Rui Pedro Lopes
Rui Pedro Sanches de Castro Lopes received the MSc in Electronics and Telecommunications, and the PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He is an associate professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Braganca. His main research interests focus on distributed systems, operating systems and network management. More recently, he has been learning, reflecting and researching on methodologies and approaches that can contribute to improve the way students learn and how to keep them motivated. In this context, he structured a curricular unit around gamification, including formative assessment, educational games, student grading and feedback. He also designed learning experiences that appeal to increasing the student autonomy and other horizontal competencies, such as communication skills, critical thinking, creativity and lifetime learning.
Roger Tavares
Dr. Roger Tavares holds a diverse and impressive academic background, having earned degrees in Industrial Design (FAAP), Education (Mackenzie Presbyterian University), Communication & Semiotics (PUCSP), and a post-doctoral degree from the University of Coimbra. His extensive knowledge spans multiple disciplines, including Arts, Technology and Design.
He holds an adjunct professorship at IPB – the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, where he is deeply involved in advising, evaluating, and delivering short courses. Dr. Tavares has a proven track record of professional engagement advisory boards and participation in numerous events, publications, and presentations. His work focuses on the interdisciplinary field of Humanities and its technological advancements, with particular emphasis on Arts, Technology, and Design.
In communication, Dr. Tavares has specialized expertise in video games. He excels in 3D design, multimedia development, software engineering, and game design principles. His technical proficiencies include graphic software such as Blender 3D, Krita and music production tools like Reaper and Ableton Live. He is also adept at utilizing open-source software and conducts research on generative AI tools, including Stable Diffusion, and its applications.
Dr. Tavares actively engages in collaborative research projects within the CeDRI (Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics) group at IPB and the CISUC (Centre for Informatics and Systems) at the University of Coimbra. His research interests, which include the intersection of Humanities with technological advancements, particularly in Arts, Technology, and Design, and the potential impact of generative AI tools, such as Stable Diffusion, on these fields, demonstrate his forward-thinking approach and potential for future contributions. Dr. Tavares is also a member of the Portuguese Society for Video Game Sciences Directory Board.
João Paulo Sousa
João Paulo Sousa is graduated in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UTAD University. After three years, he gets a Master's degree in Engineering Technology. He received his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science at UTAD University. He published dozen of publications in international journals and conferences. He served as Chair of Videojogos2020 - 12th International Conference on Videogame Sciences and Arts and is on several scientific committees of international journals and conferences. His research activities concern video games, serious games, gamification, and artificial intelligence. He was the director of the Computer and Communications bachelor's and Games Design bachelor's degree at Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), and director of ESACT's IT Resource Center. Currently is an Adjunct Professor at Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) and an internal member of the Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança.
Jussi Mertanen
Jussi Mertanen is by education Master of Science, (Economics, Marketing) and B.A. in Graphic and Web Design from University of Industrial Arts in Helsinki (Aalto University).. He also holds the recent highest Post Graduate Diploma of Digital Marketing from the IDM in London, where he got great inspiration from his personal tutor Dr. Dave Chaffey. Jussi has many other post-graduate course certificates both from Finland and abroad. Over 20 years of experience in demanding marketing positions both as an advertising and web designer and as a marketing communications manager and a creative director. Experience includes working in leading international advertising agencies and international companies and as an entrepreneur. Jussi works as a senior lecturer of digital marketing at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. He works constantly with latest developments in digital marketing.
