This project is only available for domestic PhD students. Contact Penny Kyburz (penny.kyburz@anu.edu.au) with a short (<1 page) proposal outlining how you would approach this project and your skills/interest in this project.
This project is part of the Next Generation AI Graduates Program on Human-AI Interaction in the Metaverse: https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/funding-programs/funding/Next-Generation-Graduates-Programs/Awarded-programs/Human-AI-Interaction-Metaverse
You will work in a multi-disciplinary team, in collaboration with industry partners and supervisors. The project includes a 41,650 stipend and a placement with our partner organisation, Portable, as well as training provided by CSIRO and a cost of living allowance of $5,000, training allowance of $5,000 per year (to cover courses, workshops, conferences, networking, collaboration) and travel allowance of $5,000 (in addition to ANU-provided funding). See funding details here: https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/funding-programs/funding/Next-Generation-Graduates-Programs/NextGen-scholarship-information
This project will involve an interdisciplinary approach to developing justice spaces in the metaverse. Students will use game development tools to construct and test digital courtroom spaces, in collaboration with a diverse team of researchers, spanning computer science, criminology, and psychology.
Students should possess skills in game development, as well as a background and/or interest in law, psychology, or criminology. Thesis topic would be negotiated with academic supervisors depending on skills and interests, but could include issues such as: emotions and rituals in the metaverse; empathy, judicial authority or fairness in virtual courts; avatar realism and credibility; using AI in the metaverse courtroom; virtual journeys to court; and the case for virtual juries.