معرفی
Justin Thomas McDaniel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he holds the Andrew W. Mellon Penn Faculty Fellowship in the Humanities. His research explores the intersection of digital technology and religious practice, particularly through the Thai Digital Monastery Project (TDM).
- Role: Associate Professor, Religious Studies
- Award: Andrew W. Mellon Penn Faculty Fellow (2010–2011)
- Project: The Thai Virtual Monastery (TDM) – an immersive 3D platform for experiencing Thai Buddhist monastic life.
Research Focus: McDaniel investigates theoretical and technical challenges in creating virtual religious spaces, emphasizing ethical considerations in digitally representing sacred environments. The TDM project integrates bibliographies, manuscripts, audio recordings, and comparative analysis to provide a comprehensive virtual experience of Buddhist monasticism.
Collaborative Ethics: As part of his fellowship, he engages with other scholars to discuss the ethics of virtuality in academic representations of the sacred, bridging technology, religion, and cultural preservation.
- Scientific Awards:
- Andrew W. Mellon Penn Faculty Fellowship in the Humanities
