Trinity Melder

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About

Trinity Melder is an emerging researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, performance studies, and public engagement with technology. Her work explores how robots can serve as creative performers, investigating the social dynamics that unfold when machines take the stage. In her most cited study, "What Do I Say? Public Interactions with a Drumming and Rapping Robot" (2025), Melder analyzed real-world audience engagement with Keirzo, a drumming and rapping robot, during the Parramatta Lanes festival. Using natural language processing and manual dialogue categorization, she revealed how different age groups communicate with robotic performers, offering fresh insights into the social acceptance of creative AI. Though early in her career, with 3 citations to date, Melder's work is notable for bridging robotics with live public performance—a relatively underexplored domain. Her research has implications for designing more socially adept robots in entertainment, education, and public spaces. As a rising voice in human-robot interaction, Melder is helping shape how we understand and design for spontaneous, playful encounters between humans and machines.