Rate My Professor Melissa Densmore

Melissa Densmore is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Cape Town, where she directs the Human-Computer Interaction Lab. She holds a BA in Computer Science from Cornell University, an MSc from University College London, and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Her academic career includes a postdoctoral position in the Technology for Emerging Markets group at Microsoft Research India prior to joining UCT in 2014. Densmore’s research centers on human-computer interaction for development, with a focus on digital maternal and child health and well-being, community wireless networks, and local digital content and services in bandwidth-constrained settings. She has coordinated the Hasso-Plattner Institute Research School at UCT in Information and Communications Technology for Development and serves on multiple university committees, including as Chair of the Faculty of Science Research Ethics Committee and Deputy Chair of the Inter-faculty Human Research Ethics Committee. Her work involves participatory design, co-design methods, and deployments in contexts such as South Africa and other African regions, contributing to projects like iNethi for community wireless networks and initiatives exploring AI-enabled applications in marginalized communities. Densmore teaches courses including Mobile Design and Development, Human Computer Interaction, and Introduction to ICT4D at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.