A project by:
TRANSFORM: Accelerating sustainability entrepreneurship experiments in local spaces +
Bepart Società Cooperativa impresa Sociale
ELEMENTs: Disaster risk reduction and adaptation in extreme risk communities –place-based transformations in a changing planet.
Introduction
As we observe the growing intensity and impacts of natural hazards associated with climate change, such as extreme heat, fluvial and pluvial floods, forest fires, and coastal hurricanes, our comprehension and approach to resilience will need to evolve and rapidly adapt to better understand fundamental changes in communities experiencing disasters. This shift implies a capacity of different actors to manage and recover from such events, as they may face more frequent challenges, which call for robust coordination and understanding risk reduction to implement adaptation solutions.
Therefore, it is essential to mobilize and empower communities to understand the disaster risk and the potential consequences and transformations due to disasters in the long run. A key role for science is to provide tools and methods to help communities actively engage in building capacities and supporting individuals, organizations, and people in determining the path towards resilience. However, art- based activities have the power to reach different city and community-level actors to reflect on changes due to climate impacts and efforts to reduce the risks posed by landslides, extreme heat, floods, forest fires, and hurricanes.
A main objective of this pilot project is to use art and digital art-based process to elevate public discourse around agency and risk in the context of a changing climate.
The project ELEMENTs will be led by Dr. Jose DiBella a researcher from the TRANSFORM project and Manager of Research and Partnerships at the Waterloo Climate Institute in the University of Waterloo in partnership with Bepart Public Imagination Movement. The selected artist will work with the partners to create a diffuse augmented reality for a public exhibition in the city of Ottawa and Waterloo. Each installation will be seen using the application to see the three-dimensional animations.
The goal is to test and develop a new exhibition technique from augmented reality technologies that can use remote sensed imagery, draw inspiration from an existing climate and sustainability research data to develop a mixed art medium to present a three-dimensional animated render that illustrates visions of sustainability and resilience-oriented reconstruction in locations devastated by a disaster.
This call intends to enrol a student to work with our team over the summer 2024.
Tasks
- Participate in the weekly meetings.
- Various support activities in the implementation of the pilot project, including supporting the organization of the research and artist workshop.
- Develop one animation for the project in coordination with the researcher. Skills required
This call is for students with 2D and 3D interdisciplinary skills in multimedia
production. By way of example, skills such as graphic and game design, modeling,
animation, digital/analogical illustration, and three-dimensional programming,
visual fx, 3D art, technical art are sought. For this purpose, knowledge, and use of
at least one of the main 3D graphics software (Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, etc.) is
required and knowledge of the Unity render engine is recommended.
Participation is open to anyone across the University of Waterloo registered as a student, regardless of age, gender or background.
The selected student will receive:
- A Graduate Research Assistant GRA pay range of $43.77/hour to $52.08/hour for up to 5 hours per week.
- Training and technical, theoretical, and practical accompaniment on the language of augmented reality.
- Promotion and new opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary and international research – knowledge mobilization project for climate action.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2024 directly to: Taginder Clair, Research Manager, TRANSFORM Project to the email: taginder.clair@uwaterloo.ca
In which the following information’s should be included: personal and contact information, technical skills short description, curriculum vitae, and a portfolio of works already created (as an alternative to the portfolio, it is possible to send links that refer to websites and digital platforms).
Additional information can be requested by sending an email to jose.dibella@uwaterloo.ca, which will endeavor to respond within one business day.
