معرفی
Dr. Angels Trias-i-Valls is an Associate Professor in Economic and Digital Anthropology and Director (People) at Regent's University London's School of Arts and Humanities, Department of Media and Communications. With over 25 years of academic experience, she pioneers research at the intersection of anthropology, digital technologies, and immersive environments.
Her educational background includes a PhD in Social Anthropology from Queen's University Belfast (1999), Llicenciatura in Cultural Anthropology from University of Barcelona (1992), and Film and Media Production from Centre de la Imatge, Barcelona (1991). Additional qualifications include Senior Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy (2018), CPD certificate in Blockchain (2023), and PGSC PhD Supervision certification.
Trias-i-Valls' research spans two distinct periods: from 1995-2010 focusing on visual/economic exchanges in Japan and Europe, and post-2010 exploring digital anthropology in virtual environments. Her current work investigates cultural understandings of AI, blockchain economies, and the Metaverse through ethnographic and pedagogic lenses. She pioneered the UK's first e-learning BA/MA in Social Anthropology and produced foundational digital anthropology projects at Queen's University Belfast and Lancaster University.
Her 15 most recent publications reveal a decisive shift toward digital anthropology, with 60% focusing on Metaverse applications, blockchain economies, and virtual learning. The remaining works examine Japanese economic practices, gender/sexuality studies, and open-access academic publishing innovations. This trajectory demonstrates her evolution from traditional economic anthropology to cutting-edge digital ethnography.
- Higher Education Academy Excellence Recognition Award (2009)
- C-SAP Anthropology Associate Award (£1,000, 2008)
- Two HEA C-SAP awards for digital anthropology projects
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2018)
- MCMI Charter from Manager Institute (2016)
As an educator, she supervises PhD candidates (including Mitchell Belfer on Middle East coalitions), has mentored 75 undergraduates and 25 MA students, and teaches courses on Digital Media and Society, Social Media and Digital Culture, and Emergent Technologies. She co-developed electives on Web3, Metaverse, and Blockchain while leading curriculum design for Media Communications and Management programs. Her grants include £5,000 for C-SAP OER Consortium projects on open educational resources and £2,500 for 'Interrogating Consent and Dominance' research. She directs the Media Sensorial Lab and serves as LGBTQ+ Network Chair and EDI representative.
