Monday
Yann Quilcalle – ETH Zurich
How Fossil Fuel Companies Contributed to Heatwaves
Dr Yann Quilcaille is a climate scientist, who works to bridge the gap between climate and economic modelling. Thanks to a dual background in climate science and economics of sustainable development, he gained a deep knowledge of this interface. Dr Yann Quilcaille has conducted his PhD in France, worked as a research scholar in Austria and pursued as a postdoctoral researcher in Switzerland. His research is focused on climate extremes (e.g. heatwaves, wildfires and droughts) and climate emulators. Recently, Dr Yann Quilcaille extended his work to climate attribution.
Tuesday
Dan Laufer – Auckland University of Technology
Managing Spillover Crises in the Age of Generative AI
Dr Daniel Laufer, PhD, MBA (The University of Texas at Austin, USA), is a Professor and Head of the School of Communication Studies at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand. His primary area of expertise is Crisis Management, and his research focuses on crisis communications, and gaining a better understanding of how stakeholders react to crises. In addition to publishing articles in leading academic journals, he currently serves as Contributing Editor for Crisis Management at the managerial journal Business Horizons, and he also is a member on the editorial board of Public Relations Review. The article “Managing spillover crises in the age of generative AI” was published in the journal “Business Horizons” in 2025, together with Professor Yijing Wang from Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
Wednesday
Ross Zafonte – University of Missouri
Link Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Tumors
The University of Missouri, School of Medicine selected Dr. Ross Zafonte, DO, to serve as the Executive Vice Dean, effective October 1, 2024. In his role, Dr. Zafonte oversees the development and assessment of the medical school’s 23 academic departments.
Dr. Zafonte is a nationally and internationally recognized physician-scientist, whose work in the field of rehabilitation medicine focuses on traumatic brain and spinal cord injury recovery. Dr. Zafonte came to MU from Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, where he served as the president of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and as the Earl P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Previously, Dr. Zafonte has also served as chief medical officer and designated institutional officer of Spaulding.
Thursday
Alex Chohlas-Wood – New York University
Automated Reminders Reduce Incarceration for Missed Court Dates
Alex Chohlas-Wood is an Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science. His research investigates how computational approaches can improve public policy. In recent work, he designed an algorithm that uses generative AI to help prosecutors make race-blind charging decisions, tested whether automated text message reminders reduce incarceration for public defender clients, and developed a utility-maximizing framework to guide equitable algorithmic decision making. He is particularly interested in prototyping and evaluating scientific and technical innovations in applied collaborations with government agencies.
Friday
Rosie Dutt – Washington University in St. Louis
Revolutionizing STEM Education
Dr. Rosie Dutt teaches interdisciplinary computational neuroscience and engineering communication courses that integrate data science and design thinking. In this talk, she discusses her work on how 3D printing can enhance engagement, accessibility, and spatial reasoning in STEM education. She also draws on her background in communications and entrepreneurship to support student success and career development.
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