THIBODAUX, La. — What is the potential of using virtual reality for personal empowerment? That is a question that Nicholls State University Assistant Professor of Art Marjan Khatibi will explore as a panelist at the 2022 Broadcast Education Association Conference this month.
The BEA Conference will be held April 23-26 in Las Vegas. The panel is titled, “Enhancing Digital Empowerment through Extended Reality,” and Khatibi’s presentation focuses on, “Empowering through Virtual Reality.”
Khatibi says she is focused on how VR can aid in personal empowerment regarding social issues.
“Through this presentation, I will discuss how VR provides an opportunity to empower people to develop their self-esteem in a way that gains a deeper understanding of their surroundings and allows them to see the world in a new way,” she said. “As a result, it can help raise awareness of social topics, including mental health and humanitarian issues, by inciting empathy to drive societal change.”
Through her presentation, Khatibi will discuss initiatives such as #EmpowerThroughVR, focusing on how VR is used to reflect on issues such as the Afghanistan Crisis and how it can benefit healthcare to further research around the world.
BEA is an international academic media organization that highlights the insights and excellence in media production and provides opportunities for career development for educators, students and professionals. Their annual convention hosts 250 sessions on media education, networking, hands-on technology workshops, research and scholarships.