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Shaping Agency

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Loneliness & Technology

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Designing Reality

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Invisible by Design

Select Publications

Dwyer, L. (2025). Loneliness by Design: The Structural Logic of Isolation in Engagement-Driven Systems. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(9), 1394. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091394

Duncan, S., Dwyer, L., Smith, H., Vallesi, D., Zeller, F., & Davis, C. (2024). Toward a computational mixed methods framework to measure online deliberative discourse. Communication and the Public, 20570473241284759. https://doi.org/10.1177/20570473241284759

Dwyer, L. (2024). Canadian perspectives on loneliness; digital communication as meaningful connection. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1389099

Dwyer, L. (2025). Loneliness by Design: The Structural Logic of Isolation in Engagement-Driven Systems. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091394

Dwyer, L., Crawford, C., & Zeller, F. (2023). Media Framing of Dominant Ideologies in Explanatory Journalism Concerning Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Canadian Journal of Communication, 48(4), 715–742. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjc-2022-0017

Dwyer, L. J. (2024). Isolated Circuits: Human Experience and Robot Design for the Future of Loneliness [Thesis, Toronto Metropolitan University]. https://doi.org/10.32920/26883778.v1

Zeller, F., & Dwyer, L. (2022). Systems of collaboration: Challenges and solutions for interdisciplinary research in AI and social robotics. Discover Artificial Intelligence, 2(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44163-022-00027-3

Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Guilty Pleasures: Social Medial Doom Scrolling | BSCA Elevate (Winter 2025) | Mount Royal University

Using the literature circle model for student assessment | Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) Instructor Series (Fall 2024) | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Facilitated by Dr. Connie Morrison 

AI for Educators Panel (April 2024) | Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Education | Facilitated by Dr. David Gil 

Ethical AI: Time for the Difficult Conversations Panel for the Faculty of Business, Communication, & Aviation (March 2024) | Mount Royal University | Facilitated by Dr. Hadi Fariborzi.

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Conference Proceedings & Invited Talks

Dwyer, L. (2025). Shaping Agency: User Communication Styles, Autonomy and Decision Support in AI Interactions. Paper presented at Congress 2025 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association.

Shapiro, I., Dwyer, L., Mncube, M., Spoel, P, Thibault, S. (2025) Standards of Practice and The Road To Accountability For News Reporting. Paper presented at Congress 2025 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association.

Thibault, S., Shapiro, I., Dwyer, L., Mncube, M., Spoel, P. (2025) Beyond the Normative Debates: Is There a Consensus on Basic Standards for News Reporting?. Paper presented at Congress 2025 Meeting of the Canadian Political Science Association.

Dwyer, L. & Shapiro, I. (2025) ‘Essential standards’ for news reporting: Can we cut the crap on accountability?. Presented at the Canadian Association of Journalists Annual Conference  

Dwyer, L. (2025) Truth in Pixels: Detecting AI-generated images. Presented at the Canadian Association of Journalists Annual Conference  

Dwyer, L. (2025) Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education. CAIAC Canadian AI 2025 Conference Responsible AI Track. 

Dwyer, L. (2025). Invisible by Design: Platforms, Perception, and the Fight for Freedom. Presentation for the APM Symposium – Attacks on Thinking: Dialogues on the Distortion of Reality in the Social Sphere at Columbia University. 

Dwyer, L. & Zeller, F. (2023). Toward Authenticity in Social Robotics. Conference preceding for the Human-Machine Communication 

Pre-Conference, International Communication Association. *Awarded the Yuhua (Jake) Liang Award for Top Paper of the Division

Dwyer, L., Woods, J., Zeller, F. (2022) Shifting sentiment; Author gender in explanatory journalism articles on AI, technology and robotics during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper presented at Congress 2022 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association.

Dwyer, L (2021). Designing companion robots for loneliness. Position paper presented at arttech: Performance and Embodiment in Technology for Resilience and Mental health. 24th Annual Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. October, Virtual. 

Dwyer, L. (2021). Isolated Circuits; Designing companion robots for the future of loneliness. Doctoral Keynote presented at Intersections Cross Sections Conference. March, Toronto, Can. 

Dwyer, L, Zeller, F., Smith, D., Lima, H. (2021). Communication Leveraging Social Robots for Healthcare. Paper presented at Congress 2021 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association.

Dwyer, L., Crawford C., Zeller, F. (2021) Media Framing Analysis of AI, Robotics & Technology in Explanatory Journalism. Paper presented at the International Association for Media and Communication Research conference in July, 2021.

Dwyer, L. (2020) How Mental Health Apps are Exploiting User Data. Spotlight on Emerging Researchers: Explanatory Journalism Project. https://bit.ly/3Dd8eML

Dwyer, L. (2019). The Rhetoric of Recovery: Mental Illness and Recovery-Oriented Treatment. Paper presented at Future Communications 7th annual Conference and Symposium. 

Smith, D., Zeller, F., Eyles, J., Silva de Jesus, D., Dwyer, L., Eyles, E. (2017) Virtual Worlds for Facilitating Urban Development Dialogue, Proceedings of EVA London 2017, UK, 109-111. Contributing author.

Dwyer, L. (2017). Towards a communication model for a sociable companion robot. Paper presented at Congress 2017 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association Graduate Masters Session.

Zeller, F., Au Duong, J., Dwyer, L., Pavliuc, A. (2017). Modalities of Research. Paper presented at Congress 2017 Meeting of the Canadian Communication Association. Contributing author.

Smith, D. H., Zeller, F., Eyles, J., Eyles, E., Dwyer, L., Smith, H. (2016, July). Using 3D social worlds to enhance participatory urban planning. Paper presented at International Conference on Social Media & Society, 11-13 July, London, UK. Contributing author.