Let's Meet Marie-Luce Bourguet

Marie-Luce looking towards camera. Passport style photo with white background.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role.

I'm a senior lecturer in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. I've been at Queen Mary for more than 20 years and I'm teaching in China on one of the joint programmes we have over there in Beijing. 

The programme uses the Flying Professor model, there isn’t an established Queen Mary campus there. The students get half their teaching from the London lecturers and the other half from lecturers based in China. 

What did you do before joining QM?

20 years ago, where was I? I worked for about seven years in the industry and research labs in the UK and in Japan. So mainly in multimedia and interactive technology, human computer interaction, which is more or less what I'm now teaching at Queen Mary.

What are you currently working on?

Currently I'm leading a project, exploring with Queen Mary Academy how the Metaverse can support student collaboration, and create a sense of belonging. So, the metaverse is made of 3D virtual spaces, where you are embodied as an avatar, a 3D character, and that you share with others. We've been using these 3D environments, for students to meet and work together. 
We’ve also engaged them to design their own virtual spaces and it's very much a continuation to previous work I've been doing on co-creation. So, engaging students to create their own learning resources, but also environments to work in. 
For example, I've had students building VR tools for peers in other departments, using 3D programming, which is one of the courses that I used to teach. It's about getting students to create their own virtual spaces that they can use with others for meeting and to do group coursework and basically bonding and also having fun. 

What are your favourite digital tools to use?

The tool we're using for building these 3D environments is called Frame VR. It is a really nice platform for collaboration in 3D spaces. It's very easy to use, we've been able to get students from different departments, like Chemistry and Business students who are developing their own 3D spaces for meeting.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I like sports. I do a lot of cycling and skiing, but I also like reading, both novels and nonfiction. So, anything that involves a bit of motion, but also reading are my main escapes. 

Quick-fire round!

What is your favourite hot drink?

Espresso, but only one a day! 

What is your favourite type of cuisine?

Asian food, especially Thai and also Japanese. 

Where would you love to go on holiday?

I would really like to go to New Zealand one day. 

What is your favourite app on your phone?

Oh, it's got to be anything that has a map. Without maps on my phone, I’d just probably be lost somewhere right now! 

If time travel was possible, would you visit the past or the future? 

The future, hoping that it would be OK. Hoping it's better than the present, and to see where all this is going. So yes, I'd like to go to the future. 

Thank you so much Marie-Luce, I really enjoyed meeting you and learning about the fascinating work you are doing!