Dr. Anthony Scavarelli

Professor, Algonquin College

Education

BIT-IMD, 2011
MASc HCI, 2015
PhD IT, 2023

Employment since graduation

Web Developer and Graphic Designer, Public Health Agency of Canada: 2008 – 2011 Freelance developer, designer, artist: 2011 – 2018 Co-Founder, Luminartists (Interactive Installation Art and Business Creators): 2012 – 2017 Professor, Algonquin College: 2017 – Present

Details on their current work

In addition to my role as an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University, continuing research into more inclusive virtual reality for social learning spaces, I teach several courses in the Bachelor of Information Technology: Interactive Multimedia and Design joint program between Carleton University and Algonquin College. I teach an introduction to 3D character animation with Autodesk Maya, a sensor-based interaction course with a creative coding focus using Openframeworks (C++) and Arduino (C), and a third-year design studio exploring and building multi-platform multi-user virtual reality (WebXR). In my courses, we aim to also critically evaluate and discuss emerging technologies and their effects on society and culture.

How did the program prepare them for their career?

The BIT-IMD program was ideal for someone like me interested in how everything works in technology, art, and design. I am not comfortable being a follower of other’s paths, so providing a foundation for understanding how to create my unique path through technology and culture was essential to challenging me to be a better designer, developer, artist, researcher, entrepreneur, and technological citizen. The program introduced me to a considerable variety of tools and skills, helping me to understand how technology is created and used, and having access to professors with a wide range of perspectives and skill sets was inspiring. I carry what I have learned toward my present and future goals of being a better teacher and researcher.

Future Goals

My future goals are to continue to build my research portfolio around creating more inclusive immersive technologies for society. Specifically, this includes collaborating with other researchers and communities and taking on more mentorship roles to work towards leading a research team to create more positivist and powerful exemplars and lessons around how we create immersive technologies that help us all rise.

Advice for students

To be agile. To be resilient. To keep learning. In exploring how to create technology, we are empowered to understand how it can reshape the culture and society around us. It is complicated, full of uncertain paths with many dead ends and rejections. However, it is a privilege to understand and have the skillsets to shape how these technologies affect our lives and those around us. Ideally, if enough of us become active participants and ambassadors in its creation, the technology will become more diverse, inclusive, and a more authentic and empowering reflection of us into a better future. We get it wrong more than we get it right, but that is part of the journey – a journey with no end in sight. I challenge us all to keep trying.