Professor Luigina Ciolfi

I am researching the design of technologies to support human interaction within the physical space and the use that people make of them, based on an understanding of the relationship between individuals and groups, activities and their locales.

I have studied a variety of domains for technology design and use including museums and other heritage sites, urban environments, transitional spaces such as airports, and nomadic work.

My current research is exploring participatory processes for involving cultural heritage professionals in the design of interactive tangible installations; strategies and requirements for the technological support of dialogues around heritage; and the complexities of human practices when dealing with the blurring boundaries between work and non-work, particularly when utilising collaborative technologies.

Prior to joining CCRI/C3RI, I have worked as lecturer in Interaction Design at the University of Limerick (Ireland), visiting professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and research assistant at the University of Siena (Italy).

I have led and participated in many national and international research projects and I have authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications.
I have reviewed for many conference and journals, and for research funding agencies in five countries.

I am an experienced supervisor and examiner of postgraduate research internationally, and have been an invited speaker in Ireland, Sweden, France, Norway, Denmark, UK, USA, Cyprus, Mexico and Italy.

I serve as Associate Editor and Book Review Editor for the CSCW Journal (Springer) and other service roles include general chair, ECSCW 2017; papers co-chair for ACM CSCW 2015; scientific co-chair COOP 2014; Associate Chair for ACM CHI 2013-2016.

I hold a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Limerick and a Laurea in Communication Sciences (summa cum laude), from the University of Siena, specialising in Human-Machine Interaction.

Human-Computer Interaction; Collaborative Computing; Participatory Design; Cultural Heritage Technologies

Science, Technology and Arts

Information Systems

• Communication and Computing Research Centre
• Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute

meSch

A list of publications is available from the institutional repository, SHURA

Associate Editor and Book Review Editor, The CSCW Journal (Springer)
External Examiner, University of Winchester

As Director of Studies

'Digital intangible cultural heritage commodities' and their use in heritage organisations to draw in audiences and to find ways of engaging audiences with heritage, to enable a deeper connection with local or international heritage'

'Saudi Women Online Practices'

As Second Supervisor

'The model as imaginative apparatus; re-imagining place'

As External Supervisor

'Supporting DIY approaches for cultural heritage professionals through digital technology'

• 'Designing for an Open Museum', University of Art and Design, Helsinki (Finland) December 2009
• 'Designing for Public Interaction: Extending, Applying and Reflecting on the Principles of "Assembly"', University of Limerick, August 2011
• 'Designers as Curators, Users as Designers: A Reflective Study of Hacking to Extend Interaction Design Practice', University of Limerick, August 2012
• 'Technologically-Mediated Nomadicity in Academic Settings: Understanding Tm-N as a Dynamic and Emergent Process', University of Limerick, August 2013

Communication researcher Luigina Ciolfi is interested in how interacting with technologies shapes people’s lives. She also studies how communities use technology to interact and work together. She has conducted research into interactive exhibitions, how work changes through mobile and social media, and online interaction between fans of the fictional world created by Harry Potter author J K Rowling. Luigina is now working on a project to help museums engage with communities online and offline.