- Sustainable Earth Institute (SEI) Sustainability Hub Kirkby Lodge University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585201
- emma.whittaker@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Emma Whittaker
Industrial Research Fellow - Creative Industries - Low Carbon Devon
School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
Dr Emma Whittaker is the Creative Industries Research Fellow for the EDRF funded project, Low Carbon Devon at the University of Plymouth where she researches and supports Devon’s creative and cultural sector. She has instigated the Green Maker Initiative, hosted by MAKE Southwest, co-designed the Creative Commissions Programme with Green Minds project, and is currently co-investigator of the AHRC Net Zero Visions project.
She is a creative producer and lectures in arts, media, and design, practice, theory and history. Her research is concerned with the philosophies and practices of expanded narrative, experience, and perception. Her academic writing, published by Oxford University Press, University of Nebraska Press and Palgrave Macmillan, covers topics including, aesthetics, ambient literature, narrative complexity, sound design for narrative worlds, pilgrimage routes and traditional knowledge and engagement with the Earth.
Whittaker's work in narrative and world-making operates across disciplines from printing, drawing, performance to sound, mixed reality and XR. Recent collaborative projects include the smartphone apps: 'Immersive Explorations' (2018), 'The Cartographer's Confession' (2017) - Winner of the New Media Writing Prize 2017, 'Journeyer's Guidebook' (2016) at Jubilee Library Brighton, 'The Lost Index: NATMUS' (2015), at The National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, 'The Lost Index, No.2: The Turning' (2014) at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, nominated for a Media Innovation Award, 'LociOscope, The Letters' (2014) at Dartington Hall Gardens, Devon and 'The Lost Index, No.1: Landscape with Figures' (2013), at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.
Qualifications
PhD, Plymouth University, 2017
P.G.C.E. Art and Design in Post-Compulsory Education, Northbrook College, 2000
MA Fine Art, UCE Birmingham, 1998
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Staffordshire University, 1996
Professional membership
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Dr Emma Whittaker lectures in arts, media, and design. Her research informs teaching in practice, history, theory, critical thinking and knowledge exchange/working with creative industries and communities.
BA Graphic Design (Dissertation supervision)
Previous teaching:
BA Media Arts/Creative Media (Dissertation supervision, Independent Practice and Media and Mass Communication modules)
Previous teaching - various institutions:
BA Experimental Music (Spatial Sound Design)
FdA Creative Digital Media (Module leader for Approaching Texts, Negotiated Research and Work-based Learning)
BA and FDA Multi-Media (Module Leader for Critical and Cultural Studies and Professional Development)
BA Fine Art & HND Fine Art (Module Leader for Contextual Studies)
Teaching Qualifications and Awards:
P.G.C.E Art and Design in Further and Higher Education (2000)
University of Plymouth Teaching Fellowship (2011-12)
HELP CETL Teaching Fellowship (2010-11)
Research
Research
Research interests
Dr Emma Whittaker has a particular interest in story worlds, narrative, designing experience and the creative industries. Her multidisciplinary, collaborative, practice-led research investigates the potential for the narrative to create tangible imaginary worlds. She uses a range of materials and skills from drawing to printmaking, from low-tech and digital technologies, together with performance, sound, smartphone, sensor technologies and the collaborative development of XR and situated narrative. She utilises grounded approaches and a combination of qualitative methods, including ethnographic, phenomenological and iterative design.
Research
ERDF Creative Industries Research Fellow - Low Carbon Devon, Sustainability Hub, University of Plymouth (2020 - ). Research in how the creative and cultural sector in Devon and beyond is engaging in the low carbon agenda and supporting and developing these activities, as part of the ERDF funded Low Carbon Devon project at the University of Plymouth. Whittaker has instigated the Green Maker Initiative, hosted by MAKE Southwest, co-designed the Creative Commissions Programme with Green Minds project, and is currently co-investigator of the AHRC Net Zero Visions project.
Co-investigator for AHRC Net Zero Visions for Devon's Climate Emergency (2022 - ). 'Net-Zero Visions for the Devon Climate Emergency’ is bringing communities together with creative professionals and net-zero transition experts to produce positive ‘Visions’ of seven Devon locations as carbon net-zero in 2050.
AHRC NPIF Creative Economy Engagement Fellow, Discriminate AR, Falmouth University (2018 - 2019). This project investigated immersive experiences in heritage, landscapes and pilgrimage.
AHRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ambient Literature Production, UWE, Bristol (2016 - 2018). AHRC Ambient Literature project was a two-year collaboration between the UWE Bristol, Bath Spa University, and the University of Birmingham, that investigate the locational and technological future of the book. Whittaker investigated the role of the producer, writing situated narratives and aesthetics.
Whittaker, E. (2017) Transitions-Felt: William James, Locative Narrative and the Multi-Stable Field of Expanded Narrative. PhD Thesis. The PhD investigated the American philosopher and psychologist William James, pragmatism, expanded, and locative narrative practices. It investigated narrative and experience, exploring intersections between contemporary and 19th-century science of perception.
Book chapters
Whittaker, E. 2021. ‘Sound Art as Locative Narrative’. In. The Oxford Book of Sound Art. Grant, J., Matthias, J., and Prior, D., Eds. Oxford: Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-sound-art-9780190274054?cc=gb&lang=en&#
Whittaker, E. (2020) ‘An Aesthetics of Ambient Literature: Experience, Narrative, Design’. In. Ambient Literature, Towards a New Poetics of Situated Writing and Reading Practices. Abba, T., Dovey, J., and Pullinger, K. eds. London: Palgrave https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030414559.
Whittaker, E. (2019) ‘The Wave Crest: Narrative Complexity and Locative Narrative’. In. Narrative Complexity, Cognition, Embodiment, Evolution. Grishakova, Marina and Poulaki, Maria. eds. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. University of Nebraska
Narrative projects for smartphone
Attlee, J. & Whittaker, E. (2017) ‘The Cartographer’s Confession’ [iOS & Android Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-cartographers-confession/id1263461799?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calvium.apptrails.ambientliteraturejames&hl=en (Winner of the New Media Writing Prize 2017 )
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2016). Journeyer’s Guidebook. [iOS Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/journeyers-guidebook/id1146283679?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2015). The Lost Index: NATMUS. [iOS Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-lost-index-natmus/id1058419473?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2014). The Lost Index, No. 2: The Turning. [iOS Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lost-index-no.2-turning/id911182235?mt=8 (Nominated for Media Innovation Award 2015 in the Installation/Exhibition/Live Event category)
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2014). LociOscope, The Letters (Version 1.0) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/locioscope-the-letters/id778929957?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2013). The Lost Index, No. 1: Landscape With Figures (Version 1.0) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lost-index-no.1-landscape/id730623803?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R (2011). ColdCase 1866 (Version 1.1) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cold-case-1866/id428238003?mt=8
The research Developing Interactive Locative Narratives for Mobile Technologies Within Arts Education was funded by a HELP CETL Teaching Fellowship (2010-11).
She curates Expanded Narrative, an online resource for interactive narrative practitioners and a repository of practitioner interviews, funded by a Teaching Fellowship Award (2011-12)
www.expandednarrative.org
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Whittaker, E. (2013) ‘Listening to Locative Narratives: Illusion and the Imaginative Experience’. Leonardo Music Journal.Special Edition Sound Art LMJ23 November http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/LMJ_a_00144
Whittaker, E. 2015. ‘Inside the Snow Globe: Pragmatisms, belief and the ambiguous objectivity of the imaginary’. Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, Vol. 13, No. 3 http://web.a.ebscohost.com.plymouth.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=0dfca688-4c58-496d-9021-73d749507ee7%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHVybCxzaGliJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=112642425&db=aft
Whittaker, E. 2021. ‘Sound Art as Locative Narrative’. In. The Oxford Book of Sound Art. Grant, J., Matthias, J., and Prior, D., Eds. Oxford: Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-sound-art-9780190274054?cc=gb&lang=en&#
Whittaker, E. (2020) ‘An Aesthetics of Ambient Literature: Experience, Narrative, Design’. In. Ambient Literature, Towards a New Poetics of Situated Writing and Reading Practices. Abba, T., Dovey, J., and Pullinger, K. eds. London: Palgrave https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030414559.
Whittaker, E. (2019) ‘The Wave-crest: Narrative Complexity and Locative Narrative.’ In. Narrative Complexity, Cognition, Embodiment, Evolution. Grishakova, Marina and Poulaki, Maria eds. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/university-of-nebraska-press/9780803296862/
Barry, Kaya, Baxter, Tess, Bennett, Bruce, Booker, Clare, Bowers, Natalie, Büscher, Monika, Chapman, Owen, Collier, Mike, Cunningham, Jocelyn, Lujan Escalante, Malé, Ferguson, Nick, Guelton, Bernard, Merrington, Peter, Ntaousani, Elia, Jungnickel, Kat, Kesselring, Sven, Lopez, Carlos, Pollastri, Serena, Pugh, Nikki, Rose, Emma, Sawchuk, Kim, Sheller, Mimi, Smith, Richard, Southern, Jen, Szerszynski, Bron, Syng Tan, Kai, O Keeffe, Linda, Thulin, Sam, Whittaker, Emma and Wilson, Louise Ann (2018) 2018: Art & Mobilities Network Inaugural Symposium Instant Journal, Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University
Whittaker, E. (2017) Transitions-Felt: William James, Locative Narrative and the Multi-Stable Field of Expanded Narrative. PhD Thesis. https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/8646
Whittaker, E. (2012) ‘Expanded Narrative: building a community of practice’ VC’s Teaching & Learning Conference. Plymouth University, 6th July
Whittaker, E. (2012)‘Expanded Narrative: building a community of practice’ Final Report. Teaching & Learning Directorate, Plymouth University
Whittaker, E. (2011) ‘Developing Interactive Narratives for Mobile Technologies within Art Education’ Final Report. HELP CETL, Teaching & Learning Directorate, Plymouth University
Whittaker, E. (2011) ‘Developing Interactive Narratives for Mobile Technologies within Art Education’. In: UPC Faculty Technology in Practice 2011. Plymouth: UPC, Plymouth University. http://issuu.com/plymouthaward/docs/technology_in_practice_booklet_11v2.3
Whittaker, E. 2019. ‘Discriminate AR: Immersive Explorations in Pilgrimage Experiences’. Track (Heri03): Changing Tracks: Heritagisation and the transformation of pilgrimage in northern Europe. International Society for Ethnology and Folklore 14th Congress. Santiago de Compostela, Spain 14-17 April 2019 https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/sief2019/paper/47443
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2016) ‘Locative Narrative: Creating Contexts for Supposition in Spatially Distributed Museums’. National Archives Conference: Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities 2016, The Lowry, Salford, 10-12 October
Whittaker, E. (2015) ‘Inside the Snow globe: Pragmatisms, belief and the ambiguous objectivity of the imaginary’. The Undivided Mind. Plymouth University 16-18 July
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2014) ‘Playing With Perception Locative Narrative and Sonic Virtual Locations’. In. Maragiannis, A. Ed. Digital Research in the Humanities and the Arts 2014 Conference, Greenwich University. 30 August -4 September
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2014). ‘Playing With Perception: Locative Narrative and Sonic Virtual Locations’. In Maragiannis, A. ed. DRHA2014 Book of Abstracts: Communicating futures: Connecting Interdisciplinary practices in arts/culture, academia and the creative industries, University of Greenwich. http://www.drha2014.co.uk/?p=902
Whittaker, E. (2010). Contributor to the workshop ‘Education in Interactive Digital Storytelling’ at Third International Conference of Interactive Storytelling.Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 31 October
Whittaker, E. (2011) ‘Developing Interactive Narratives’. ESCalate. Working with Diverse Groups in the Digital Age,University of Birmingham, 09 May 2011
Whittaker, E. (2012) ‘Locating the Archive’Remediating Urban Space Conference. Plymouth University, 6th June.
Whittaker, E. (2013) ‘Designing Locative Narrative: Simulation, Illusion and the Imaginative Experience’. Poster Presentation. Cognition Institute Conference: The Lure of the New. Plymouth University, 20-22 March
Whittaker, E. (2011) ‘Developing Locative Narratives’. Faculty of Arts Summer Conference. University of Plymouth Colleges, 24 May
Whittaker, E. (2011) ‘Developing Interactive Narratives for Mobile Technologies with Arts Students’. Poster Presentation. Awarded ‘Best Poster’. UPC Summer Conference. Plymouth University, 24 May 2011
Attlee, J. & Whittaker, E. (2017) ‘The Cartographer’s Confession’ [iOS & Android Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-cartographers-confession/id1263461799?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calvium.apptrails.ambientliteraturejames&hl=en
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2016). Journeyer’s Guidebook. [iOS Application]. Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/journeyers-guidebook/id1146283679?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2015) ‘The Lost Index: Natmus’ [iOS Application] at The National Museum of Copenhagen, Denmark. International Conference of Interactive Digital Storytelling ICIDS2015, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, November 30- 4 December 2015
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2014). The Lost Index, No.2: The Turning (Version 1.0) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lost-index-no.2-turning/id911182235?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2014). LociOscope, The Letters (Version 1.0) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/locioscope-the-letters/id778929957?mt=8
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2014). ‘The Lost Index No.2 – The Turning’ [iOS Application] showcased at Plymouth International Book Festival, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth, UK, 17-25 October
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. R. (2013). The Lost Index, No.1: Landscape with Figures (Version 1.0) [iOS Application]. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lost-index-no.1-landscape/id730623803?mt=8Whittaker, E. (2015) ‘Place-matching’ [sound art] Artist Rooms Gerhard Richter Exhibition, at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth, 26 September 2015 - 16 January 2016
Whittaker, E. & Brocklehurst, J. (2014). LociOscope, The Letters [iOS Application/Locative work] showcased at, Tagore Festival, Dartington Hall, Dartington, UK, 22 June
Whittaker, E. (2011) Cold Case 1866. Locative Narrative Showcase, live event, Totnes, Devon, UK. April 9
Whittaker, E. (2006). ‘The Body on the Path’ [Video]. Group Exhibition. System Failure, The Sanctuary, Brighton.
Whittaker, E. (2001). ‘Journey: evidence of the archivist, the tale of the journey taken’ [Installation, text]. Seven Headed Group Exhibition, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex.
Whittaker, E. (1999). ‘Sitting at the Dining Room Table’ [etched glass narrative], ‘Inside the Library’ [video]. Magic Words and Magic Wands.Two person exhibition, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex.
Whittaker, E. (2000). ‘Now it Seems to Have a Certain Resonance…’[multiple photographic prints] ‘Classroom Terror’ [video] Golganooza. Group Exhibition. Brighton Media Centre Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex.
Whittaker, E. (1998) ‘Sitting at the Dining Room Table, parts 1 & 2’ [etched glass narrative], ‘Inside Spaces’ [Hand printed interactive book], ‘Inside Spaces’ [Theatre set with video projections]. Group exhibition. Phwaak, The Custard Factory, Birmingham.
Whittaker, E. (1998) 'Inside the Library' [large video projections installation] Club Class, MA Final Exhibition, School of Art, Margaret St. University of Central England, Birmingham.
Whittaker, E. (1998) ‘Island Beyond the Page’ [Paper sculpture and sound work]. Group exhibition. All You Need Is Love, The Works Gallery, Birmingham.
Whittaker, E. (2010) Developing Interactive Narratives for Mobile Technologies with Arts Students. Poster Presentation. Awarded ‘Best Poster’. UPC Winter Research Conference.Plymouth University. 30 Nov 2010
Whittaker, E. (2011) Plymouth University: Master Class in Creating Interactive Narratives with Arts Students. Totnes, June 13
Whittaker, E. (2011) BBC Radio Devon Interview 'Cold Case 1866', 6 April
Personal
Personal
Conferences organised
The Expanded Narrative Symposium, Plymouth University 2-3 November 2013 http://www.expandednarrative.org/symposium/
Links
Expanded Narrative
http://www.expandednarrative.org
She jointly runs Expanded Narrative with James Brocklehurst. They make imaginary worlds that are experienced in existent places using a mobile devices, in collaboration with arts and heritage organisations.
The Expanded Narrative Research Network
http://www.expandednarrative.org/archive/
The Expanded Narrative Research Network is located at Plymouth University with an international membership. The network is concerned with exploring the multidisciplinary field of narrative practices that reconfigure the form and expand the experience of storytelling.
This site offers news, reviews, resources and and a space for exchange of ideas with practitioners, educators and researchers, concerned with pervasive games, interactive, locative and transmedia narrative and storytelling.
@ExpNarrative