Phd position in computer sciences and arts and culture

Offer Description

Interactive Narratives to enhance Museographic Design for Historical Themes

European culture shares multiple historical legacies, with contrasting voices and plural narratives. This is especially true for heritage related to conflict, discordant stories and lack of agreement and consistency in the way the past is represented in public spheres. The challenge for contemporary museography is to overcome traditional exhibition strategies in conveying the ethical and emotional complexity of these topics and avoiding visitor disengagement or defensive reactions.

The design of exhibitions must reveal the diverse positions and address complex themes interdisciplinarily, provide an encompassing and deep perspective, convey awareness in tourism, education and communication of historical heritage.

Technologies like eXtended Reality (XR) and interactive narratives offer significant potential to transform museum mediation, to represent alternative views and have the power to engage young audiences. However, their application in sensitive heritage contexts remains under explored, especially in the adequate representation of cultural values. The demand is for digital artifacts that are not only attractive but have a significant cultural impact
on the audiences.

This doctoral thesis investigates how the design of user-centered technological frameworks can enhance the visitor experience. The aim is to develop and evaluate a methodological framework that guides the creation of ethical digital tools capable of fostering empathy, critical thinking, and multi-perspectivity without trivializing the content. Through a research-creation approach, combining case study analysis with the design and testing of a
prototype, this project will offer a robust theoretical and practical model for museums to address difficult pasts more effectively and resonantly in the digital age.

This PhD position is part of the Cultural Heritage Outreach in Rom Ance Languages (CHORAL) programme, a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie programme co-funded by the European Union
. This prestigious programme is linked to UNITA’s Cultural Heritage Hub, an international research network within the Alliance, which structures its research ecosystem facing cultural related challenges.

CHORAL aims to train high-quality international researchers and to nurture the development of interdisciplinary, international and inter-sectoral research that addresses any aspect of cultural heritage. While rooted in cultural heritage,
the programme spans a wide range of scientific domains
, including architecture, anthropology, arts and culture, computer science, history, literature, linguistics, management, and more.

Selected candidates will be enrolled in PhD programmes under joint supervision, awarding a double degree and requiring international mobility
.

This offer is part of the MSCA-COFUND CHORAL programme, which will finance 14 positions out of 20 positions offered.

Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the date of the call deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

Applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to provide proof of proficiency in the language, as CHORAL’s working language is English.

Candidates must be in possession of a valid identity card (for EU citizens) or a valid passport (for visa application, if selected).

The call is open to researchers of any nationality.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

At the close of the call, the candidate must be a doctoral candidate, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the call, but in possession of a Master’s Degree enabling to do a PhD in Social Science, Arts, Architecture and Humanities applied to cultural heritage.

Any candidate in possession of the required diploma can apply regardless of the year of obtention of the diploma.

MSCA…