DERC applies cutting edge ethnographic approaches to better understand how digital tech impacts our present lives and potential futures.

Our researchers work alongside students, communities, governmental or nonprofit agencies, and corporate partners to explore the creative possibilities of digital technologies as well as the social, economic, and political impacts. Our expertise ranges from studies of everyday lived experience, workplace and organizational analysis, policy and strategy analysis, design ethnography, co-design workshops, and creative collaborations with communities of practice.

Hosted by RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, DERC offers world class training ground for PhD students. Ranked as one of the top two research centres in Australia focused on the social impact of digital media, DERC welcomes visiting artists, activists, and scholars from around the world.

News

image of speaker and title of talk

How Autoethnographic are you?

Annette Markham launches the 2021 Autoethnography PhD Summer School June 7, 2021, from 10:30-12:00 CET. Recording will be available on request

Events, News posted on June 3, 2021

DERC teams up with Roskilde University for the 2021 Autoethnography PhD Course

RMIT's Digital Ethnography Research Centre and Roskilde University in Denmark are collaborating to offer a PhD symposium and course in June 2021.

News posted on March 12, 2021

India Internship
India Internship

DERC / India Internship

The DERC Internship aims to extend the realm of digital research, questions, and methodologies to Indian students, particularly from regional universities.

News posted on February 8, 2021

DERC Researchers Rowan Wilken and James Meese awarded ARC Discovery Project

Rowan Wilken and James Meese have been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Project for their project 5G and the Future of Public Telecommunications.

News posted on November 14, 2020

DERC Researcher Haiqing Yu awarded ARC Future Fellowship

Haiqing Yu's project examines the development of the social credit system in China from a cultural and social perspective.

News posted on August 2, 2020

abstract image of corona virus

DERC’s research on COVID continues to surge ahead

We may have been in lockdown, but that didn’t stop DERC researchers from launching several projects to study the pandemic.

News posted on July 21, 2020

Tweets

51m

New book by DERC's Gretchen Coombs: The Lure of the Social: Encounters with Contemporary Artists (2021) Intellect.
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/L/bo68884796.html
#DERCresearchers #ethnographymatters @dcpecp @RMIT

Reply on Twitter 1420598720207405057Retweet on Twitter 14205987202074050571Like on Twitter 14205987202074050579Twitter 1420598720207405057
27 Jul

Crypto satellite companies are competing to provide blockchain services in space. What does it mean for decentralization and resilience? Article by @kelsiemvn in @Cointelegraph #digitalethnography #DERCreserachers @ResearchRMIT @RMIT
http://ow.ly/adGf50FEfjX

Reply on Twitter 1419891557545697280Retweet on Twitter 14198915575456972803Like on Twitter 14198915575456972809Twitter 1419891557545697280
26 Jul

The Art of Tacit Learning in Serious Location-Based Games: @jacob_sheahan & DERC's @huedavies and @micronarrative 's new article on location-based games.
#DigitalMethods #DERCresearchers @ResearchRMIT @dcpecp http://ow.ly/JvGl50FB4V6

Reply on Twitter 1419462583002742784Retweet on Twitter 14194625830027427844Like on Twitter 141946258300274278415Twitter 1419462583002742784
23 Jul

DERC researcher @EllieCFlorence has been awarded the @HumanitiesAU 2021 Publication Subsidy Scheme. Her book "Traces of aerial bombing in Berlin: Entangled remembering" will be published by @BloomsburyAcad in 2022. http://ow.ly/QCPL50FBVPM
@ResearchRMIT @dcpecp @RMIT

Reply on Twitter 1418385353480851458Retweet on Twitter 14183853534808514582Like on Twitter 141838535348085145810Twitter 1418385353480851458
22 Jul

DERC's @ElinorRennie, with Tyson Yunkaporta, has released a new episode of the Disconnect podcast. Called "Wrong Story" this episode explores online disinformation in a colonial context. Follow Tyson down the rabbit hole! http://bit.ly/3vnyosC #DERCresearchers

Reply on Twitter 1418016712138579971Retweet on Twitter 14180167121385799715Like on Twitter 141801671213857997110Twitter 1418016712138579971