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.
Stefan Büttner is Professor of Classics (Greek) at the University of Vienna , serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Classical Philology, Medieval and Neo-Latin Studies. His academic career spans institutions including Philipps University Marburg, University of Konstanz, and University of Vienna since 2011. Born 1986–1997: Studied Classical Philology and Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, and Philipps University Marburg. 1997: Doctorate at Marburg on Plato's Literary Theory. 2007: Habilitation in Classical Philology. 2011: Appointed Professor at University of Vienna. His research focuses on Ancient Philosophy , Antique Aesthetics , Greek Tragedy , and Reception History . Current projects include analyzing the modern self-perception of antiquity , the Euripides reception , and Artes Liberales educational programs . Recent publications explore: Euripides 's shifting image from antiquity to modernity. Mimesis in Platonic dialogues. Homeric elements in Aristotle's Rhetoric. Symmetry as a foundational concept in ancient aesthetics. He serves on editorial boards for Wiener Studien für Klassische Philologie and Eisodos. Zeitschrift für Antike Literatur und Theorie , and chairs the Society for Ancient Philosophy Austria . Supervised theses at University of Vienna include topics on Aristotelian analytics, Platonic deconstruction, and Chrysippus' Medea adaptation. Büttner leads research seminars on ancient rhetoric, metaphor theory, and the interplay of philosophy and tragedy. He co-founded the book series Philosophie und Literatur and Studien zu Literatur und Erkenntnis , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to classical studies.
Andreas Lechner is an Associate Professor at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) , Institute of Building Science. He is also a Visiting Professor at TU Berlin and Politecnico di Milano , indicating an international academic presence. His office hours are available on Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00, with portfolio requirements for diploma inquiries. Research Focus: Lechner's work explores architectural typologies, urban peripheries, and sustainable building practices. His research emphasizes the intersection of theory, design, and practice, particularly through counterintuitive approaches to architectural typologies and their affordances. Publications Trends: Recent work focuses on hybrid architectural practices, typological affordances, and peripheral urbanism. He examines how architectural typologies can be reimagined through the lens of the "Peripherocene," a concept challenging traditional urban center/periphery dichotomies. Design Philosophy: Lechner's "Counterintuitive Typologies" approach challenges conventional design paradigms, particularly in his analysis of urban buildings and their transformative potential. His work on solar energy integration in architecture demonstrates a commitment to sustainable design. Academic Contributions: Through his publications in journals like Journal of Architecture and edited volumes like GAM series, Lechner has been examining architectural theory, material rethinking, and the paradoxes of urban development since at least 2012. Professional Engagements: He has been involved in exhibitions and curation activities, including guest curatorship at Haus der Architektur in Graz. His personal website and social media presence ( @a_alechner ) demonstrate a commitment to public architectural discourse.
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.
Ottmar Ette is Chair of Romance Literature at the University of Potsdam, Germany, where he has held a professorship since 1995. A leading scholar of Alexander von Humboldt and comparative literature, Ette has established himself as a major intellectual figure through his development of TransArea Studies and the conceptual framework of 'Lebenswissenschaft' (science of life). His academic career spans multiple continents with significant contributions to understanding the intersections of literature, globalization, and cross-cultural knowledge. Ette's research interests form a rich interdisciplinary tapestry exploring literary studies as life science , conviviality (living together), and the poetics of movement within TransArea Studies. His work examines how literary knowledge functions as essential repository of human experience, particularly regarding ethically relevant themes such as migration, belonging, and survival. The scholar has pioneered approaches to understanding literature beyond national boundaries, focusing on 'literatures without fixed abode' and the 'vectorial imagination' that transcends traditional dichotomies between national and world literature. His extensive publication record reveals consistent engagement with globalization processes across historical periods, with particular emphasis on the works of Alexander von Humboldt as a lens for understanding interconnected knowledge systems. Ette's scholarship demonstrates remarkable breadth, spanning from 18th century francophone literature to contemporary transareal literary phenomena, while maintaining focus on how literary texts generate knowledge for living in increasingly interconnected worlds. 2014 Research Award Escuela Nacional de Altos Estudios from UNAM 2014 Honorary Member of the Modern Language Association of America 2013 Ordinary Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences 2012 Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France) 2010 Ordinary Member of the Academia Europaea 2001 Hugo Friedrich/Erich Köhler Research Award 1991 Young Scholars Award for Romance Literature 1987 Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Award Ette has directed significant research projects including the 3-year Research Project on Humboldt's American Travel Diaries (2014-2017) and the 18-year project 'Travelling Humboldt - Science on the Move' at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. He co-founded multiple DFG-funded Research Training Groups including 'lebensformen + lebenswissen' (2006), 'Zwischen Räume' (2009), and 'Sichtbarkeit und Sichtbarmachung' (2011). His editorial work encompasses founding the electronic journal HiN - Alexander von Humboldt in the Net and serving as co-editor of Iberoamericana and Istmo. As co-founder of the ForLaBB (Research Network Latin America Berlin-Brandenburg), Ette has created important institutional frameworks for transnational scholarly exchange. His academic leadership extends through organizing numerous international conferences on topics ranging from 'Caribbean(s) on the Move' to 'Conviviality in Difference,' fostering collaborative research environments that bridge disciplinary and geographical boundaries.
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.
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.
Ernst Pöppel is a Professor of Medical Psychology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany. He has held numerous leadership positions, including Director of the Parmenides Center for Art & Science (since 2009), Founder and Chairman of the Human Science Center (since 1997), and former Director of the Institute of Medical Psychology (1977–2008). He has collaborated internationally with scientists from over 40 countries and served as Guest Professor at Peking University (since 2002). Founder and Director of the Institute of Medical Psychology (LMU Munich, 1977–2008) Chairman and Board Member of the Human Science Center (LMU Munich, since 1997) Director of the Parmenides Center for Art & Science (Pullach, Germany, since 2009) Guest Professor at Peking University (since 2002) Research Interests His work spans interdisciplinary domains, integrating brain science and psychology. Key areas include: Art & Science : Neurobiological foundations of music, visual art, and poetry. Visual Perception : Structure of the visual field, attentional control, and mechanisms of perceptual constancy. Neuropsychology : Investigation of residual vision (blindsight) and functional restitution in neurological patients. Time and Timing : Temporal perception, time windows, and circadian rhythms. Scientific Awards and Honors Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2013–2014) Overseas Reknowned Scholar Lecture Program of Peking University (2011) Golden Medal of the Peutinger Collegium, Germany (2007) Bavarian Constitutional Medal in Silver (2005) Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (1997) Member of the National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) (1993) J.E. Purkinje Medal of the Czech Medical Societies (1988) Levinson Award of the American Poetry Association (1984) Advising and Scientific Impact Over his career, Pöppel has supervised more than 200 doctoral theses at LMU Munich and the University of Innsbruck, Austria. His research bridges basic scientific inquiry with practical applications, influencing fields such as education, intercultural understanding, medical therapy, and economic/political decision-making. Labs and Research Teams He founded and led the Institute of Medical Psychology at LMU Munich (1977–2008) and currently directs the Parmenides Center for Art & Science in Pullach, Germany. He was instrumental in establishing the Human Science Center at LMU and chaired its board since 1997.
Heitor Alvelos is a Full Professor of Design at the University of Porto's School of Fine Arts, where he has held academic positions since 2003. He serves as Course Director for the PhD in Design program (since 2011), Director of ID+ Institute for Research in Design, Media and Culture (since 2007), and Curator of FuturePlaces Medialab for Citizenship (since 2008). His institutional roles extend to the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal), where he chairs the Scientific Board for Humanities and Social Sciences. His academic journey includes a PhD in Design/Media Studies from the Royal College of Art (2003), an MA in Visual Communication from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1992), and a BA in Communication Design from the University of Porto (1989). His educational path was supported by prestigious awards including a Fulbright scholarship and FCT grant. Alvelos' research spans sound design, new media, cultural criminology, and citizen engagement through media. He explores the intersection of perception, technology, and cultural practices, with particular focus on lexical implications of digital media and ecological approaches to perception. His work often bridges artistic practice with academic research, creating innovative frameworks for understanding contemporary media culture. His recent publications reveal a trajectory from theoretical explorations of graffiti and street art toward more complex investigations of algorithmic identity, digital citizenship, and the materiality of sound in digital contexts. The publications show strong interdisciplinary connections between design, media studies, cultural theory, and sound art, reflecting his dual identity as both academic researcher and creative practitioner. Elected Vice-President, Scientific Board (HSS), Foundation for Science and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal (2010-present) Elected Board Member, Fundação Gomes Teixeira, Portugal (2007-2013) FCT Scholarship, London, UK (1997-1999) Fulbright scholarship, trustee scholarship (SAIC), JNICT grant (1992) As an academic advisor, Alvelos has supervised over 20 PhD students across diverse topics in design, media, and cultural studies. His research is supported through institutional roles including Director of ID+ Institute, which facilitates collaborative research between the University of Porto and University of Aveiro. His work with FuturePlaces Medialab has created unique opportunities for community engagement and citizen science initiatives. Alvelos directs ID+ Institute for Research in Design, Media and Culture, a collaborative research entity between the University of Porto and University of Aveiro. He also curates FuturePlaces Medialab for Citizenship, which has evolved into a significant platform for exploring digital citizenship and community engagement through media arts. His leadership in these organizations demonstrates a commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications in community contexts.
Matthias Bertsch is a faculty member with expertise spanning musical acoustics, medical acoustics, and ethnomusicology. His work bridges musicology, biomedical engineering, and clinical applications. Academic leadership in structured doctoral programs Research on brass instrument mechanics and NICU sound environments Interdisciplinary focus on music-physiology and psychoacoustics Research Interests: Specializing in the acoustic properties of musical instruments, therapeutic sound applications for premature infants, and physiological analysis of brass players. His work combines empirical measurement with clinical and cultural implications. Article Trends: Publications emphasize brass instrument biomechanics , incubator sound optimization , and music's physiological effects , with recurring themes in virtual acoustics and interdisciplinary methodologies.
Dr. Rosario Arias Doblas is a full-time Professor of English Literature at the University of Málaga, Spain , with national eligibility to Full Professor. She has held leadership roles including Head of the Department of English, French and German Philology (2013–2021), Coordinator of the PhD Program in Linguistics, Literature, and Translation (2016–2023), and Deputy Director of the Doctoral School (2022–2024). As President of the Spanish Association of Anglo-North American Studies (AEDEAN) and founder of the Victorian and Neo-Victorian Society in Spain (VINS), she leads interdisciplinary research networks and projects like RELY: Reorienting Assemblage Theory in Anglophone Literature (2023–2026) and Gender and Spiritism in Andalusia (2019–2022). Her research spans Neo-Victorian literature , trauma and memory studies , gender theory , and interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary British fiction. She has co-edited volumes such as Haunting and Spectrality in Neo-Victorian Fiction (Palgrave, 2010) and Spiritualism, Science and Technology (Routledge, 2014), while her monograph Madres e hijas en la teoría feminista (2002) established her expertise in feminist psychoanalysis. Recent publications focus on sensory neo-Victorian narratives , material memory , and disorienting cultural identities in contemporary literature. Key Awards: Extraordinary Doctorate Award (University of Málaga, 2001) Second National Prize for Philology (Ministry of Education and Science, 1995) Extraordinary Bachelor's Degree Award (University of Málaga, 1995) Leadership: Principal Investigator of the Andalusian-funded Contemporary Literature in Europe research group (HUM-858) since 2007 Research Leader of the VINS Network (2015–2017), funded by Spain’s Ministry of Economy Organizer of conferences like Material Traces of the Past (2015) and Dis/Orientations in Contemporary Literature (2022)
Michal Piovarci is a Researcher (Postdoc) at ETH Zurich's Computational Design Lab led by Bernd Bickel. He holds a Ph.D. from USI Lugano (2020) under Piotr Didyk, receiving the Eurographics PhD Award for his thesis on Perception-Aware Computational Fabrication. His research focuses on computer graphics, computational fabrication, and haptic/appearance reproduction, emphasizing perception-driven solutions. Education: Ph.D., USI Lugano (2020) Previous postdoc at ISTA's Visual Computing Group Research interests include 3D Printing Innovations Haptic Feedback Systems Material Perception Modeling Directional Surface Design Professional Activities: Area chair at ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication (2024), program committee roles at SIGGRAPH, SAP, and Eurographics. Organized Computational Fabrication Seminars (2021-2022). Grants: SNSF Project Funding (CHF 1M, 2025-2029) and FWF Lise Meitner Grant (2022-2023). Teaching: Taught Scientific Machine Learning for Design (ETH Zurich, 2024) Computational Fabrication (TU Wien, 2022)
Bettina Kubicek is Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Graz, Faculty of Natural Sciences, where she leads research in the Smart Regulation profile area and contributes to the Human Factor in Digital Transformation and Brain and Behavior research networks. Her work bridges psychological theory with practical organizational challenges in contemporary workplaces. Her research spans work psychology, organizational psychology, and economic psychology with emphases on flexible work arrangements, work intensification, and human-robot collaboration. She investigates cognitive demands of flexible work, work-home interface dynamics, and digital transformation impacts through diary studies and experimental designs. Recent work explores telework challenges, AI in HR, and trust mechanisms in human-robot teams during disaster response. Analysis of her recent publications reveals growing focus on human-robot interaction in Industry 4.0, cognitive aspects of telework, and cross-cultural validation of work addiction scales. Her methodology combines intensive longitudinal designs with physiological measures, increasingly incorporating VR interfaces and AI-driven personnel selection experiments. Scientific awards include: Wirtschaftskammerpreis for project 'Flexible Arbeitsbedingungen und die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie' (2015) Innovationspreis der Universität Wien (2012) Multiple research stipends for University of Wisconsin-Madison stays (2005-2008) She has secured significant competitive grants including FWF-funded 'Cognitive demands of flexible work: Risks and challenges' (2017-2022) and FFG-supported 'Enabling and Assessing Trust when Cooperating with Robots in Disaster Response' (2021-2023), examining trust calibration and cognitive load in human-robot teams. Current projects address evidence-based guidelines for ICT use in work-life boundaries. As core member of the Human Factor in Digital Transformation network, she collaborates with engineers, computer scientists, and healthcare professionals to develop human-centered technological solutions, particularly in healthcare robotics and disaster response systems.
Jüri Allik is a Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Tartu, Estonia, holding roles such as Head of the Institute of Psychology (2002–2013), Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (1996–2001), and Chairman of the Estonian Science Foundation (2003–2009). His research focuses on cognitive science, cross-cultural psychology, personality, and visual perception. He has been awarded the Estonian National Science Award twice and is a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences since 2010. His academic contributions span editorial roles in journals like Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Trames . Notable publications include studies on cross-cultural personality variations, visual perception theories, and neurobiological links to psychological traits. Awards highlight his impact in social sciences and neuroscience. Research interests integrate cognitive and affective neuroscience with cultural psychology, emphasizing global trait comparisons and perceptual mechanisms. His work often employs large-scale international collaborations, as seen in studies of self-esteem and personality across nations.
Bernhard Rinner is a Professor at the Institute of Networked and Embedded Systems within the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt. He is a member of the university Senate and serves as Prodekan (Deputy Dean). His research spans robotics, embedded systems, sensor networks, and privacy-aware computing , with a focus on resource-efficient designs for drones, autonomous systems, and IoT applications. Email: Bernhard.Rinner@aau.at Phone: +43 463 2700 3671 Office: B02.1.62, Lakesidepark Haus B02, Klagenfurt, Austria Research Interests include: Self-aware autonomous systems for adaptive mission planning and anomaly detection Resource-efficient embedded AI for drones and camera networks Secure IoT applications with privacy-preserving visual data processing Multi-agent coordination in confined environments and 3D navigation Dynamic sensor calibration for low-cost wireless networks Publications reflect trends in drone networks, self-aware computing, and privacy-aware sensing , emphasizing lightweight architectures, distributed coordination, and energy-efficient designs. Many recent works focus on binary neural networks, decentralized re-identification, and adaptive sensor reconfiguration .
