The Computational Media Ecosystem and Technology (COMET) Lab is an interdisciplinary research group in the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS), led by Assistant Professor Zening (“Ze”) Duan.


We study how digital platforms and artificial intelligence shape information ecosystems, public attention, and civic life. We seek to generate evidence that helps citizens, organizations, and policymakers worldwide navigate evolving information environments and contribute to more informed and inclusive digital societies.


Currently, we focus on the following lines of research:

• Online discourse on political and scientific issues (e.g., geopolitical conflicts, emerging technologies, climate change, and public health), and its implications for public opinion and civic engagement.
• Media ecosystems and public attention, including how digital platforms and artificial intelligence shape the production, circulation, visibility, and consumption of information and how these processes influence collective attention and public discourse.
• Human-AI interaction and civic technologies, including the use of AI to support political communication, public engagement, and information access, particularly among marginalized or high-stakes populations. Current projects examine AI-assisted political dialogue, AI-assisted message design, and the auditing of gendered and social biases in AI use and adoption.