LoGaCulture explores how technology can preserve heritage and indigenous knowledges through Interactive storytelling and gaming interventions.
From March to May 2025, LoGaCulture — an ambitious European Union-funded research project — made waves across leading universities in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, introducing new approaches and research methodologies to preserving cultural heritage through digital games and storytelling.
LoGaCulture is led by Professors Valentina Nisi and Nuno Nunes, who during their sabbatical travels visited six prestigious universities across four countries, sparking new conversations about how technology can better serve communities and protect cultural traditions.
Bridging Design and Heritage
The international tour began in March at the National University of Singapore, where Professor Clement Zheng hosted an intensive two-hour seminar for design faculty and students. The discussions centered on a critical question: How can design professionals create more inclusive and accessible approaches to cultural heritage?
“The project opened up fascinating discussions about the role of design in the heritage sector,” said participants, highlighting how location-based storytelling can make cultural heritage more engaging and accessible to diverse audiences.
Learning from Indigenous Wisdom
At Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, hosted by Professor Marcus Foth Nisi and Nunes delivered a seminar that delved into LoGaCulture’s unique approaches to the understanding and preservation of heritage. The conversation extended onto how indigenous communities view reality through interconnectedness, relationships, and the spiritual significance of nature.
The central question that emerged was profound: “What can we learn from indigenous knowledge systems to create technologies that preserve and celebrate, rather than exploit, our natural and cultural heritage?“
Technology Meets Traditional Knowledge
In New Zealand, the project found enthusiastic reception at two universities. At Canterbury University in Christchurch, the HITlabNZ team, hosted by Professors Heidi and Stephen Luckosh, engaged in deep discussions about using technology to preserve nature and honour indigenous knowledge systems that embed ancestral histories within landscapes.
Wellington University hosted another significant dialogue with Professors Nadia Pantidi and Jennifer Ferreira, leading to future plans for collaborative research. Their focus: how can cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain protect indigenous communities’ collective ownership of their cultural heritage patterns and traditions?
Addressing Climate Challenges
The tour concluded in May at Tongji University in China, where Professor Francesca Valsecchi and PhD candidate Shuaho Ma hosted a seminar about how location-based heritage stories can address urgent contemporary challenges. Their discussions focused on preserving natural and cultural heritage in the face of climate change and g rowing sustainability concerns.
Building Global Connections
LoGaCulture’s international tour demonstrates how academic collaboration can transcend borders to address shared challenges. By combining European innovation with Asia-Pacific perspectives, the project is fostering new approaches to heritage preservation that respect traditional knowledge while embracing technological possibilities.
The enthusiastic reception across all six universities has laid the groundwork for ongoing international collaborations, promising exciting developments in how we preserve, share, and celebrate our collective cultural heritage for future generations.