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[Commlist] 2 PhD positions, 'VR as Empathy Machine'

Sat Jan 21 00:09:37 GMT 2023




2 PhD positions at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, within the project ‘Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine: Media, Migration and the Humanitarian’ funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)

Project Leader, Sandra Ponzanesi, Professor of Media, Gender and Postcolonial Studies.

The aim of “/Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine: Media, Migration and the Humanitarian Predicament/” is to make an innovative and urgent intervention into the field of VR for humanitarian communication by evaluating the potentialities and pitfalls of immersion and empathy through technological innovation.

This project will critically investigate the role of VR for humanitarian appeals by asking how and to what extent humanitarian VR can function as an empathy machine, bridging the distance between viewers and mediated others. It will do so by researching the impact of VR for humanitarian appeals, in particular concerning issues around migration and refugees.

For this purpose, the project will combine media analysis and empirical research through a postcolonial approach, with one of the dissemination results also being the creation of an alternative VR projects and collaborative practices. The project draws from different disciplinary fields such as (digital) media studies, postcolonial theory, science and technology studies, psychology, gender studies, anthropology, development studies, conflict studies, game and film studies and humanitarian communication

Currently, the following two PhD positions are available:

1.PhD1: Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine: *critical media analysis* in humanitarian communication

https://www.uu.nl/organisatie/werken-bij-de-universiteit-utrecht/vacatures/phd-in-virtual-reality-as-empathy-machine-critical-media-analysis-in-humanitarian-communication-10 <https://www.uu.nl/organisatie/werken-bij-de-universiteit-utrecht/vacatures/phd-in-virtual-reality-as-empathy-machine-critical-media-analysis-in-humanitarian-communication-10>

The role of *PhD1* will be to offer a media analysis of VR affordances, cinematic and narrative strategies (360-degree videos, installations and documentaries) dealing with migration and refugees. This PhD project will focus on how VR affects the relationship between spectator and distant sufferer through its immersive affordances, cinematic strategies and alternative storytelling techniques.

PhD1 will have a background in media studies, with a specific focus on new, immersive and interactive technologies, such as games and VR.

1.PhD2: /Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine//:/*validation research on *humanitarian communication

https://www.uu.nl/organisatie/werken-bij-de-universiteit-utrecht/vacatures/phd-in-virtual-reality-as-empathy-machine-validation-research-on-humanitarian-communication-10-fte

The role of *PhD2* will be to perform empirical research and develop interdisciplinary methods to test and validate the persuasiveness of VR as an ‘empathy machine’ and assess whether VR leads to actions and enhanced public engagement. This PhD project will focus on how we can empirically assess the effect of and response to VR for humanitarian purposes.

PhD2 will have a background in media, psychology or the social sciences, and expertise in validation methods and participant observations.

More info: https://vrmigration.sites.uu.nl/

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