Dr. Edmund Adam is a multidisciplinary scholar specializing in higher education systems, whose research bridges organizational sociology, political economy, and international relations. At the Pulse Lab, he co-led a project with Dr. Selina Mudavanhu examining the experiences of Black college-to-university transfer students at McMaster, contributing insights to support more informed and equitable educational policies.

Dr. Edmund Adam is a multidisciplinary scholar specializing in higher education systems, whose research bridges organizational sociology, political economy, and international relations. At the Pulse Lab, he co-led a project with Dr. Selina Mudavanhu examining the experiences of Black college-to-university transfer students at McMaster, contributing insights to support more informed and equitable educational policies.

Rose Adusei is a graduate of the MA Sociology-Social Psychology program at McMaster University. Focusing on diversity, equity, race-studies, developmental studies, human behaviour, and mental health, Rose aims to bring a positive change to society/policy through her knowledge, experience, and research. Rose Adusei worked with Dr. Selina Mudavanhu as a coordinator of the 20/20 Hindsight Project: Digital Memoirs by Black Senior Undergraduate Students. She also worked with Dr. Mudavanhu and Dr. Edmund Adam as a research assistant for a project studying the experiences of Black college-to-university transfer students at McMaster University.

Rose Adusei is a graduate of the MA Sociology-Social Psychology program at McMaster University. Focusing on diversity, equity, race-studies, developmental studies, human behaviour, and mental health, Rose aims to bring a positive change to society/policy through her knowledge, experience, and research. Rose Adusei worked with Dr. Selina Mudavanhu as a coordinator of the 20/20 Hindsight Project: Digital Memoirs by Black Senior Undergraduate Students. She also worked with Dr. Mudavanhu and Dr. Edmund Adam as a research assistant for a project studying the experiences of Black college-to-university transfer students at McMaster University.

Adekunle Akinyemi graduated from McMaster where he completed his second postgraduate degree in Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and his masters in Advanced Software Engineering at a leading UK university where he worked on several projects. These include a web-based chat application using node js framework, and a web-based application with functionalities such as allowing patients to book appointments, and doctors to diagnose patients using ontology he integrated with the application.

Adekunle Akinyemi graduated from McMaster where he completed his second postgraduate degree in Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and his masters in Advanced Software Engineering at a leading UK university where he worked on several projects. These include a web-based chat application using node js framework, and a web-based application with functionalities such as allowing patients to book appointments, and doctors to diagnose patients using ontology he integrated with the application.

Ahmet Dumlu worked with Dr. David Harris Smith, helping develop an AI-powered social robotics system designed to reduce stress in pediatric healthcare. He worked on configuring multi-device software with the Nao robot to analyze children’s facial expressions and generate comforting responses, while also incorporating feedback from healthcare professionals to improve the system’s usability and impact.

Ahmet Dumlu worked with Dr. David Harris Smith, helping develop an AI-powered social robotics system designed to reduce stress in pediatric healthcare. He worked on configuring multi-device software with the Nao robot to analyze children’s facial expressions and generate comforting responses, while also incorporating feedback from healthcare professionals to improve the system’s usability and impact.

Yujiao Hao was a PhD student in the Computer and Software department of McMaster whose research centred around motion detection, mobile computing, and machine learning.
For her master’s phase, her research direction was multimedia medical information technology, such as the medical image registration algorithm.

Yujiao Hao was a PhD student in the Computer and Software department of McMaster whose research centred around motion detection, mobile computing, and machine learning.
For her master’s phase, her research direction was multimedia medical information technology, such as the medical image registration algorithm.

Dr. David Harris Smith was an Associate Professor at McMaster University whose research bridged technology, arts, and science through media and information arts. He explored areas such as social robotics, AI, virtual worlds, and assistive technologies, with notable work including the internationally recognized hitchBOT project. His recent collaborations focused on AI-enhanced social robots in healthcare, mixed reality narratives, and virtual civic engagement environments.

Dr. David Harris Smith was an Associate Professor at McMaster University whose research bridged technology, arts, and science through media and information arts. He explored areas such as social robotics, AI, virtual worlds, and assistive technologies, with notable work including the internationally recognized hitchBOT project. His recent collaborations focused on AI-enhanced social robots in healthcare, mixed reality narratives, and virtual civic engagement environments.

Kelsey has a doctoral degree in Social Gerontology. Drawing on critical theories and qualitative methods, her grant-funded research looked at broadly at leisure in later life, in the contexts of physical activity and education, to better understand social (in/ex)clusion. Previously, she was a postdoctoral fellow with the Paul. R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching.

Kelsey has a doctoral degree in Social Gerontology. Drawing on critical theories and qualitative methods, her grant-funded research looked at broadly at leisure in later life, in the contexts of physical activity and education, to better understand social (in/ex)clusion. Previously, she was a postdoctoral fellow with the Paul. R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching.

Kai brings a strong commitment to justice, equity, and community engagement, reflected in both her academic and advocacy work. As a JPPL graduate from McMaster, she contributed meaningfully to Black student organizations, mentorship programs, and the CheckIn podcast. Through her role as a Youth Engagement Leader with Empowerment Squared and Dr. Ingrid Waldron, she helped advance research on improving mental health access for Black youth in Hamilton.

Kai brings a strong commitment to justice, equity, and community engagement, reflected in both her academic and advocacy work. As a JPPL graduate from McMaster, she contributed meaningfully to Black student organizations, mentorship programs, and the CheckIn podcast. Through her role as a Youth Engagement Leader with Empowerment Squared and Dr. Ingrid Waldron, she helped advance research on improving mental health access for Black youth in Hamilton.

Debora is a marketing and communications professional with a background in multimedia development. Throughout her career, Debora has led communications for organizations across multiple sectors, from immigration and settlement to higher education and legal technology. Most recently, Debora managed all marketing and communications initiatives at a leading community health agency. In her current role at Canadian Tire Corporation, Debora leads communications efforts driving business integration, the use of inclusive language across the enterprise, and capacity building for people leaders and employees looking to embed equity, diversity and inclusion into their work.

Debora is a communicator and a connector. By leveraging technology, she links people to the resources and tools that will empower their success. She holds a master’s degree in Communication and New Media from McMaster University and has contributed to EFECT in its early days through her photography and videography practice.

Debora is a marketing and communications professional with a background in multimedia development. Throughout her career, Debora has led communications for organizations across multiple sectors, from immigration and settlement to higher education and legal technology. Most recently, Debora managed all marketing and communications initiatives at a leading community health agency. In her current role at Canadian Tire Corporation, Debora leads communications efforts driving business integration, the use of inclusive language across the enterprise, and capacity building for people leaders and employees looking to embed equity, diversity and inclusion into their work.

Debora is a communicator and a connector. By leveraging technology, she links people to the resources and tools that will empower their success. She holds a master’s degree in Communication and New Media from McMaster University and has contributed to EFECT in its early days through her photography and videography practice.

Caitlin is a registered physical therapist and post doctoral fellow at the Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Science Centre (GERAS) at McMaster University. She recently completed her PhD in the Kinesiology department at the University of Waterloo with a specialization in aging, health, and well-being.

Caitlin is a registered physical therapist and post doctoral fellow at the Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Science Centre (GERAS) at McMaster University. She recently completed her PhD in the Kinesiology department at the University of Waterloo with a specialization in aging, health, and well-being.

Jess Rauchberg worked in Pulse Lab as ABLE’s Project and Accounts Manager. She also supported the ABLE design team as a Research Assistant in User-Centered Design (2019-21). Jess received her Ph.D. in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies at McMaster University with a dissertation project investigating crip data cultures and social media platform governance. Some of her writing appears in Feminist Media Studies, the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, and Studies in Social Justice. Jess completed a graduate residency with the Sherman Centre for Digital Research in 2021.

Jess Rauchberg worked in Pulse Lab as ABLE’s Project and Accounts Manager. She also supported the ABLE design team as a Research Assistant in User-Centered Design (2019-21). Jess received her Ph.D. in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies at McMaster University with a dissertation project investigating crip data cultures and social media platform governance. Some of her writing appears in Feminist Media Studies, the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, and Studies in Social Justice. Jess completed a graduate residency with the Sherman Centre for Digital Research in 2021.

Based in Toronto, Canada, Harold Sikkema is a Visual Artist and Professor in the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design at Sheridan College. His art practice integrates photographic, algorithmic, and networked approaches. His work attends to habits and patterns, reframing the everyday as strange. Harold is interested in emerging forms of digital collaboration and VR. As an educator, his primary focus is on integrated systems and interactive media. He also develops media arts programming for children and youth, through community arts organizations such as the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, and its charity, Arts For All.

Based in Toronto, Canada, Harold Sikkema is a Visual Artist and Professor in the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design at Sheridan College. His art practice integrates photographic, algorithmic, and networked approaches. His work attends to habits and patterns, reframing the everyday as strange. Harold is interested in emerging forms of digital collaboration and VR. As an educator, his primary focus is on integrated systems and interactive media. He also develops media arts programming for children and youth, through community arts organizations such as the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, and its charity, Arts For All.

Serena Walk (she/her) is an artist currently based in Canada. Her practice examines the ways colonialism, orientalism, and white-supremacy have shaped many experiences within the Asian diaspora. Her work explores themes of identity, cultural preservation, and Asian futurism through both traditional and emergent media ranging from textiles to extended-reality.

Serena Walk (she/her) is an artist currently based in Canada. Her practice examines the ways colonialism, orientalism, and white-supremacy have shaped many experiences within the Asian diaspora. Her work explores themes of identity, cultural preservation, and Asian futurism through both traditional and emergent media ranging from textiles to extended-reality.