VCUarts Qatar faculty awarded VCU Quest Fund

Two VCUarts Qatar faculty members, Maysaa Al-Mumin, Assistant Professor, Art Foundation, and Joshua Rodenberg, Head of Innovative Media Studios, have been awarded the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Quest Fund for their research projects. 

The VCU Quest Fund is offered by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, VCU, Richmond. The fund supports emerging or continuing research in any discipline or area of research focus, particularly those that advance transdisciplinary research, multidisciplinary research, cross-campus collaboration and research with a high potential for translation to practice or market.

Al-Mumin’s project “Shubak: A Short Animated Film” focuses on increasing the visibility of the underrepresented demographic of women over seventy within cinema and highlights the ramifications of their physical and emotional challenges. The title “Shubak” means “Triple Glazing” or window in Arabic. The film will be executed through live-action and animation techniques, allowing for expressive storytelling using elements of magic realism, dark comedy, and drama.

Rodenberg’s project, “Arctic Resonance: Exploring Oceanic Oscillations through Sonic Artistry,” aims to create immersive sonic compositions that evoke a sense of place and highlight the interconnectedness of Arctic ecosystems. Rodenberg will capture oceanic oscillations in the Arctic Circle by recording environmental audio. These audio recordings will be transformed into instrumentation. The project contextualizes oceanic oscillations within broader and critical narratives of climate change, ecological dynamics, and human impacts, fostering reflection and dialogue on environmental issues.