses on computational logic, declarative logic programming, and formal methods, with a particular emphasis on Answer-Set Programming (ASP). He coordinates the Master's program in Logic and Computation and leads projects in areas such as formal methods for optimization, fault-tolerant autonomous systems, and algorithmic composition. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, including tools like SeaLion (an ASP IDE with debugging support) and dlvhex (an ASP-based semantic web reasoner). He has contributed to foundational topics like program equivalence, debugging techniques, and integration of ASP with external systems. His recent projects address challenges in autonomous vehicle architectures, music composition algorithms, and safety-critical system design. Tompits has published extensively on topics ranging from nonmonotonic reasoning and modal logics to the development of declarative programming tools. His interdisciplinary approach spans computer science, mathematics, and AI, with applications in both academic and industrial contexts.
Prof. Liew Kim Meow is a Chair Professor of Civil Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) since 2005. He previously served as Head of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (2011–2017) and held tenured professorial positions at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He earned BS from Michigan Tech (1985), MEng (1988), and PhD (1991) from the National University of Singapore. His research focuses on composite materials, multiscale modeling, structural optimization, and computational mechanics. Notable contributions include pioneering work on carbon nanotube-reinforced composites and advanced numerical methods. He has published over 800 papers with 38,000+ citations (H-index 97). Education: BS, Michigan Technological University (1985) MEng, National University of Singapore (1988) PhD, National University of Singapore (1991) His awards include Clarivate Analytics' Highly Cited Researcher (2018–2019), Xiangjiang Scholar (2017), and multiple fellowships from professional institutions. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of International Review of Civil Engineering and holds editorial roles in over a dozen journals. He founded key research centers like the Nanyang Center for Supercomputing and Visualization (NTU) and led initiatives in computational mechanics. His work influences global research in composite materials and structural analysis.
Univ.-Prof. Martin Pinzger is a Professor at the Department of Informatics Systems, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt. He serves as Head of Department and Member of the Senate, actively contributing to academic governance. Research Focus: Automating Software Engineering Tasks, Mining Software Repositories, Program Analysis, Software Evolution and Visualization Recent Work: Developing tools for API evolution analysis, cybersecurity AI (CAI), robotics benchmarking (RobotPerf), and dependency validation His research combines empirical studies with tool development for software maintenance and security. Current projects address challenges in REST API breaking changes, cloud security certifications, and robotic system performance evaluation. Publications since 2023 demonstrate continued engagement with topics spanning AI-driven code segmentation, microservice API evolution, and cybersecurity tool development. Key trends include cross-disciplinary applications of NLP to software engineering and security-focused tool creation. Contact: martin.pinzger@aau.at
Dr. Alexander Plopski is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Visual Computing, Technische Universität Graz. His research focuses on advancing augmented reality (AR) technologies, human-computer interaction (HCI), and optical display systems. He holds a PhD, M.Sc., and BSc in relevant fields. His work emphasizes perceptual optimization in AR displays, eye tracking integration, and accessibility solutions for color vision deficiencies. Key research areas include gaze-contingent AR interfaces, light field manipulation for extended reality, and multimodal interaction techniques. Notable contributions include the development of the 'guitARhero' interactive AR guitar tutorial system and studies on focal distance effects in optical see-through displays. His publications span topics from AR display calibration to gesture recognition using radar sensing. He has explored applications in industrial training, medical AR, and robotic telemanipulation. His work often bridges theoretical perceptual studies with practical system implementations, aiming to enhance user experience and accessibility in AR/VR environments.
Andreas Rauber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Data Science at Technical University of Vienna. He serves as Curriculum Coordinator for Bachelor and Master programs in Business Informatics and Data Science, and chairs the Curriculum Commission for Business Informatics. His research focuses on Information Systems Engineering, Logic and Computation, and Visual Computing, addressing challenges in data management, digital preservation, and reproducibility in e-science. He leads projects like OS Trails and FAIR-AI, emphasizing FAIR principles and trustworthy research infrastructures. Rauber has contributed to over 150 publications, including works on data citation frameworks, adversarial ML defenses, and reproducibility in IR. His work bridges technical innovation with policy, exemplified through roles in the EOSC Support Office Austria and RDA Austria initiatives. Key projects include establishing FAIR data practices across universities and advancing digital preservation through repositories like DBRepo. He coordinates international collaborations, such as the EU-funded EOSC-Life and EGI Advanced Computing projects. His teaching spans courses in machine learning, information retrieval, and research methods, fostering next-generation data scientists.
Bruce Brown is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Brighton , overseeing research across life, physical, social sciences, and arts and humanities. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture (1989–2006) and Head of the Department of Design (1984–1989). Administrative Leadership : REF2014/RAE2008 Chair, International Governor at Shenkar College, and advisor to academic bodies in Hong Kong, Portugal, and Italy. Research Interests : Visual memory, arts education, and research leadership, with publications spanning design history, spatial design, and cultural policy. Scientific Awards : 2007 WHO’s WHO (A&C Black) 2005 Honorary Fellow (University for the Creative Arts) 2004 Honorary Fellow (Royal College of Art) 1985 Elected Member (Designers and Art Directors Association) 1978 Sanderson and Herbert Read Awards (Royal College of Art) 1970 Elected Fellow (Royal Society of Arts) Articles focus on visual communication, design policy, and cultural memory, reflecting his expertise in design research and higher education leadership . He is currently an Editor of Design Issues: Research Journal (MIT Press).
Professor Dong Xu is a Tenured Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), part of the School of Computing and Data Science. He holds a B.Eng. and Ph.D. from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). His career includes tenured roles at Nanyang Technological University and the University of Sydney, alongside postdoctoral research at Columbia University. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Multimedia, and Machine Learning , with applications in autonomous driving, AR/VR, medical image analysis, and video surveillance. Xu has authored over 150 papers in top journals and conferences, including CVPR, ICCV, and IEEE Transactions. He actively contributes to the academic community as an editorial board member for journals like ACM Computing Surveys and IEEE Transactions, and through leadership roles in conferences such as ACM Multimedia and ICME. Notable awards include Fellowships from IEEE and IAPR, and the IEEE Signal Processing Society Distinguished Lecturer title (2021–2022). Education: B.Eng. (USTC, 2001), Ph.D. (USTC, 2005) Professional Service: Program Coordinator of ACM Multimedia 2024, Guest Editor of over ten special issues.
Erich Schweighofer serves as Associate Professor at the University of Vienna within the Institute for European, International and Comparative Law, specifically affiliated with the Department of International Law and International Relations. His research activities are centered at the Juridicum building (Schottenbastei 10-16, 1010 Vienna), where he maintains an active office presence with scheduled consultation hours. His scholarly focus spans Legal Informatics , Artificial Intelligence and Law , Data Protection , and Legal Knowledge Representation , with particular emphasis on explainable AI systems for legal contexts and formal methodologies for translating legal norms into computational frameworks. This interdisciplinary work bridges jurisprudence and computer science through projects examining biometric regulation, autonomous vehicle governance, and natural language processing applications in legal domains. Analysis of his 2021-2024 publications reveals consistent thematic progression toward operationalizing legal principles in AI systems, with increasing focus on transparency mechanisms, temporal logic for dynamic regulations, and cross-jurisdictional compliance challenges. His work predominantly appears in the International Legal Informatics Symposium (IRIS) proceedings and JURIX conferences, reflecting deep engagement with the legal informatics community. Professor Schweighofer leads a dedicated research team including project assistants Mag. Jessica Fleisch, Mag. Jonas Pfister, Felix Schmautzer, and Mag. Jakob Zanol, while actively participating in the University of Vienna's Working Group on Legal Informatics (Arbeitsgruppe Rechtsinformatik). His collaborative approach extends to organizing the biennial IRIS symposium, which has established itself as a cornerstone event for European legal informatics scholarship since 1998.
Craig Gotsman is a Professor and Dean at the Ying Wu College of Computing, New Jersey Institute of Technology. He previously held roles at Cornell Tech, Technion, ETH Zurich, and MIT. His research focuses on computational geometry, computer graphics, and 3D animation. Ph.D. in Computer Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1991) His work spans geometric modeling, mesh processing, and applications in animation and visualization. Recent research trends include gaze correction in video conferencing, mesh parameterization, and spectral compression techniques. Notable awards include Fellowships in the US National Academy of Inventors and the Academy of Europe, multiple best paper awards, and the Technion's Hewlett Packard Chair in Computer Engineering. Gotsman has mentored over 50 postgraduate students and holds ten US patents. He co-founded three companies: Virtue 3D Inc. (acquired by NVIDIA), Estimotion Inc. (now ITIS Israel Ltd.), and CatchEye.
Julio Rozas is a Full Professor of Genetics at the Universitat de Barcelona (since 2009) and a member of the Bioinformatics Barcelona (BiB) board. He holds a PhD in Biology (1990) and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University (1991-1992). His research focuses on molecular evolution mechanisms, genomic basis of adaptation, and chemosensory systems in invertebrates. He has developed bioinformatics tools like DnaSP and contributed to genome sequencing consortia. He has published over 113 articles in the last decade, including high-impact journals like Nature and Science, with an h-index of 40. He has supervised 10 doctoral theses and serves as an associate editor for BMC Genomics. Research interests include population genomics, comparative genomics, and bioinformatics. Notable achievements include the ICREA Academia Prize (2011) and the Excellence Award in PhD studies (1991).
Christian Timmerer is a Professor at the Institute of Information Technology, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt. His research focuses on adaptive video streaming , energy efficiency , MPEG standardization , and quality of experience (QoE) , with significant contributions to HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS), multi-codec optimization, and immersive media systems. Email: christian.timmerer@aau.at Office Hours: Monday 3:00-4:00 PM (by appointment) Projects: CD-Labor ATHENA, GAIA, SPIRIT His research integrates machine learning and generative AI to enhance video encoding, super-resolution, and voice dubbing, while prioritizing sustainability through energy-aware algorithms and open-source tools like GREEM and VEED. Current work emphasizes latency reduction and dynamic bitrate adaptation in live streaming environments. Recent publications address VVC optimization , multi-resolution encoding , and perceptual quality modeling , reflecting interdisciplinary efforts in networking , computer vision , and human-computer interaction . Awards include leading funded projects on adaptive streaming and green video systems.
Christine Bauer is a Professor of Interactive Intelligent Systems at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Interfaces (AIHI), University of Salzburg, Austria. She is also Co-Lead of the interdisciplinary focus area InterMediation. Music—Effect—Analysis at the inter-university organization Wissenschaft & Kunst. Her research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and human-centered computing, with a strong emphasis on fairness, context-awareness, and multi-method evaluation in recommender systems. Doctoral degree in Social and Economic Sciences (Business Informatics), 2009, University of Vienna MSc in Business Informatics, 2011, TU Wien Diploma in International Business Administration, 2002, University of Vienna Study of Jazz Saxophone, Konservatorium der Stadt Wien Her research interests center on interactive intelligent systems , particularly recommender systems in music and media, with a human-centered approach. She investigates how technology can align with societal and individual needs, focusing on fairness in algorithms , culture-aware recommendation , and multi-stakeholder evaluation . Her work often integrates interdisciplinary methods and real-world impact. The recent publications highlight a consistent trend in fairness and diversity in music and news recommendation, cross-cultural user behavior , and evaluation frameworks . Her research bridges technical rigor with ethical considerations, particularly in algorithmic bias and artist equity. She has made significant contributions to understanding gender imbalance , cultural granularity , and user conformity in digital music ecosystems. Elise Richter laureate (FWF) 6 best paper awards, 5 nominations Women in RecSys Journal Paper of the Year Award (2023, 2024) 5 awards and 6 recognitions for reviewing excellence Christine Bauer has supervised over 70 theses and taught at 17 institutions worldwide. She is deeply involved in academic service, including editorial roles (AE at TOIS, TORS, JITT), conference organization (RecSys, CHI, CIKM), and mentoring initiatives (WiMIR, LEA, Allyship at CHI). She leads impactful projects such as FairRecKit and SpART: Spotlight on Artists in Recommender Systems , aiming to create more equitable and transparent recommendation technologies. She frequently engages in public outreach through keynotes, media appearances, and policy discussions. She is affiliated with the University of Salzburg as her primary institution and was previously associated with JKU Linz and the University of Klagenfurt. Her labs and research teams focus on interactive intelligent systems , music recommenders , and fair AI , often in collaboration with interdisciplinary partners in arts and social sciences.
Theresa Scharl-Hirsch is a Senior Scientist and Deputy Scientific Director at the Core Facility Bioinformatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She holds concurrent appointments at the Institute of Statistics, BOKU, and has extensive experience in bioprocess modeling, machine learning, and statistical computing. Her work bridges biochemical engineering with advanced data science methodologies. Her research focuses on real-time monitoring of biopharmaceutical processes, clustering of high-dimensional data (particularly RNA sequencing), and application of explainable machine learning techniques. She has developed statistical models for process optimization and quality prediction in antibody capture and protein purification, with a strong emphasis on industrial implementations using R programming. Key trends in her publications include three-way data analysis, matrix-variate Gaussian mixture models, and permutation-based variable importance methods for deep learning architectures. Her work spans bioprocess engineering, bioinformatics, and industrial data science applications.
Jean Ponce is a Professor of Computer Science at Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) in Paris and a Part-Time Global Distinguished Professor at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Center for Data Science (CDS). He previously served as Director of the ENS Computer Science Department (2011-2017) and held positions at Inria (2017-2022), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1998-2006), MIT, Stanford, and Inria (1982-1985). Academic Leadership: Scientific Director of PRAIRIE Interdisciplinary AI Research Institute in Paris Startup Involvement: Co-founder and CEO of Enhance Lab (2022) Editorial Roles: Senior Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Computer Vision (2019-2022) Conference Leadership: Chair of IEEE CVPR (1997,2000), ECCV (2008), and upcoming ICCV (2023) Research Focus: Computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and AI with applications in exoplanet imaging, 3D reconstruction, and image quality assessment. His work bridges statistical learning and deep learning approaches. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2003) ELLIS Fellow (2019) ERC Advanced Grant (2011) IEEE CVPR Longuet-Higgins Prizes (2016,2020) ICML Test-of-Time Award (2019) Patents & Publications: Co-author of influential textbook Computer Vision: A Modern Approach (translated into Chinese, Japanese, Russian). Holds two US patents and one pending French patent. Google Scholar h-index of 78 with over 55,000 citations.
