We are group pf HCI and computer science researchers interested in building a community around the topic of technologies and refugees/displaced people. Collectively, we have conducted research in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Greece, Germany, Austria, the U.K. and the U.S.A.

Reem Talhouk is a doctoral trainee in Digital Civics at Open Lab, Newcastle University. Her research encompasses the use of technology to build refugee community resilience. Her previous work in Lebanon explored the use of technology in improving access to healthcare by refugees and refugee food security.

Karen Fisher is a Professor of human information behavior, social innovation and design at the Information School, University of Washington. Karen has worked with refugee youth from around the world, focusing on how they serve as information and technology wayfarers on behalf of other people. Karen works at Za’atari Camp as well as with Arab refugees in Europe, understanding their information behavior, and building capacity through education, livelihoods, and social engagement.  

Vasilis Vlachokyriakos is a lecturer at Open Lab, Newcastle University and lead of OL:Athens. His work centers on designing, developing and evaluating digitally-mediated models of citizen participation that engage communities in developing the future of local service provision, decision-making and democracy. The OL:Athens initiative engages with local solidarity groups in Greece exploring the design of technology for the Solidarity Economy while exemplifying an alternative model of conducting Action Research.

Konstantin Aal is a PhD student at the Institute for Information Systems and New Media, University of Siegen. His main research focus is fall prevention with older adults. He is also part of come_IN, a research project which founded several computer clubs for children and their relatives including refugees.

Anne Weibert is a PhD student and a research assistant at the Institute for Information Systems and New Media, University of Siegen. Her interest is in computer-based collaborative project work and inherent processes of technology appropriation, intercultural learning and community-building.

Volker Wulf is a computer scientist with an interest in the area of IT system design in real-world contexts, and a special focus on flexible software architecture which can be adapted by end-users, as well as methods of user-oriented software development and introduction processes. He is head of the Institute for Information Systems and New Media at the University of Siegen.

Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed is an Assistant Professor at University of Toronto. He conducts research in the Intersection between Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Sustainable Development. He has engaged with marginalized groups in Bangladesh and India which resulted in the design of several technologies. His doctoral research is focused on “voice” as a socio-technical means for freedom.

Max Krüger is a research assistant and PhD candidate at the University of Siegen focusing on the role of IT in issues of migration and arriving.

Franziska Tachtler is a PhD student at TU Wien exploring the role of technologies in promoting resilience in unaccompanied migrant youth.

Ana Bustamante Duarte is an urban researcher investigating participatory approaches for designing mobile geospatial services supporting forced migrants.

Eiad Yafi is an Assistant Professor at Universiti Kuala Lumpur actively involved in ICTD research with focus on investigating role of technologies in Crisis Informatics in Conflict Zones.

Koula Charitonos is a Lecturer at the Open University UK with research interests in learning in low-resource settings.

Suleman Shahid is an Assistant Professor and director of the Computer Human Interaction and Social Experience Lab’ (CHISEL) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore, Pakistan. His research interests include assistive technologies, educational technologies for children, affective computing and ICT4D.