Julia Verne

M6-MA Advanced Seminar: Research Concept "A Virtual Approach to Development - #hashtags, VR, apps"

Dozent:innen: Prof. Dr. Julia Verne
Kurzname: M6-MA AS
Kurs-Nr.: 09.050.620
Kurstyp: Seminar
Format: hybrid

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches

Schedule:

1. Introduction: Empirical Snapshots (14.4.)

Block I: Conceptual background
2. Technology & Development: a historical overview (21.4.)
3. Science & Technology Studies (28.4.)
4. Postcolonial technoscience (5.5.)
5. Additional concepts with regard to the group’s research interests (19.5.)

Block II:
6. A digital/virtual approach to development: recent examples (9.6.)
7. Thematic introduction to the selected case studies (16.6.)
8. Review of research questions (23.6.)
9. Submission/presentation of research concept (proposal) (30.6.)

Block III:
10. Exploratory research (7.7.)
11. Main phase of empirical research (2 weeks in July/August depending on the different groups’ preferences)
12. Interpretation and structuring of empirical material with peer-feedback(1.9., full day)
13. Possibly: visit of UN Campus and expert interviews in Bonn (tbc)
14. Presentation and discussion of results (15.09., full day, tbc)

The deadline for the submission of the final research report will be determined in consultation with the course. A suggestion would be the 1st of October 2021.




Inhalt

“A Virtual Approach to Development - #hashtags, VR, apps”

The rise of information and communication technologies has had a considerable impact on Development over the last decades. ICT4D was just the first in a row of new headings indicating the digital transformation of the field. However, while some simply seem to celebrate the increasing use of mobile phones and diverse apps, drones or sensor technologies, what has often been missing is a more critical look at how exactly digital technologies are altering development.

Due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, this research seminar will not be able to focus observe the ways in which digital technologies inform development practice in project sites in the Global South. Instead, the different technologies will allow us access to those actors doing and designing development and how they actually conceptualize and represent their work. This, in turn, will enable us to contribute to current debates on the relationship between technology and development, especially in the context of postcolonial and post-development critiques.

In a first step, we will therefore engage with theoretical ideas on the role of technologies for development, post-development and post colonialism, with a special reference to the field of science and technology studies.
This will lead us into discussions of methodological approaches in which the diverse ways of engaging with digital technologies will play a major role. Drawing on recent publications such as the „Advice on digital ethnography for the pandemic times“ (Goralska 2020), we will critically engage with the potential and limitations of such methods in order to develop convincing research designs.

Potential topics for the small research groups in which the empirical work will take place will be (but are not limited to):
(1) Online representations of development in different social media (blogs, instagram, facebook etc.)
(2) The Virtual Reality Films of the UN SDG Action Campaign
(3) Mobile Phone Applications developed under the umbrella of ICT4D
In all three fields, research questions may centre on: encountering difference, intercultural communication, „volontourism“, representations of development, conceptualizations of humans and/or technologies in the Global South, authorship and data management/policies a.o.

If the situation allows, we may be able to organize a short 2-3 trip to the UN Campus and other development organisations in Bonn to expand our empirical material by conducting expert interviews. Moreover, depending on the research focus of the different groups, other trips related to the empirical research may be possible.

Overall, the fact that the research projects will not be scheduled around a fixed period of empirical research, allows us to pursue a more iterative research process in which theoretical readings and empirical experiences may inform each other and lead to a more in-depth engagement over a prolonged period of time. While the course will start online, small group sessions and outdoor feedback meetings may become possible over the summer.

Termine

Datum (Wochentag) Zeit Ort
14.04.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
21.04.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
28.04.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
05.05.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
19.05.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
09.06.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
16.06.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
23.06.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
30.06.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
07.07.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 12:00 Online
01.09.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 18:00 Gelände
15.09.2021 (Mittwoch) 09:00 - 18:00 Gelände