Reiji Nagaoka
Biography
Reiji is a Leverhulme Doctoral Scholar within the Leverhulme Unit for the Design for Cities of the Future (LUDEC). His thesis, currently titled Revitalising Alternative Future Cities: Systemic Environmental Cognition in an Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Game, examines environmental cognition and behaviour in collaborative design of speculative futures cities. This research connects game design, climate science, speculative futures, and behavioural studies. Related interests and previous experience includes the design and development of interactive software – including web applications, video games, and proprietary computational tools.
Academic and professional qualifications
- Research Associate, (2023). Towards Sustainable Sanitation Infrastructure in Brazil (TOSSIB). University of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University. Funding: £500,000.
- Research Associate,(2023). A Systems Approach to Sustainable Sanitation Challenges in Urbanising China). University of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University. Funding: £500,000.
- Research Assistant, (2022-23). Manchester Game Centre. Research Group situated at Manchester Metropolitan University.
- Specialist Tutor (2024-25). Complexity, Planning and Urbanism (CPU[ai]). MA Architecture Course. Manchester School of Architecture.
- Lecturer (2023-24). Advanced Digital Design, Manchester School of Architecture.
Research Output
Nagaoka, R. (2023) ‘Ecoville: An Online Multiplayer Urban Planning Game’, AESOP21: Complex [Cognitive] Cities: Sensing, planning and design in urban transformations , Manchester, 23rd April 2016
Nagaoka R. (2021) ‘Cityzen: Zero-carbon Planning for Manchester’s Northern Gateway’, Infrasystems for a Healthy Brazil: Sustainable Urban Nexus (Water-Energy-Sanitation) in the Tiete River Basin, Online, 19th-23rd July 2021
Nagaokar, R. (2023) ‘EPR Framework: A Player-Focused Empirical Framework for Conceptualising Ecologically-focused Video Games’, Multiplatform 3: Remake, Reuse, Replay. Manchester, 7-8th June 2023.
Presentations
Nagaoka, R (2023) ‘Revitalising Alternative Future Cities – New Work in Game Studies’, Manchester Game Centre, Manchester, 24th April 2023.
Nagaoka, R (2023) ‘Design Methodologies for Teaching Ethical Practice’, London School of Architecture, 9th March 2023.
Nagaoka, R (2023) ‘Planetary Play: Games and the Environment’, Uppercut Crit. https://uppercutcrit.com/planetary-play-games-and-the-environment/
LUDeC Connections:
This research project embeds experimental methodologies for investigating the significance of cities as climate actors. Furthermore, LUDeC’s call for reimagining of cities as collaborative and equitable spaces is extended beyond anthropocentricity. This research is principally focused upon the conceptualisation of cities as complex and the recognition of altruistic behaviour. This project approaches the perceived natural-scientific disciplines of a climate science, behavioural studies, and game theory via an unconventional route of engagement: An ecologically-reponsive, online multiplayer video game. Where players, as surrogate citizens, are collectively handed responsibility of a speculative climate city. Just as LUDeC foregrounds the roles we play, this research offers to develop an insight into how we do so.
Contact information
Reiji.a.nagaoka@stu.mmu.ac.uk