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Dr Mona Bozdog, Dr William Kavanagh and Dr Dan Warrender named among 48 new members of prestigious leadership programme
Three Abertay University academics have been accepted as members of the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Young Academy of Scotland (YAS), joining a network of emerging leaders working to tackle some of society's key challenges.
Dr Mona Bozdog, Reader in Games and Experience Design, Dr William Kavanagh, Lecturer in Games Technology and Mathematics, and Dr Dan Warrender, Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, are among 48 new members appointed to YAS.
Established in 2011, the programme supports interdisciplinary working and public engagement, enabling members to contribute their expertise to areas including education, sustainability, equality, wellbeing and innovation.
Their appointments reflect the breadth of expertise across Abertay, with work spanning games, technology, health and social impact.
Dr Bozdog's research explores the intersection of games, storytelling and performance, focusing on the creation of immersive and participatory experiences that capture, preserve and share lived experiences. Her work investigates how games can support public engagement, heritage, community storytelling and social inclusion.
Recent projects have included the development of innovative games and interactive experiences that explore social issues, cultural heritage and inequalities, while creating opportunities for people to share their stories and perspectives.
Dr Bozdog said:
I am honoured to join the Young Academy of Scotland and become part of a community of people committed to creating positive change. Many of the challenges we face today require collaborative and creative approaches, and I look forward to working with members from different disciplines and sectors to explore new ideas and perspectives.
Dr Kavanagh's research focuses on competitive gaming, player experience and accessibility. As lead of Abertay's Competitive Game Lab, he explores how games can be designed to be more engaging, inclusive and accessible, using data-driven approaches to better understand player behaviour and the barriers that prevent people from participating in competitive play.
His work also examines how games technologies, including virtual reality, can support health and wellbeing, alongside research into esports, game balancing and accessibility.
Dr Kavanagh said:
Being part of the Young Academy of Scotland is a fantastic opportunity to connect with people whose expertise and experiences differ from my own. I'm particularly interested in how technology can be used to remove barriers to participation and improve wellbeing, and I look forward to contributing to projects that can create tangible benefits for communities across Scotland.
Dr Dan Warrender's research focuses on mental health care, crisis intervention and the experiences of people diagnosed with personality disorders. He has also played a leading role in national discussions on mental health nursing education and professional practice, advocating for improvements in mental health services and workforce development.
Dr Dan Warrender said:
The Young Academy of Scotland provides a valuable opportunity to bring together expertise from different fields to address complex social challenges. I'm particularly interested in contributing to conversations around applied ethics in suicide prevention, establishing relationships as the foundation of all quality healthcare, and working with colleagues from across Scotland to develop ideas that can have a positive impact on people's lives.
Caroline Müellenbroich, co-chair of YAS said:
I am delighted to welcome this incredible group of new members to The Young Academy of Scotland. Each of these individuals brings unique talents and expertise to YAS, and I look forward to seeing them combine their knowledge to create projects which address the many challenges facing Scotland and the world. We are particularly pleased to see our At-Risk Academic and Refugee membership programme continue to flourish, and we are proud to welcome inspiring leaders from Scotland’s asylum seeking-communities into our membership.
