My name is Aida Gradaščević, and I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in human rights, with a focus on visual media and archival material usage in human rights-focused projects. Having a background in environmental design, I believe that the power of an experience lies in the spaces that facilitate it. Human rights issues are everywhere, and creating immersive environments and visually striking projects can facilitate meaningful discussions on human rights.
In the upcoming academic year at UConn, my focus is on refining my archival research skills and applying them more practically and creatively. This involves not only analyzing historical documents but also actively participating in research projects that use archival materials to tackle significant historical questions and illuminate less-explored aspects of history.
My time at Greenhouse Studios will help me further my knowledge of methods in archival research for educational and multi-media collaborative projects. It will also facilitate a deeper understanding of the technical skills needed to work in a collaborative setting within a context that addresses historical and contemporary human rights issues through relevant media for public discourse and engagement. My career goal includes applying knowledge of ethical media through archival material in educational initiatives, and my time at Greenhouse Studios will give me the hands-on experience in using and applying sensitive issues and topics to educational projects in a respectful manner.
In particular, The Beyond Nuremberg project (formerly Coutrtroom600) will prepare me for a career in promoting human rights through contributing to the design of educational material, ethical game design, and raising of awareness in the field of genocide studies and international criminal trials. Collaborating on multi-media projects related to human rights issues will expose me to the challenges of working with diverse teams and integrating various forms of media to convey complex human rights narratives effectively. This project will also enable me to approach sensitive subjects such as human rights violations, genocide, and crimes against humanity with an ethical perspective, ensuring that the experiences of victims and survivors are not exploited.
On a personal note, I consider myself a global citizen. I was born in Bosnia, but I lived in many other countries around the world. I’ve learned the importance of immersing oneself in different cultures, fostering personal growth, and sharing these enriching experiences with the people you encounter along the way. My hobbies include animation and film, so I can talk about anime (from the 90’s and early 2000’s) anytime, and I’m also interested in sci-fi, cerebral, and atmospheric subgenres of film.