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Two researchers from Utrecht University have been awarded an NWO grant for Humanities. This funding gives them the opportunity to carry out research on a subject of their own choice, without thematic preconditions. Researchers could apply for a budget of up to EUR 750,000. The laureates at Utrecht University are Prof. dr. Sandra Ponzanesi and Dr. Andrea Morrison. We would like to congratulate them for this achievement. If you are curious about their research, please read more about it below.

Virtual Reality as an Empathy Machine: Media, Migration and the Humanitarian Dilemma
Prof. Dr. S. Ponzanesi 
VR is considered the ultimate 'empathy machine,' allowing one to transcend the boundaries of one's own body and take in the perspective of another. For this reason, VR is increasingly used in humanitarian campaigns to bridge the distance between 'observer' and 'sufferer', with the aim of acquiring donations and strengthening social commitment. This project analyses the power and desirability of VR for humanitarian aid by combining media analysis, empirical research and a postcolonial approach, with the aim of developing alternative collaborative and participatory approaches.
 

Migration and Innovation: A Historical Perspective
Dr A. Morrison 
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the US received more than 30 million migrants fleeing poverty and persecution. Although the vast majority were unskilled, many were or became inventors. During this same period, the US also became a world leader in industry and technology. Is there a connection between this massive influx of diverse ideas and experiences that these migrants brought to the US and the rise of the US as a global technological superpower? This project answers this pressing question.