Design and development of smart learning environment for programming education.

Projects

Design and development of a smart learning environment to support computational thinking and programming education using virtual reality technology

Projects

Meta-communication as facilitation strategy in projects of "massive change"

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3385-972X. University Lecturer in Physiological Plant Ecology, Principal Investigator, Sensory and Physiological Ecology of Plants Research group (University of Helsinki), Docent in Plant Physiological Ecology (University of Eastern Finland), Information Officer (UV4Plants International Scientific Association), Editor-in-Chief (UV4Plants Bulletin). Ingeniero Agrónomo, especialidad Fitotecnia (Universidad de Buenos Aires), MSc en Producción Vegetal (Universidad de Buenos Aires), PhD in Science (University of Edinburgh). Teaching: Sensory and physiological ecology of plants, Ecosystems ecology, Statistics and design of experiments, Plant Photobiology.

Projects

Sensory and physiological ecology of plants. Bridge the gap between laboratory-based research and field applications.

Niti's research interests lie in the intersection between design methods, knowledge systems particularly local, traditional and indigenous knowledges, and participatory social design-driven transformation. She is currently exploring the relationship between post-colonial indigenous research paradigms (Chilisa 2019) and integrated product development strategies for holistic knowledge production that implements cognitive justice (Visvanathan 1997; 2021) for research at the Cultural Interface (Nakata 1997, 2007; Durie 2005). Over 30 years of professional creative practice in design and innovation. This includes 15 years of leading interdisciplinary teams for fieldwork using design anthropology methodologies (rapid ethnography, indepth interviews, day in the life, observations and shadowing in markets, farms, villages, borderlands and more). Fieldwork personally completed in South Africa, The Philippines, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and with local assistance in Benin and Malawi. Networks span the African continent. Public recognition of original knowledge production includes Invitation to mainstage of TED Global 2017 in Arusha Tanzania TEDTalk video https://www.ted.com/talks/niti_bhan_the_hidden_opportunities_of_the_informal_economy

I am a doctoral candidate in the Political, Societal and Regional Change programme experienced in qualitative research and implementation of development cooperation projects in Finland and Latin America. My doctoral research focuses on how the focus of women’s empowerment shifts when Finland’s development aid has been increasingly transferred from traditional development cooperation to the private sector through cross-sectoral partnerships with Kenya. My professional work has been focused on using research to inform project design and implementation in development cooperation initiatives for gender-based violence, gender equality, peacebuilding, psychosocial support, and migration. Previously I have conducted research on Women, Peace and Security, and feminism in Colombia, and refugees, agency, and gender-based violence in Norway.

A doctoral researcher and staff member at the University of Eastern Finland. My professional background includes working as a Research Assistant in the Faculty of Education at Birzeit University, Palestine. I also served as a senior instructional designer at the Open Learning Center of Al-Quds Open University, where I specialized in eLearning for higher education—developing online courses, digital content, blended learning environments, and immersive learning technologies such as XR, AR, and VR. My PhD research focuses on immersive learning in higher education, with a particular emphasis on the use of augmented reality (AR) in physics education. Additionally, I'm interested in AI in education, STEM education, and innovative pedagogies.

Eurídice, a versatile social scientist with an interdisciplinary foundation, is dedicated to unraveling the intricate links between public spaces, migration dynamics, and identity development. Drawing on her multifaceted background built between Brazil and Finland, Eurídice engages in cutting-edge explorations of urban design to foster social mixing and combat prejudice, leveraging her early proficiency in public management and legal studies. Her research agenda focuses on cultural public spaces and the dynamics of identity development in mixed-background individuals, a topic directly connected to her activist work at Ninho ry. Additionally, Eurídice has contributed to research projects centered around public spaces and deradicalization, smart mobility to counteract inequalities, and establishing daycare centers catering to children of informal female workers.

The title of my research is: ”Using digital micro certificates in the recognition and validation of skills of the informal sector in Africa” The key research questions are: -What is the digital learning capacity of people in the informal sector? -How do we design digital platforms and present learning content so that it fits the learning styles and abilities of the informal sector? -What value do people in Africa give to (informal) micro-certificates compared to traditional formal certificates? -How can new technologies (AI, Machine learning...) support development of automated and varied skills validation? My research aims to give insight to servicing a new segment of people that has traditionally been neglected by development activities. The informal sector people are not the poorest of the poor in Africa and fall outside many development aid programmes. At the same time it consists of most people taking part in the labor force. Formalising the informal sector people to tax-paying citizens is key to the economic development of most African countries.

Following five years of research in the fields of product development and eco-design (including a PhD in mechanical engineering), Galyna worked for over three years as part of the Product Bureau at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. She currently works in Finland on issues related to the local bioeconomy and sustainability, including the further development of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) frameworks and case studies.

Thu is a researcher in public policy, currently pursuing a PhD in Spatial Planning and Transport Policy at Aalto University. Her research interests include policy design and governance, urban sustainable development and sustainability transition. She is doing research on policy mixes for the decarbonization of transportation in Finland as part of her doctoral studies.