An exciting new chapter for the LDE GMD Centre! We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Amanda Paz Alencar, Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam (ESHCC), as the new Academic Executive Board (AEB) member.
With a thematic interest focusing on the intersection of communication technologies and forced migration, Amanda brings a unique research background to the GMD community. Her work, which employs qualitative and digital ethnographic methodologies, fosters a deep understanding of how digital media influences refugees' experiences of belonging and integration. Amanda's extensive research with refugee communities in Europe and the Americas has shed light on the complex relationships between digital technology adoption and integration opportunities and vulnerabilities. Her funded projects on digital place-making, translocal networks, and forced displacement in various countries have further enriched her expertise. Notably, Amanda has received grants to develop research projects such as "Translocal Lives" and "Becoming a Rotterdammer," which have made significant contributions to the study of refugee integration in Rotterdam.
Amanda is enthusiastic about joining the GMD as she sees the centre's interdisciplinary environment as a unique opportunity for collaboration across disciplines like migration, sociology, anthropology, and urban studies. Amanda believes GMD offers more than just research opportunities; it provides a platform for policy engagement and societal impact through evidence-based policies and interventions. She is eager to participate in GMD's activities, fostering connections and collaborations within and beyond the centre. Moreover, she plans to leverage her role as academic coordinator for the SEOS program to create valuable partnerships between SEOS and GMD, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the centre's research agenda.
We are excited about the new venture and the unique perspectives and opportunities Amanda will bring to the GMD Centre. Read the full interview below to learn more about Amanda's work, her motivation to join LDE GMD, and what she wishes to bring to the centre.
The warmest welcome to the LDE GMD centre, Amanda! Could you tell us more about your academic background and your thematic interests?
My research interests lie at the intersection of communication technologies and forced migration. I combine qualitative and (digital) ethnographic methodologies with participatory approaches to investigate how digital media are shaping refugees’ experiences of belonging and integration processes. For over a decade, I have conducted extensive research with diverse refugee communities in Europe and the Americas to understand the intricate relationships between their adoption of digital technologies and the opportunities it presents, as well as the vulnerabilities it may generate, for integration in host countries. I have also worked on several funded projects related to digital place-making, translocal networks, and forced displacement in the Netherlands, Brazil, Uganda and Spain. Building upon this line of research, I received the Vital Cities and Citizens-Trustfunds Grant to develop the “Translocal Lives” research project, which aimed at studying the ways in which digital media technologies can be effectively and creatively employed by newcomers in Rotterdam to enhance their social inclusion. More recently, I have been involved in the “Becoming a Rotterdammer” project, funded through the City Lab Grant by the Municipality of Rotterdam. In this project, our team explored the strategies adopted by refugees to feel more at home and how these strategies can facilitate improved (digital) responses to refugee integration in the city of Rotterdam.
Could you tell us more about what motivates you to join the GMD Centre?
I am enthusiastic to join a centre dedicated to research on migration and migration-related diversity for several reasons. First, GMD provides a unique interdisciplinary environment for collaboration and knowledge exchange that enables the integration of various epistemologies and approaches. I am eager to engage with experts from different disciplines, such as migration, sociology, anthropology, public administration, and urban studies, among others, to collectively address the multi-disciplinary dilemma of migration and diversity. Second, participating in a migration research centre like GMD opens doors to policy engagement and societal impacts. Its interconnected network of experts brings a wealth of knowledge and insights that have the potential to inform evidence-based policies, contribute to public debates, and facilitate practical interventions addressing migration-related issues. Furthermore, being part of GMD offers a stimulating and supportive environment for professional growth and development, such as involvement in mentorship, research funding applications, and participation in conferences, workshops, and events. Lastly, I am driven by the opportunity to contribute to advancing the centre’s research agenda by leveraging my extensive experience in studying the intersection of digital technologies and refugee processes.
What do you look forward to participating in the GMD AEB, and what would you like to bring to the centre?
In my new role as a member of the AEB, I aim to actively engage in the different activities organized by the GMD team, creating opportunities for connections and collaborations both within and beyond the centre. Alongside my academic work related to forced displaced populations, I have been co-organizing several initiatives and events focused on media and migration with various stakeholders at Erasmus University, the Foundation for Refugee Students in the Netherlands (UAF), Stichting Mano, New Momentum Research Consultancy, UNHCR, among others. Simultaneous, in my work as the academic coordinator for the SEOS (Superdiversity in Education, Organizations, and Society) program, a new European joint-master program under the UNIC framework, I plan to foster collaborations in education, research, and practical projects with the GMD Centre. I would like to combine these two roles to create valuable partnerships and explore avenues for cooperation between the SEOS program and the GMD Centre.