Assistant Professor of Games and Interactive Media, Sercan Sengun, and his team won the Tribeca X 2024 Award for Environmental Impact for Project Maji: Waters Of Change. Sengun showcased this project in the maker space at the downtown campus back in February during his workshop, as well as during the IEEE VR campus tour.
In an interview, Sercan describes his VR project, the inspiration behind the project, and what he hopes users will take away from their experience with Project Maji: Waters Of Change.
Please give a brief description of your recent VR project, Project Maji: Waters Of Change.
“Project Maji is an NGO that aims to provide sustainable access to clean water in Africa. The project focuses on an innovative model, in its design and management, of a solar powered water kiosk, and is supported by UNESCO. To promote Project Maji, a group of international talents have donated their efforts under UK-based Born Studios to develop Project Maji: Waters of Change, which is an innovative Virtual Reality experience designed to immerse users in the life of Dagbe, a 13-year-old girl from Ghana. This four-minute journey showcases the transformative impact of sustainable water access on Dagbe’s life and her community. By navigating through the challenges of water scarcity, users gain a profound understanding of global water issues and the significant positive changes brought about by Project Maji’s solutions.”
What was the inspiration for your VR project?
“The inspiration for Project Maji: Waters of Change stemmed from a desire to raise awareness about the global water crisis in a compelling and engaging way. We wanted to create an immersive tool that would not only educate but also inspire empathy and action. By focusing on Dagbe’s story, we aimed to humanize the statistics and provide a personal perspective on the profound impact that sustainable water access can have on individuals and communities.”
Which award did you receive? And what does this moment mean to you?
“With Project Maji: Waters of Change, We received the Tribeca X Award for Environmental Impact. This recognition is incredibly meaningful to us as it validates our efforts to leverage technology for social good. It highlights the importance of our message and the effectiveness of VR as a medium to convey powerful stories and drive change. This award also reinforces my personal commitment to using innovative solutions to tackle pressing global issues.”
What do you hope that users get from their experience with this VR project?
“I hope that users come away from Project Maji: Waters of Change with a deeper understanding of the global water crisis and its human impact. By experiencing Dagbe’s daily struggles and triumphs, we aim to foster empathy and a sense of urgency around the need for sustainable water solutions. Ultimately, we want to inspire users to advocate for change and support initiatives that ensure safe water access for all. Through this VR experience, I believe that we can empower individuals to recognize the critical role they can play in addressing water scarcity and improving lives.”
Written by Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on August 1st, 2024.
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