The Happy Maths Team

Pierpaolo Dondio
AI and game-based learning
Dr. Pierpaolo Dondio is a lecturer in Computer Science at TU Dublin. He has research interests in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning with applications to AI& Education and game-based learning. His interests are on how intelligent and adaptable systems can be embedded in digital educational games to improve students' learning experience. He is also interested in how games could be used to make education more accessible and inclusive. Pierpaolo designed and implemented Seven Spells, a digital card game for teaching numerical skills and strategic thinking, which won three international awards. In September 2019, he launched the project Happy Maths, a research and engagement activity for primary school pupils, to test and roll-out his games in Schools. .

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Mariana Rocha
Game-based learning
Dr. Mariana Rocha is an assistant lecturer at the School of Computer Science in the Technological University Dublin. Her research interests are related to the use of technology for teaching and learning, especially considering digital games potential in STEM education. She has experience producing multimedia STEM content for children between 6 and 12 years old. During her PhD, Mariana designed and implemented Once Upon a Maths, an adventure web application for primary school children. The game is based in the real history of mathematics and makes use of situated learning to allow children work on their problem-solving skills. She is currently one of the leaders of the Junior Network Researchers in Serious Games, a project developed in collaboration with the Åbo Akademi Universit, in Finland, to support young researchers who work on developing studies about educational and serious games.

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Vjacheslav Gusev
Machine Learning and Games
Vjacheslav Gusev is a PhD student funded by TU Dublin. His expertise lies in programming, machine learning, and teaching mathematics. Vjacheslav is applying machine learning models to game log data to analyze performance, learning curve and anxiety of players. He has a Msc in Data Analytics from the Moscow State University and Yandex School Of Data Analysis.

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Andre Almo
HCI and Games
Andre Almo is PhD student funded by D-Real SFI center. Andre is investigating how adaptation can make games more anxiety-aware. He is a biomedical scientist interested in neuroscience, science communication, education and game design. Andre wants to create tools and games to make science education more engaging and fun. He likes reading, brainstorming, travelling and, of course, gaming.

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Ryan Flood
Game Design
Ryan Flood is a research assistant working on the IRC project Arithmos. Ryan graduated from TU Dublin with a first class honors in Game Design. His past professional projects have included a mobile app meant to help kids with anxiety and multiple VR training courses for pharmacists. In his free time, he has worked on a prototype card game in Unity.

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Chris McHugh
Game Design
Chris McHugh is a PhD student in serious game design funded by TU Dublin. Chris graduated from TU Dublin in 2018 with a Masters in Creative Digital Media, specializing in Digital Games. Since then he has worked primarily in the XR industry, focusing particularly on education & training software. He has a passion for game development & is an active participant in the Irish Game Dev community, regularly attending game jams & meetups.

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