Ana Luisa Sanchez Laws

Ana Luisa Sanchez Laws is an Associate Professor in Media and Design at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research focuses on identity, belonging, and the role of new technologies in cultural and social contexts. She holds a PhD from the University of Bergen, Norway, where her work centered on inclusive representations of identity and history in Panamanian museums.

Her research explores digital technologies like virtual reality in museums, immersive journalism, and their applications in peace studies, consciousness research, and conflict transformation. Key projects include developing digital games for historical education in Panamanian museums and multitouch prototypes for pedagogical use. She collaborates with institutions such as the Panama Viejo Museum and Questacon Science Centre.

Publications include Panamanian Museums and Historical Memory (2011), Museum Websites and Social Media (2015, 2nd ed. 2019), and Conceptualising Immersive Journalism (2019). Her work intersects with peace studies, PTSD, and virtual reality's impact on self-consciousness and presence.

She co-leads research on perception and learning with Kamilla Bergsnev, applying VR-based systems to psychological studies. Her projects emphasize ethical and participatory approaches to digital heritage and cultural inclusion.