UCL MAL

UCL Multimedia Anthropology Lab (UCL MAL) is a student-led research network at University College London that develops innovative approaches to anthropological research and communication. It experiments with tools and formats including sound, film, virtual and 360-degree reality, artificial intelligence, performance, exhibitions and installations. Its work aims to broaden anthropology’s audiences, encourage collaboration across disciplines and challenge established ways of thinking.

UCL MAL’s projects bring anthropologists, artists, Indigenous communities and other specialists together to explore cultural heritage, ecological knowledge, technology and social issues. A sustained partnership with Guarani and Kaiowá communities in Brazil informs initiatives such as a collaboratively developed virtual museum, immersive audio and archival projects, and research into ceremonial house construction and cultural knowledge. Other work explores digital tools for community-led conservation, the visibility of violence against Indigenous women, and new ways to engage with zoology collections.

The lab also organizes conferences, workshops, performances, exhibitions and public events, including the international MultiCOP initiative, which connects science, Indigenous knowledge, creative practice and civic engagement around climate action.