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