Leading a Metaverse Workshop! A Tool to Address Social Problems
Teaching, Workshop • July 2025
I'll write it after doing it hahahah
Elizabeth
Olivares Flores
Anthropologist | Master's Student at International Christian University, Japan
Exploring the connections we form with technology, and the futures they quietly suggest
Hello!
I'm Elizabeth Olivares Flores — a Chilean anthropologist and Master's student in Social and Cultural Analysis at International Christian University in Tokyo.
As a traveler and migrant, I've long turned to technology to reach the people I love across distances. This path brought me to immersive technologies like the Metaverse and made me aware of the rapidly evolving sociotechnical landscape of connection. I see the Metaverse as both a world of possibility and a space full of unresolved questions: Who belongs there? What kinds of futures does it imagine? And how do we make sure those futures are inclusive, meaningful, and human?
As a social scientist, my curiosity lies at the intersection of technology, society, and the future. My work combines speculative thinking with grounded inquiry. I explore how the introduction of the Metaverse shapes the way we experience and imagine what our lives and society could become. Through the lens of Generation Z, a generation of early adopters, expectation-setters, and taste-makers, we gain a glimpse into our collective future.
Beyond research, I'm passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration, sharing knowledge beyond academia, and building spaces where people and emerging technologies can meet with care and curiosity. I hope to continue this work at the doctoral level and beyond.
Research & Presentations
Current Research
Master's Thesis (2024–2026)
Title (Provisional): Exploring Gen Z Perspectives on the Metaverse in Japan: Imagining through the Meta Quest 3
Institution: International Christian University. Tokyo, Japan
My thesis explores how Generation Z university students in Japan understand, interpret, and imagine futures shaped by the Metaverse. The study combines semi-structured interviews and a short VR experience using the Meta Quest 3 headset to facilitate reflection on sociotechnical imaginaries and digital futures.
Past Projects & Presentations
Apr 2025
Symposium Presentation
From the Classroom to the Workplace: Gen Z's Emerging Adoption of the Metaverse
World Learning Labs Symposium 2025, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Japan
Presented a speculative reflection on Generation Z's role in immersive technologies' future perceptions and uses.
Mar–Jul 2022
Ethnofiction Short Film
Kawaii or Die
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Collaborative project as part of the Certificate Program in Anthropology and Film Practice. This short film explores how 'kawaii' and childhood symbols can soothe the pressures of adulthood, offering comfort through nostalgic aesthetics.
Dec 2021
Symposium Presentation
Habitando fronteras culturales: Manifestación de lo Nikkei en jóvenes descendientes japoneses en Chile
Simposio Estudiantes sobre África y Asia (SEAFAS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile
Presented findings from my undergraduate thesis on Nikkei identity in Chile.
Aug–Dec 2020
Undergraduate Thesis
Manifestación de lo Nikkei en jóvenes descendientes japoneses en Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Santiago, Chile
Manifestation of Nikkei identity among young Japanese descendants in Chile
News
Design Thinking Workshop at ICU: Prepping for ISL in Thailand
Teaching, Workshop • July 2025
As part of the International Service Learning (ISL) course I'm TA-ing this summer, I joined our first major prep workshop: Design Thinking for Social Impact: Addressing Real-World Challenges, led by facilitator Michael Sera. I supported with logistics and also got to participate alongside students as we explored how to frame social issues through design thinking. After the session, we shared reflections (and lunch!) with the instructor.
A great kickoff to what promises to be a meaningful learning journey!
Kicking Off My Summer Research: Gen Z, the Metaverse, and Me
Research • July 2025
Summer research officially begins! After months of planning, writing, and revising, I'm finally launching the fieldwork for my master's thesis on Generation Z and the Metaverse. My study combines interviews and a short VR experience to explore how Gen Z in Japan is making sense of immersive technologies — and imagining the futures they might bring. Time to put on the Meta Quest 3 and dive in!
Representing ICU: Guiding Essay Competition Winner from India
Campus Life, ICU PR • June 2025
I was honored to be selected by ICU to guide the top winner of the ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2024 during her official campus visit. As part of the day, we toured key departments, visited the Center for Gender Studies (CGS) and the Japan ICU Foundation Office, spoke with students and faculty, and met with the university president. It was a proud moment to represent ICU, share my experiences as a student, and connect with an inspiring young woman.
YFRC is Coming to Life! JICUF Funding Secured for Our Student-Led Conference
Conference, Funding • June 2025
We received funding from the JICUF SDGs Projects Grant, which means the Young Female Researcher Conference (YFRC) is officially happening… and happening in the best way possible! With support secured, we're now diving into the logistics to bring this student-led, interdisciplinary event to life. The organizing team is now proudly made up of me, Asahi Igarashi, and Alexandra Lisitsyna. We can't wait to create a space where young women in research feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Inside the Othmer Fellowship Workshop: Insights, Community, and Research Exchange
Research, Workshop, Fellowship • June 2025
As part of the Othmer Research Fellowship, I joined a full-day workshop with other ICU fellows to exchange research ideas, feedback, and encouragement. I presented my project on Gen Z and the Metaverse and came away with valuable insights to carry into my summer fieldwork. I left with a deep appreciation for the diversity of research happening at ICU, and the brilliant, thoughtful people behind it.
More news items available in the full timeline...
Contact
I'm always interested in connecting with fellow researchers, collaborators, and anyone curious about technology and society.
Whether you're interested in discussing the Metaverse, Generation Z, or interdisciplinary research approaches, I'd love to hear from you.