Three ESHCC researchers awarded NWO SSH Open Competition M-Grant

About the NWO SSH Open Competition M grants

In 2022, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) introduced a renewed format for the NWO SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) Open Competition. Within this framework, the OC M call for proposals is specifically intended for free, curiosity-driven research with a primarily social sciences and/or humanities research question, aimed at excellent disciplinary, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. This year, a total of 59 proposals were awarded.

Football video games, racism and anti-racism

Prof. Dr Jacco van Sterkenburg and Dr Teresa de la Hera focus in their project on football video games such as ‘FIFA’, which are hugely popular worldwide, both to play and to watch via streams. These games depict significant racial and ethnic diversity and thus serve as an important informal space for learning about race and ethnicity. The research examines the meanings produced in the development and production, the circulation (via streaming), and the content of FIFA. In addition, the researchers will test an innovative anti-racism intervention to make gaming cultures more inclusive.

Diversity and inclusion in challenging times

Dr Laura Braden investigates how public art museums respond to social and political pressures concerning diversity and inclusion. The study focuses on three museums: the Blanton Museum of Art (Austin, USA), The Whitworth (Manchester, UK), and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam, NL). By analysing their approaches in different cultural and national contexts, this research aims to identify strategies that can help museums fulfill their commitment to inclusivity and community engagement. Ultimately, it seeks to provide insights for museums to adapt effectively in changing and divisive times.