Ana Rita Morais, MA, PhD (ABD)

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Ana Rita Morais,
MA, PhD (ABD)

Biography

Ana Rita Morais is a Doctoral Candidate in the Communication and Culture Program at Ryerson University. As a mobile media scholar, she is marveled by the shift in the role of screens as a remediation of passive information surfaces, to those that seemingly read and react to environments. Reflected in her research, she believes that accessible technology has the capacity to cultivate new forms of knowledge, inaccessible via other methods. Her doctoral research-creation project develops an augmented reality app entitled me-dérive: [toronto]. The software enables a new mode of vision and an alternative world of experience, that acts as a nomadic, visual archive of Toronto urban space.

She has devoted much of her academic and professional career to investigating mobile media through various projects, some of which have made intersections into senior populations, developed models for use patterns, theorized the socio-technical capabilities of the cameraphone, and finally explored the ways in which augmented reality can be used to enhance historical, marginalized narratives. She is the Coordinator for the Media Foundation program at George Brown College, where she is also an Instructor in the Interaction Design and Development program. She holds a BA (Honours) in Communication and Professional Writing (York University), and an MA in Communication and Culture (York University).

Ana Rita's research interests and expertise are broad and often encompass thorough investigations of archival material, cartography, digital culture and space/place. She has taught a range of design, media and communication courses across various colleges and universities in Toronto, published and presented her research at several international conferences (including at both MIT and Oxford), and has conducted workshops and paneled discussions on various topics.

Academic Credentials

PhD, Communication & Culture, Ryerson University, 2013–Present

Master of Arts, Communication and Culture, York University, 2012

Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication & Professional Writing, York University, 2010

Areas of Specialization

Media and Culture

Cultural Studies

Media History

Communications

Social Media

Interaction Design

Mobile and Locative Media

Theories of Technology

Space and Place

Areas of Expertise

Mobile Media

Social Media Expert

Research Assistant

Innovation

Consulting

Think Tanks

Speaker

Non-Profit Advocate

Digital Media Scholar

Career Highlights

2016-Present: Coordinator, Media Foundation Program, George Brown College

2016-Present: Professor, George Brown College

2016-Present: Contract Lecturer, Creative Industries, Ryerson University

2015-Present: World Class World Cities (WC2) Scholar, Ryerson University

2015-Present: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellow, Ryerson University

2013-Present: Teaching Assistant, Ryerson University

2013-2015: Executive Director, Children of Light Charitable Organization

2010-2016: Research Assistant, York University

Other Activities

Workshop Facilitator – Design Day: Reach Ahead Workshop for Secondary Students, George Brown College, May 2017

Moderator – Women in the Creative Industries: Panel Event, Ryerson University, February 2017

Reviewer – International Communication Association (ICA) Conference Blind Review, 2015-2016

Student Faculty Advisor – WC2 Global Cultures, TU Berlin, August 2015

Chair – Intersections/Cross-Sections Student Conference, York University, 2015-2016

PhD Representative – Graduate Student Association, York University-Ryerson University, 2015-2016

Awards

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, 2015

RECODE Grant, Ryerson & McConnell Foundation, 2015

WC2 Scholar, Ryerson University, 2015

Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ryerson University, 2014

Rogers-OGS Fellowship, Rogers Canada, 2014

SSHRC, MA CGS, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, 2010

York University Graduate Scholarship, York University, 2010

York University Continuing Scholarship, York University, 2009

York University Entrance Scholarship, York University, 2005