Alberto Vega Rivera, a first-year MFA candidate in Digital Animation and Interactive Media, has been awarded the Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility Project Graduate Grant. Alberto's project, "Ultrallanos: Stay and Resist," explores the resilience of residents in eastern Colombia amidst challenges such as illegality, economic crisis, and violence in their environment. It aims to depict their narratives, offering insight into understanding their coping strategies. The primary objective is to create an augmented reality (AR) experience, enabling audiences to engage with the stories of Ultrallanos' inhabitants through a virtual diorama on smartphones. This interactive platform will allow users to navigate the digital environment, interact with multimedia content, and discover the community's diverse experiences.

Funded by the Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme, the Armed Conflicts and Im/mobility project supports graduate student research and creative projects examining the impact of armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. It focuses on the decision-making process individuals face during crises: whether to flee or remain. Central to the project are challenges of mobility and immobility, including survival and community support. It aims to stimulate innovative documentary, artistic, and social responses. Open to Ohio State University graduate students, the grant offers up to $3000 each.

Congratulations, Alberto!