IMMS 2025 Invited Speakers
Prof. Adrian Hopgood
University of Portsmouth, UK
Adrian Hopgood is an independent consultant in artificial intelligence (AI) and Emeritus Professor of Intelligent Systems at the University of Portsmouth. He is also a visiting professor at the Open University and at Sheffield Hallam University. He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT), and a committee member for the BCS Specialist Group on AI. Professor Hopgood has worked at the level of Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor in four universities in the UK and overseas, and he has enjoyed scientific roles with Systems Designers PLC and the Telstra Research Laboratories in Australia.
His main research interests are in AI and its practical applications. He has supervised more than 20 PhD projects to completion and published more than 120 research articles. His textbook, “Intelligent Systems for Engineers and Scientists: A Practical Guide to Artificial Intelligence”, is ranked as a bestseller and its fourth edition was published in 2022. His website is https://adrianhopgood.com/.
Title: Artificial intelligence in healthcare
This presentation will highlight two complementary approaches to AI in healthcare: symbolic AI that models existing medical knowledge, and machine-learning that identifies patterns in medical data and images. Together, these approaches have the potential to deliver significant patient benefits. Some diverse applications will be presented, including the prediction of patient outcomes after surgery, the avoidance of intradialytic hypotension, the interpretation of magnetic resonance images (MRI), and the improvement of data quality in electronic heath records.
Assoc. Prof. William Hurst
Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
Dr. Hurst is an Associate Professor in Data Science and eXtended Realities in the Information Technology Group. He has over 100 international publications in the areas of data science, creative technologies, critical infrastructures, simulation and 3D graphics.
He has held several grants as Principal/Co-Investigator; some of which include EPSRC-funded 'Data Analytics for Health-Care Profiling using Smart Meters' (EP/R020922/1) and InnovateUK-funded Productivity Accelerator (https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=971582).s
Prior to working at WUR, he was an award-winning Reader (Associate Professor) in Creative Technologies in the Department of Computer Science at Liverpool John Moores University, where he worked for 6 years. During this time he taught a variety of subjects including Data Visualisation, Digital Games Content Production, Internet and Web Technologies, Research Skills, Interactive Multimedia Systems, Advanced Multimedia, Digital Storytelling and Interactive media and games development.
His education includes a PGCert (Distinction) in Higher Education, a PhD in Computer Science (scholarship - focusing on Critical Infrastructures), an MSc with Distinction in Web Computing and a BSc(Hons) in Product Design.
Assoc. Prof. Christian Kahl
Beijing Jiaotong University, China
Dr. phil. Christian Kahl studied at the Friedrich – Schiller University in Jena，Germany. He earned his Master in Education Science，Sociology and Psychology and his PhD. In Philosophy. He joined the Erasmus exchange program and studied for a year at Essex University Colchester，UK.
His PhD. thesis discover the boarding school teacher education and training for highly gifted children in Thuringia，Germany.
Since 2007 he is living and working in various Asian countries，where he has worked at Les Roches in Shanghai，China，Taylor’s University Subang Jaya， Malaysia，Almaty Management University Almaty，and currently at Beijing Jiaotong University Beijing，China. At BJTU he holds an Associate Professor position at the School of Economics and Management.
His teaching and interests over the last 15 years are connected education with management. His focus lies on Cross-cultural Management and Human Resource Management，where he is researching on Higher Education Development.
Title: Artificial Intelligence in Academic and Cultural Adaptation: Experiences of International Students in Chinese Universities
This empirical study examines the utilisation and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on academic performance and cultural integration among international students at a leading Chinese university. Employing a comprehensive survey of 79 students from diverse academic disciplines and global backgrounds, the investigation explores patterns of AI adoption, perceived benefits, and attendant challenges. Results indicate widespread engagement with AI applications—predominantly ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Google Translate—employed across varied academic tasks including writing, translation, data analysis, and research support. Respondents report substantial enhancements in academic output quality, comprehension of complex materials, linguistic proficiency in English and Mandarin, and overall time efficiency. Additionally, AI emerges as a pivotal resource facilitating cultural acclimatisation by aiding understanding of local customs and social practices. Nonetheless, concerns regarding the accuracy, ethical use, and institutional regulation of AI tools were prevalent, alongside apprehensions about overreliance and digital literacy barriers. Notably, 39% of participants disclosed receiving guidance from educators restricting AI use, signalling the necessity for explicit university policies and pedagogic frameworks to govern ethical AI integration. This study contributes critical insights into the evolving nexus of AI and international education, advocating for balanced integration strategies that harness technological advances while safeguarding academic integrity and promoting student autonomy.
Dr. Xiaoyu Chen
Shanghai University, China
Dr. Xiaoyu Chen is Associate Professor at the School of Cultural Heritage and Information Management, Shanghai University. His research interests include “3U ―user information behavior, user cyberpsychology and user-generated content, particularly in the context of digital technologies. He is the author of the book Attraction of Knowledge Celebrities: How They Motivate Users to Pay for Knowledge (2023, Routledge). His prior research has been published at prestigious academic journals, such as Aslib Journal of Information Management, Behaviour Information & Technology, Computers in Human Behavior, Information Processing & Management, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, and Internet Research, among others.
Title: Beyond Immersion: Understanding Visitor Value Perception in Digital Intangible Heritage Exhibitions
Digital exhibition halls for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are increasingly used to communicate cultural value through immersive and interactive technologies. Yet the mechanisms by which visitors perceive value in such experiences remain underexplored in the Information Systems (IS) community. We present a longitudinal field study of visitor value perception across seven digital ICH exhibitions in China. Using the experience sampling method (ESM), we collected 330 episodes of in-situ user experience data from 48 participants. Multilevel modeling revealed that vividness, interactivity, and immersion significantly enhanced perceived value, which in turn mediated downstream outcomes, including satisfaction, attraction, and cultural identity. Gender was found to moderate the effect of perceived value on satisfaction. Our findings contribute to IS research on cultural user experience by modeling how interface design features shape psychological outcomes over time. We offer design implications for cross-cultural, value-sensitive interactive systems that support deeper engagement with heritage, identity, and meaning-making in a digital environment.
Prof. He Zhou
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Zhou HE is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Economics and Management of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). He is also a member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Xiaomi Young Scholar of UCAS. He has been dedicated to modeling and simulation research on complex management systems, including digital supply chains and the digital economy, for a considerable time. He has won three provincial and ministerial awards, including the Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award, as well as the Excellence Award of the Global Optimization Challenge, the Excellent Doctoral Paper of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Huawei Collaborative Innovation Award. He is currently an editorial board member of journals such as Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal and Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, Secretary-General of the Asian Social Simulation Association, convener of the ISO/TC 342/AHG 2 on Supply Chain Management Consultancy, and vice chairman of the Supply Chain Special Group of the Alliance of Industrial Internet.
Title: Agentblock.Net: An Online Modular Platform for Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation in Complex Managerial Research
AgentBlock.net is an online platform designed to simplify agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) for complex managerial systems. It integrates modular agent design, reusable decision modules, and low-code tools to overcome technical barriers and enhance reproducibility. The platform aims to support large-scale simulations for applications such as supply chain management and policy evaluation through an intuitive visual interface and cloud-based infrastructure. By promoting the sharing of collaborative modules and cross-disciplinary integration, AgentBlock.net enables researchers to focus on hypothesis testing and practical problem-solving, thereby advancing both theoretical and applied research in management science.