Exploring Dramaturgical Potential in Human-Robot Ensembles: A Practice-as-Research Investigation through Devised Physical Theatre

Maleen Jayasuriya is a Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Science and Engineering with a research focus on human-robot interaction and explainable AI (XAI) in robotics. Maleen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Sri Lanka and a PhD from the University of Technology Sydney, where his research focused on robot perception, localisation, and deep learning. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UTS, contributing to research on collaborative robotics for sustainable construction.

Professor Damith Herath is the Founder and director of the Collaborative Robotics Lab (CRL). His work explores how robots and humans can collaborate, with an emphasis on the intersection of engineering, psychology, and the arts. His interdisciplinary approach actively seeks insights across diverse fields, promoting innovation and collaboration that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.