Aurora Hoel

Aurora Hoel is a Professor of Media Studies and Visual Culture at the Department of Art and Media Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She serves as Co-Director of the strategic research area Ocean and Coast and co-leader of the AI Media research group. Previously, she held positions including Vice Dean of Arts and Innovation at NTNU's Faculty of Humanities (2021-2024), Visiting Professor at Aarhus University (2020), and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellow at Humboldt University of Berlin (2015-2017).

Her research focuses on the epistemic roles of images and technologies of vision, encompassing photography, medical imaging, underwater robotics, and scientific instruments. Notable projects include the Visualizing the Deep Sea in the Age of Climate Change (2023-2027) and Picturing the Brain (2010-2014). She advocates for theories emphasizing the agency and operational power of images in shaping reality.

Her publications span media philosophy, science studies, and visual culture, including works on 'operative images' and 'technicity.' Recent articles explore digital media operations and virtual environments. She co-edited volumes such as Visualization in the Age of Computerization (2014) and Ernst Cassirer on Form and Technology (2012).

Hoel’s interdisciplinary work bridges art, science, and technology. She leads collaborations with institutions like Harvard, UC Berkeley, and the National Museum of Justice. Current research includes AI-generated imagery and underwater sensor technologies.

• Key Projects: Deep Sea Visualization Project (RCN-funded), Styles of Objectivity (EU-funded), Face of Terror (RCN-funded)
• Research Groups: NTNU’s Ocean and Coast, AI Media Group
• International Collaborations: Harvard University, University of Copenhagen, École polytechnique