Lauren M. Cramer is an Assistant Professor in the Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto, affiliated with Innis College. Her work focuses on the aesthetics of Blackness, hip-hop visual culture, and spatial practices, with a particular emphasis on digital visual culture. She is a founding member of the liquid blackness research collective and co-editor of the liquid blackness: journal of aesthetics and black studies (Duke University Press). Her current book project explores hip-hop visual culture and Black spatial practices. Dr. Cramer’s research has been published in Journal of Cinema and Media Studies , Black Camera , and Los Angeles Review of Books , among others. She has co-edited special journal issues including “Close-Up: Contemporary Black Horror” (2023) and “ Modes of Black Liquidity: Music Video as Black Art” (2020). Her writing critically examines topics such as racial representation in cinema, anti-Black violence, and the intersections of art and Black studies. Awards include the 2020 Connaught New Researcher Award. She holds a PhD from Georgia State University, an MA from Emory University, and a BA from Villanova University. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges film studies, cultural theory, and visual arts, with a focus on Black creative practices and their socio-political dimensions.
Thomas Cochrane is an Associate Professor in Technology Enhanced Learning in Higher Education at the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne. His expertise centers on qualitative research in technology-enhanced learning, with specializations in mobile learning, mixed reality environments, heutagogy (self-regulated learning), communities of practice, and the scholarship of technology-enhanced learning. With over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, 32 book chapters, and more than 150 conference proceedings, Cochrane has established himself as a leading researcher in educational technology. His research interests focus on innovative pedagogical approaches enabled by technology, particularly examining how mobile and social media tools can transform teaching and learning experiences. Cochrane's work emphasizes action research and design-based research methodologies, exploring how technology can create authentic learning environments that bridge virtual and physical spaces. His specializations include developing frameworks for mobile learning, designing immersive reality environments for healthcare education (such as the Mesh360 project), and investigating self-determined learning approaches through heutagogy. Analysis of Cochrane's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on educational design research, virtual reality applications in education, professional development frameworks for educators, and mobile learning methodologies. His work demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of technology in higher education, with particular attention to healthcare education, journalism, and transdisciplinary curriculum design. The publications show increasing integration of immersive technologies and a growing interest in addressing post-pandemic educational challenges through blended and hybrid learning models. Professor Cochrane actively contributes to academic communities through the ASCILITE Mobile Learning Special Interest Group, where he has developed collaborative networks with researchers globally. His professional development initiatives include CMALT (Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology) accreditation frameworks and cMOOCs (connectivist Massive Open Online Courses) for lecturer professional development. He has also led projects on mapping professional accreditation pathways in higher education and developing frameworks for authentic healthcare education using wearable and immersive technologies. His collaborative work extends across multiple institutions and disciplines, with notable partnerships in healthcare education, journalism, and engineering. Current projects include exploring generative AI in education, developing virtual performance halls, and designing immersive reality environments for paramedic education. As a networked academic, Cochrane maintains strong connections with colleagues across Australia and internationally, contributing to the global discourse on technology-enhanced learning.
Peter Dodds is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Vermont, part of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. His research focuses on complex systems, networks, and sociotechnical phenomena, with a particular emphasis on analyzing large-scale data from social media, language, and human behavior. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Research Interests: Complex systems, contagion dynamics, storytelling, happiness studies, and applications of computational methods to social and biological systems. Key Projects: Co-director of the Computational Story Lab, analyzing narratives and collective behavior via Twitter and other platforms. His work bridges disciplines, combining mathematical modeling, data science, and social science to understand phenomena such as viral spread, cultural trends, and public health. Notable contributions include studying emotional arcs in stories, the universality of positivity in language, and the dynamics of social media discourse around issues like climate change and political movements. Recent studies include analyzing sleep patterns in college students using wearable devices and examining the impact of social media on collective attention during crises like the pandemic. His methodologies, such as allotaxonometry and word shift graphs, provide novel tools for comparing complex datasets across domains. Dr. Dodds collaborates extensively with colleagues in computer science, sociology, and environmental science, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human systems. His lab’s work is often applied to real-world challenges, from improving well-being through wearable tech interventions to mitigating misinformation in online spaces.
Kristof Vrancken is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KU Leuven, and a researcher in the arts at the Media Culture & Policy Lab Future Scenarios in Genk, Belgium. His work bridges media culture, environmental humanities, and participatory design, focusing on the Anthropocene and regenerative futures through visual and material practices. Co-promotor : Changing gaze, changing perception - Participatory art practices for dementia care (2023-2027) Member : DigiSoc – KU Leuven Digital Society Institute Coordinator : Future Scenarios, Genk His research explores: Participatory art and design for ecological awareness Visual narratives addressing the Anthropocene Regenerative futures and multispecies coexistence Biodiversity valuation in agroecosystems Historical and contemporary garden design as ecological practice His recent publications examine: AI-driven community visual storytelling Biofuturing methodologies for multispecies futures Catalytic design processes Critical pedagogies for regenerative design Visual advocacy for invasive species He engages in: Interdisciplinary collaboration between arts, sciences, and policy Curatorial practices for environmental discourse Material experimentation with sustainable processes Designing frameworks for ecological empathy Exploring the intersection of technology and nature The Media Culture & Policy Lab Future Scenarios serves as a platform for: Developing innovative media methodologies Creating policy-relevant artistic interventions Advancing speculative design for societal challenges Cultivating cross-sector collaborations Investigating digital society's environmental implications
Saghi Hajisharif is a Researcher at Linköping University's Department of Science and Technology (ITN), affiliated with the Media and Information Technology (MIT) group. She holds a PhD in Visualization and Media Technology from Linköping University (2020), an MSc in Advanced Computer Graphics (2013), and a BSc in Computer Science from Amirkabir University (2009). Her work focuses on computational imaging, visual machine learning, HDR imaging, and light field technologies. She is a core member of the Computer Graphics and Image Processing research group. Research interests include sparse representation learning for computational imaging, synthetic data ethics, BRDF material modeling, and algorithmic fairness in AI. Her contributions span interdisciplinary projects recognized in IVA’s 100 List (2024), highlighting societal impact potential. She has co-authored influential studies on topics such as FROST-BRDF sampling techniques and metadata standards for GenAI synthetic data. Her articles reflect expertise in computer vision, graphics, and AI ethics, with key contributions to light field imaging, GAN fairness, and material modeling surveys. The IVA’s 100 List recognition underscores her innovative work’s societal relevance. She collaborates across disciplines to advance imaging technologies and ethical AI practices.
Claes Lundström is an Adjunct Professor at Linköping University's Department of Science and Technology (ITN), affiliated with the Media and Information Technology (MIT) school. His primary research focuses on medical imaging, integrating machine learning, visualization, and human-computer interaction in clinical settings. He leads the technical side of digital pathology research at the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), directing national-scale grants and serving as Arena Director for the Analytic Imaging Diagnostics Arena (AIDA). Since 2010, he has held dual roles as Research Director at Sectra AB and academic researcher, driving innovations that translate into commercial healthcare solutions. Lundström's work spans AI-driven diagnostics, uncertainty visualization, and precision orthopedics, with contributions recognized through leadership in major projects like the €70M BIGPICTURE initiative. His academic credentials include a PhD (2007) and Docent degree (2014), alongside extensive industry collaboration. Education: PhD in 2007 and Docent degree in 2014 from Linköping University. PhD: 2007 Docent: 2014 Research interests emphasize AI integration in diagnostics, particularly digital pathology and medical imaging workflows. His work addresses challenges like domain adaptation in AI models, uncertainty quantification in segmentation tasks, and interactive visualization tools for clinicians. Recent projects include the VAI-B platform for AI validation in breast imaging and the BigPICTURE collaboration for global pathology data sharing. Key grants include leadership roles in national-scale projects, such as the AIDA arena and SCAPIS study-based AI lab. His contributions to AI ethics and clinical adoption include studies on human-AI collaboration and quality assurance frameworks. Lundström also oversees labs like CMIV and AIDA, fostering cross-disciplinary research in medical imaging and AI.
Michail Giannakos is a Professor of Interaction Design and Learning Technologies at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He serves as Head of the Learner-Computer Interaction Lab and has held visiting positions including EAISI Visiting Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (2023-2024) and Honorary Professor at UCL Knowledge Lab (2022-2023). Previously, he was Associate Professor (2017-2020) and Senior Lecturer (2014-2017) at NTNU, and Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University (2013-2014). Dr. Giannakos's research focuses on the design and study of emerging technologies in online and hybrid education settings, with particular emphasis on student and instructor experiences. His work spans Human-Computer Interaction , Learning Analytics , Learning Technologies , and User Experience Research . He has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Computers & Education, Computers in Human Behavior, IEEE TLT, and ACM TOCE. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward multimodal learning analytics, embodied interaction in educational contexts, and the application of generative AI in education. The research increasingly integrates physiological and cognitive measurements with traditional learning data to create more comprehensive educational insights. There's also a noticeable focus on STEM education, particularly in mathematics learning through embodied and multimodal approaches. EAISI Visiting Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology (2023) Honorary Professor, UCL Knowledge Lab, University College London (2022) IDC Best Paper Award (2022) ITiCSE Top 5 papers in 25 Years Award (2020) RCN Young Research Talent grant (2016) ERCIM "Alain Bensoussan" Fellow (2013) Outstanding Academic Award, NTNU (2017-2020) Dr. Giannakos actively supervises multiple PhD students and postdocs, including Giulia Cosentino and Andrew Pulsipher as main supervisees. He has successfully mentored numerous PhD candidates to completion, many of whom have gone on to academic positions. His research is supported by substantial grants from diverse sources including the European Commission (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020), Research Council of Norway, US-NSF, Microsoft Research, and DAAD. Current major projects include STEAM Learning Ecologies (Horizon Europe, 2022-2025) and SURROUNDEDbySCIENCE (Horizon 2020, 2021-2025). As Head of the Learner-Computer Interaction Lab, Dr. Giannakos leads a multidisciplinary team exploring how emerging technologies can enhance learning experiences. The lab focuses on multimodal data collection, embodied interaction design, and the development of intelligent learning environments that adapt to user needs. Current work emphasizes the integration of generative AI with multimodal analytics to create more responsive educational systems.
Diana Galvan Sosa is a Researcher at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the ALTA Institute (Automated Language Teaching and Assessment) and the NLIP group. She holds a doctoral degree in Information Science from Tohoku University (Japan). Her research focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP), particularly knowledge acquisition and applications of NLP in education, including feedback generation systems for second language (L2) learners. She also contributes to clinical text analysis and hate speech detection research. Education: PhD in Information Science from Tohoku University, Japan. Research Interests: Grammatical Error Correction Educational Technology Clinical NLP Explainability in AI Temporal Relation Extraction Multimodal Reasoning Recent Work Trends: Her most recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize advanced NLP applications like GPT-4 analysis for error correction, hate speech detection leveraging platform guidelines, and evaluation frameworks for AI explanations. Earlier work includes foundational studies on clinical text analysis and addiction treatment populations. Labs/Groups: Active member of the ALTA Institute and NLIP group at Cambridge. Also contributes to open-source projects like the GECToR framework for grammatical error correction, reflected in her GitHub repositories.
Paul Liang is Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with joint appointments in the Media Lab and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, where he directs the Multisensory Intelligence research group. His work spans foundational research in multisensory AI technologies and their applications in enhancing human experiences and real-world human-AI interaction. Liang's research focuses on three interconnected thrusts: developing theoretical foundations for multisensory machine learning systems; designing interactive AI technologies to augment human capabilities; and addressing societal concerns in real-world human-AI interaction. His work integrates principles from machine learning, natural language processing, and human-computer interaction to create novel multimodal architectures. Professor Liang's research group actively publishes on multimodal representation learning, evaluation frameworks for foundation models, and methods for quantifying multimodal interactions. Recent work includes developing the Holistic Evaluation of Multimodal Models (HEMM) framework and the MultiBench benchmarking suite.
Dominique Brossard is a Professor & Chair in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds affiliations with the Robert & Jean Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, the Energy Institute, the Global Health Institute, and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Her work focuses on the intersection of science, media, and policy, particularly addressing public opinion dynamics and cross-cultural analysis of controversial scientific issues. She earned an M.S. in Plant Biotechnology from the Ecole Nationale d’Agronomie de Toulouse and advanced degrees (M.P.S. and Ph.D.) in Communication from Cornell University. Her career includes roles at Accenture and the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II, blending corporate strategy with science communication. Brossard’s research emphasizes strategic communication theory, science communication, and risk communication. Her lab, the Science Communication Incubator, explores how societal values shape public attitudes toward emerging technologies like AI and gene editing. She has authored over 100 articles in top journals and served on National Academy of Sciences panels. Notable professional roles include Chair of the NSF’s Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Advisory Committee, and current positions on the NASEM Societal Experts Action Network and the Division of Behavioral & Social Sciences & Education. Her awards include Fellowships from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Communication Association. Her recent work examines AI ethics, generative AI’s societal impact, and the role of visual art in science communication. She also investigates how misinformation spreads during crises like the pandemic and the evolving landscape of public trust in science.
Scott Elliott is a Professor at Adrian College, specializing in Religious Studies with a focus on biblical narratives, translation studies, and early Christian literature. His work bridges ancient texts with contemporary interpretation, particularly examining themes like identity politics, narrative persuasion, and visual adaptations of biblical stories. His research interests include New Testament exegesis, ancient Jewish-Christian relations, and the intersection of religion with modern media. Notably, he explores how graphic novels reinterpret biblical narratives and how ancient texts engage with concepts of madness, partnership, and diaspora. His publications emphasize critical analysis of biblical and religious texts, including book reviews and theoretical studies that challenge traditional hermeneutics. Recent work addresses themes like Pauline autobiography in epistles and the temporal structure of Mark's Gospel. While no formal grants or awards are listed, his scholarly contributions reflect deep engagement with both classical and modern religious discourse. He actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogue, as seen in his analyses of Foucault’s theories applied to early Christian ethics and the role of religion in post-9/11 cultural memory.
Nika Simovich Fisher is an Assistant Professor of Communication Design at Parsons School of Design, part of The New School. She directs the AAS program and focuses on the intersection of design and identity, emphasizing underreported narratives in internet and design history. Her work bridges academic research with practice through her design studio Labud and her board role at AIGA New York. Educations: BFA in Design, Parsons School of Design MS in Journalism, Columbia University Research Interests: Nika explores how design intersects with identity, accessibility, and cultural preservation. Her work highlights marginalized voices in digital history, including the digitization of Serbian Cyrillic typefaces and the cultural impact of social networks like ECHO. She emphasizes inclusive design practices and the evolution of internet communities. Professional Activities: She runs Labud, a design studio specializing in branding and web design for fashion, art, and tech. She actively contributes to design discourse through writing for outlets like WIRED and AIGA Eye on Design. Teaching & Courses: Teaches courses such as 'Design & Future of Publishing' and 'Design History & Practice,' with upcoming offerings in 2025-2026.
Associate Professor Dirk H.R. Spennemann is a leading cultural-heritage scholar at Charles Sturt University , Australia, holding an appointment within the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences . He lectures and supervises in Cultural Heritage Management and Historic Ecology at the Albury-Wodonga campus. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Prehistory), Australian National University, 1990 Master of Arts (Prehistory), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, 1982 Research Interests: Dirk’s work straddles two major domains. First, as a foremost authority on Micronesian history and heritage , he has conducted extensive fieldwork across the Indo-Pacific, producing over 400 peer-reviewed outputs. Second, he spearheads the emerging field of heritage futures , applying strategic foresight to anticipate how contemporary and emergent heritages—ranging from modernist architecture to space exploration and generative AI—will be valued and managed by future societies. Complementary strands include digital heritage, technological and space heritage, heritage policy, rural vernacular architecture, and the interplay between heritage and community mental health. His recent publications reveal a methodological expansion into sensory ethnography of tourism sites, citizen-science approaches to ecological monitoring, and digital-forensic techniques for born-digital heritage, reflecting a commitment to innovative, cross-disciplinary inquiry. Awards & Recognition: Partnership Stewardship Award for Cultural Resources, US National Park Service (2001) Governor’s Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Publication, CNMI (2004) CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence (1995) CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence (1996) Supervision & Grants: Dirk is a registered principal supervisor for higher-degree research candidates in cultural heritage and environmental history. While specific grant amounts are not disclosed, his sustained productivity (334+ research outputs and 18 datasets since 2020) indicates robust ongoing funding and institutional support. Laboratories & Teams: He is affiliated with the Gulbali Research Institute and participates in cross-faculty research groups focusing on heritage futures and sustainable environments. Editorial roles include Associate Editor for Campus-wide Information Systems and Editorial Board member for Disaster Advances .
Dalila Forni is an Associate Professor of Children's Literature at Link Campus University in Rome. She holds a PhD in Education Sciences and Psychology from the University of Florence, focusing on gender representations in contemporary illustrated books. Her research explores visual children's narratives (picture books, comics, animated films) and genre studies in popular culture for young audiences. Her publications include Children’s Literature across Media: Film and Theatre Adaptations of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (2020, Premio Siped) and Raccontare il genere. Nuovi modelli identitari nell’albo illustrato (2022). She is accessible to students after classes or by email at d.forni@unilink.it. Her ORCID is 0000-0002-1928-3181 .
Jo Stockham serves as Head of Printmaking at the Royal College of Art's School of Arts & Humanities. With a distinguished career spanning studio practice, academic leadership, and international exhibitions, she bridges theoretical exploration with practical art-making. Her position at the RCA represents the culmination of decades of engagement with contemporary art institutions. Stockham's research interests focus on the intersection of art and technology, material culture, and critical practice. She leads the Radical Matter Research proto-Centre, which investigates 'twenty-first-century material culture at the intersection of poetics, contemporary art and wild science, with emphasis on the sensuous, often malicious, generative-AI/human-interspecies-machine co-evolution.' Her work frequently explores site histories, the construction of the natural world, and the relationship between physical and digital realms. Her recent publications reveal a consistent engagement with printmaking as an expanded field, the evolving relationship between photography and print, and the implications of digital technologies on artistic practice. These works demonstrate her theoretical depth while remaining grounded in material exploration and studio practice. Ampersand Fellow at the British School at Rome (2022) Henry Moore Fellowship at Kettle's Yard Yaddo Fellowship in New York Artist in Residence at Warwick University Stockham has supervised multiple research students including Liz K Miller and Cole Robertson (completed) and Marina Stavrou (current). Her teaching and research are deeply connected to her studio practice, which has been supported by workshops at major institutions including Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, and Camden Arts Centre before her full-time appointment at the RCA in 2008. Her work with the RCA Robotics Laboratory and Rapidform RCA demonstrates her commitment to exploring the human implications of technological advancement through direct engagement with emerging tools and processes. This hands-on approach informs both her artistic production and academic leadership.
