Faculties:
- Arts, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
- Engineering, Department Management Science and Engineering
Country of origin: Canada
Academic degrees and institutions:
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) - Software Engineering and Game Design (McMaster University, 2014)
- Masters of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) - Software Engineering (McMaster University, 2017)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Software Engineering (McMaster University, 2023)
Describe your work and how it embodies the nature of the Interdisciplinary program.
It's in our nature to use stories to exchange information and perspectives, which help us tackle cultural and social challenges with a deeper awareness of and empathy for others. As an alternative to traditional forms of media, Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) are an exciting way for people to actively engage with stories that promote social change by exploring complex social issues such as climate change, health awareness, and humanitarian crises. While there are already promising examples of IDNs promoting social change, the field is relatively young, and we do not understand the implications of using IDNs to promote social change in a responsible way. The goal of my current research is to examine the relationship between a programmed digital system, an individual's interactions with that system, and that individual's perception of IDNs. This will help us identify ways to develop and evaluate IDNs in service of satisfying pro-social learning experiences. Working towards this goal requires knowledge and expertise from both art and science, including disciplines such as: Human-Computer Interactions (HCI); User Experience (UX); psychology; computer science and software engineering; game design; and narrative and media studies.
What are some activities you hope to accomplish during your postdoctoral appointment at University of Waterloo?
In terms of my research goal, I hope to forward our knowledge of Interactive Digital Narrative (IDN) development and evaluation so that it becomes a viable option for individuals such as journalists, educators, and developers to create and share their stories. This includes finding story patterns that support an individual's interactions with programmed system; patterns for designing interactivity in service of learning; ways to evaluate an individual's understanding of stories and the issues they present. As part of this work, I hope to establish relationships between existing departments and scholarly groups at the University of Waterloo, such as Waterloo HCI and the Games Institute, and with cultural groups across Ontario who wish to tell their stories.
Have you been the recipient of any other major or donor-funded awards?
- McMaster University Dean's Award for Excellence in Communicating Graduate Research (2022)
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) (2020)
Do you have any relevant academic projects you would like to share?
I'm designing, implementing, and testing EMgine (Emotion Engine), a software library for evaluating what emotion a computer-controlled game character (Non-Player Character) is experiencing in the current game state. My goal is to improve the character's believability to emotionally engage players and enhance their engagement with the game as a whole. I'm creating EMgine so that game designers retain maximum control over their characters' in-game behaviours. This means that game designers decide when, how, and which elements of EMgine to use. You can check out the progress on EMgine's development on GitHub: https://github.com/GenevaS/EMgine
Why did you choose the University of Waterloo?
The variety of disciplines represented by the University of Waterloo makes it an ideal place to conduct this interdisciplinary work in the exciting and emerging field of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs). The research takes a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach to interactive systems which aims to make interactive systems more usable by focusing on the use of the system. This focuses research efforts on the individual participating in the narrative presented by IDN systems. As leaders in the field of Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), which critically focuses on HCD, the interdisciplinary research of Drs. Lennart Nacke and Mark Hancock overlaps with the crucial interactivity element of IDNs. These individuals are also part of the Waterloo HCI consortium and the Games Institute, two interdisciplinary groups at the University of Waterloo that will prove invaluable to our research into IDN development and evaluation.
What are you most looking forward to about joining the postdoctoral scholar's community at the University of Waterloo?
I'm eager to meet postdoctoral scholars from different disciplines and learning how to communicate and work effectively together. I'm also excited to join a supportive community that shares and celebrates in each other's accomplishments and challenges us to push our boundaries.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy consuming stories in any form (e.g. games, books, comics, movies), appreciating nature, and drinking good tea.