This historic milestone marks the first Canada Research Chair appointments for Emily Carr University of Art + Design recognizing the institution’s capacity, faculty and contributions-to-date in the fields of art, media and design research.

This autumn, the Canadian Government announced 137 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 34 post-secondary institutions across the country. The esteemed group will receive an investment of more than $118 million in education and research funding to promote innovation and the advancement of the country’s knowledge economy by supporting top-tier talent at Canadian post-secondary institutions.

“We are honoured that our University and the work of Dr. Garnet Hertz and Amber Frid-Jimenez are being recognized by the Government of Canada,” says Dr. David Bogen, Vice President Academic + Provost, Emily Carr University of Art + Design. “The appointment of our first Canada Research Chairs is significant at every level – for our institution’s culture of research, for our academic programs, and for our students who will work directly with some of today’s greatest artists, designers, and scholars in their prospective fields.”

The allocation of Chairs to individual universities is an integral part of the Canada Research Chairs program. Firstly, the allocation process ensures a dynamic program that responds to shifting research success at Canada’s academic institutions. Secondly, the process works to attract and retain individuals who are recognized as the worlds most accomplished and promising researchers. Chair-holders aim to achieve research excellence in their areas of study and strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness, as they improve depth of knowledge, quality of life, and develop the next generation through student supervision, teaching and research creation and coordination.

Amber Frid-Jimenez

Dr. Amber Frid-Jimenez is an artist, designer and writer whose work explores the role of technology in contemporary society. She has presented her work internationally at venues including Casco Office for Art, Design and Theory, Ars Electronica, and the Smithsonian Institution, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Huffington Post and the CBC, among others. Frid-Jimenez has won numerous awards and grants and has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Program for Art, Culture and Technology, the Bergen National Academy of Art & Design in Norway, and most recently at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She holds a Masters in Media Arts and Sciences from the M.I.T. Media Lab where she studied with John Maeda. Frid-Jimenez has a background in visual art and philosophy.

Learn about the Studio for Extensive Aesthetics (SEA) in our Research Department.

Dr. Garnet Hertz

Associate Professor Dr. Garnet Hertz’s work explores themes of DIY culture and interdisciplinary art/design practices. His work has been shown at several notable international venues including SIGGRAPH, Arts Electronica, and DEAF, and he was awarded the 2008 Oscar Signorini Award in robotic art. He is the founder and director of Dorkbot SoCal, a monthly Los Angeles-based lecture series, has taught at the Art Center College of Design, the University of California, Irvine, and is now Associate Professor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Hertz will establish The Studio for Critical Making at Emily Carr, which will be a research facility to explore how humanities-based modes of critical inquiry – like the arts and ethics – can be directly applied to building better product concepts and information technologies. In this approach, the lab will work to replace the traditional engineering goals of efficiency, speed or usability with more complex cultural, social and human-oriented values. The end result is technology that is more culturally relevant, socially engaged and personalized.

Learn about the Centre for Critical Making in our Research Department.

About Research at Emily Carr University of Art + Design

The Emily Carr research culture is a strategically important element of the University. We lead the country in contributions made to research in studio-based art, design and media. The Intersections Digital Studios (IDS) are the home of research and industry partnership at Emily Carr and include dedicated facilities that support four Research Centres; two Canada Research Chairs; three themed studios; the Career + Co-Op Office, and the Research + Ethics Board. The IDS bridge digital and material practices, advancing knowledge in unique fields and pursuing interdisciplinary experimentation leading to discovery and innovation for the benefit of community, culture and economy.

Find out more about Research at Emily Carr.