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Elizabeth Olivares Flores

Research

Immersive technology x Society. Examining how people negotiate and imagine social interaction through immersive virtual platforms.

Immersive TechnologyGeneration ZSociotechnical ImaginariesDigital Futures
ORCID

Research Projects

Led and co-led research

Imagining Immersive Futures Through the Meta Quest 3: An Exploratory Study with University Students in Tokyo

Elizabeth Olivares Flores

International Christian University

Tokyo, Japan · January 2025 – February 2026

Master's ThesisImmersive Technology
Details

Examined how internationally diverse university students in Tokyo imagine the future of social life after hands-on engagement with immersive technology, through exploratory questionnaires and VR-based semi-structured interviews grounded in the Social Construction of Technology framework, proposing the Augment-Inhibit Model of Imagined Immersive Social Life.

Gen Z and the Metaverse: Student Perceptions on Immersive Futures

April–May 2025

Details

Distributed an online survey following the guest lecture "Framing the Future: The Metaverse and Everyday Life" at ICU, gathering Gen Z students' expectations around the Metaverse's adoption and its potential impact on everyday life and work, laying the exploratory groundwork for the thesis's later interview phase.

Exploring Gen Z Perspectives on the Metaverse in Japan: Imagining through the Meta Quest 3

June–September 2025 · Funded by the Othmer Research Fellowship

Details

Examined how university students perceive the impact of the Metaverse on society and their own futures through guided VR experiences followed by reflective interviews, with findings informing the analytical model developed for the Master's thesis.

Gen Z, Service-Learning, and the Metaverse: FrameVR Fieldwork Research with Thai NGOs

Elizabeth Olivares Flores — Co-researched with Professor Allen J. Kim

International Christian University

Tokyo, Japan · July–September 2025

Faculty-Collaborative ResearchService-Learning
Details

Examined how university students used FrameVR to develop and present design-thinking projects responding to Thai NGO needs through workshops, virtual environment design, and an international online event.

Understanding Industry Perspectives on the Metaverse: Insights from XR & Metaverse Fair Tokyo

Elizabeth Olivares Flores

International Christian University

Tokyo, Japan · October–December 2024

Independent ResearchMetaverse
Details

Investigated industry perspectives on the Metaverse through fieldwork at XR & Metaverse Fair Tokyo, using qualitative semi-structured interviews with industry professionals and thematic analysis to identify emerging trends and challenges.

Habitando fronteras culturales: Manifestación de lo Nikkei en jóvenes descendientes japoneses en Chile

Elizabeth Olivares Flores

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Santiago, Chile · 2020

Undergraduate ThesisIdentity Construction
Details

Examined how Nikkei youth in Chile construct and express cultural identity across physical and digital environments through digital ethnography, individual interviews, and group discussions.

Research Support

Freelance and assistantship work

  1. Sistema Gestión de Aprendizaje INACAP (Scoping Review)

    Literature Reviewer · Asesorías en Medición y Evaluación SPA

    Santiago, Chile · October–December 2022

    Literature ReviewFreelance Research Support

  2. Tercera Encuesta Nacional de Percepción Social de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación

    Field Surveyor · ClioDinámica

    Santiago, Chile · July 2022

    Field SurveyFreelance Research Support

  3. Collection of Impact Indicators on Participation in Research Competitions

    Data Analyst Consultant · Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Área de Investigación y Creación

    Santiago, Chile · April–May 2022

    Data AnalysisFreelance Research Support

  4. Data Governance Support

    Data Management Specialist · Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Dirección de Gobiernos de Datos

    Santiago, Chile · February 2021 – December 2022

    Data ManagementFreelance Research Support

  5. Condiciones de seguridad, salud, trabajo y empleo en trabajadores y trabajadoras de plataformas digitales

    Participant Recruiter and Surveyor · Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO)

    Santiago, Chile · October 2021 – March 2022

    Participant RecruitmentFreelance Research Support

  6. UNICEF Study (Cod. 614321)

    Interview Transcriber · Grupo Educativo SPA

    Santiago, Chile · January 2021

    TranscriptionFreelance Research Support

Presentations

Talks, conferences, and symposiums

  1. Imagining an Immersive Social Future: An Exploratory Study with University Students in Tokyo

    Elizabeth Olivares Flores

    Young Female Researcher Conference 2026

    Tokyo, Japan · March 7, 2026

    Oral PresentationImmersive Technology
    Event page

  2. Bridging Physical Fieldwork and Virtual Design: An Immersive Model of Service-Learning with Thai NGOs

    Professor Allen J. Kim (presenter), with Elizabeth Olivares Flores

    World Learning Labs Symposium 2026, University of the Philippines Open University

    Los Baños, Philippines · March 6, 2026

    Oral PresentationService-Learning
    Event page

  3. Exploring Gen Z Perspectives on the Metaverse in Japan: Imagining through the Meta Quest 3

    Elizabeth Olivares Flores

    2025 Othmer Research Fellowship Presentation, Japan ICU Foundation

    Tokyo, Japan · December 9, 2025

    Poster PresentationMetaverse

  4. Immersive Worlds, Shared Futures: The Metaverse as a Platform for Tackling Global Issues with NGOs

    Elizabeth Olivares Flores (presenter), with Professor Allen J. Kim

    Asia–Latin America Forum on Migration and Citizenship

    Santiago, Chile · September 24, 2025

    Oral PresentationService-Learning

  5. From the Classroom to the Workplace: Gen Z's Emerging Adoption of the Metaverse

    Elizabeth Olivares Flores

    World Learning Labs Symposium 2025, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

    Kyoto, Japan · April 14, 2025

    Oral PresentationMetaverse
    Event page

  6. Habitando fronteras culturales: Manifestación de lo Nikkei en jóvenes descendientes japoneses en Chile

    Elizabeth Olivares Flores

    Simposio de Estudiantes sobre África y Asia (SEAFAS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

    Online, Chile · December 3, 2021

    Oral PresentationIdentity Construction