Human Mind and Migration Logo

The impactmania program Human Mind and Migration — in collaboration with the Art, Design & Architecture Museum, Neuroscience Research Institute, and Department of Religious Studies (UCSB) — consists of an interdisciplinary internship program and global partners to deliver a suite of interviews, interactive presentations, and performances.

Considering the present historical moment and the sociopolitical and environmental cocktail of issues related to migration—from the consequences of climate change to public policymaking such as forest fires; rising housing prices; and ongoing threats of human warfare—it is more urgent than ever to provide platforms for meaningful broad-based engagement to take place. We want to help translate and bring into sharper view the rich insights and knowledge being produced in more remote corners of the intellectual/artistic landscape, so that the 7 billion homo sapiens presently living (and migrating) on earth can imagine the most optimal and realistic future for themselves and the planet.

Digital Nomads magazine — students 2019 - 2020 project is out!

 

 

The launch of Digital Nomads — featuring impact makers from 22 countries! — concludes the 2019-2020 impactmania internship program at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). 

COVID-19 turned many of us DIGITAL NOMADS overnight — through the means of technology working location independently. It will take collaboration to create a more equitable world — acknowledging and celebrating the positive impacts of those across sectors, industries, and cultures is critical. Check out the magazine and enjoy a cross-cultural experience from the comfort of your own home. 

Digital Nomads was produced with Saehee Jong, Natalie Gomez, Joanne Mun, Laic Beugre, Alex Moon, and Hannah Chua. The magazine includes interviews with the former mayor of Irvine, CA, Sukhee Kang; Grammy award winner, Ted Nash; Olympian, Beatrice Faumuina; artist, Jason De León; and many others. Support our work by purchasing a print copy on Amazon.

World Map

Artist Shraddha Borawake's migration path. Share your own story via the anonymous survey below.
Visual Concept by Shraddha Borawake, inspired by her ongoing artistic practice Garb_Age. 

Announcements

News

Thank you!

Ninetynine (99) people have submitted their migration stories! 

See below and keep an eye on the social media channels where we post the anonymous suvey responses about migration challenges, community impact, and world views. 

Interviews

April 2020

Denida Doda interviews Prof. Marco Iacoboni, Brain Mapping Center, UCLA on Mirror Neurons

Imitation is such an important aspect of mirroring behavior: it’s fundamental for empathy, self-awareness, for learning, and hence for the transmission of culture.

Share Your Story!

Add your voice! 

We are interested in hearing the story of where you have come from, where you are now, and where you are heading. 

Share your migration path. Take the nine question questionnaire.

Take the Survey

Support Human Mind and Migration

Help us uncover the stories of the increasing number of people who are affected by migration, focusing on people's contributions to the cultural, social, and economic wealth of their new communities. We’d like to inspire a global dialogue and encourage solutions-based work that improves constructive outcomes for people involved on all sides of the issue.

Your involvement is needed to collect and check data, research and publish stories, uncover valuable findings about migration and the human experience, building a highly community participatory program.

Support Opportunities

Your Migration Story

“Being away from friends and family was most challenging—video calls helped.”
- From Manhattan, NY via Rhode Island and California back to New York

“Challenge: housing—help from personal/social/work network.”
- From Zuid Holland, the Netherlands to Zeeland, the Netherlands

“My most serious challenge was coming out to my dad—what helped me was deciding to find myself somewhere else.”
- From West Africa via France to California, USA

“I bring a diverse background of experience and culture. I also have made positive impacts in the community that I have belonged to.”
- From South Korea to California, USA

“Value systems are different even within a country like the US. Colorado Springs had a strong religious orientation. Even teaching evolution in school could cause controversy. In Santa Barbara, the work life balance was more skewed towards lifestyle.”
- From New York via Texas, Colorado, California to Germany

“The culture in the USA is very different from Brazilian culture. People are more distant and communication and interpersonal relationships have stricter protocols.”
- From Rio de Janeiro via Florianópolis, Brazil to California, USA

“I share the cultural aspects of my heritage such as food, music, dance, and other traditions.”
- From Beirut, Lebanon to Los Angeles, USA

“I have been working and paying taxes since I was 18 years old, while also volunteering at homeless shelters.”
- From Ethiopia to USA

“I used my knowledge and privilege to empower underprivileged communities.”
- From San Jose, California via Fremont, California, to Santa Barbara, California

“Expenses, Loneliness, Loss of status and identity, Future uncertainty.”
- From Pune, India via Vancouver, Canada to Calgary, Canada

“The most serious challenge I faced was applying to a green card as an individual, without my employer's sponsorship, as my employer refused to do it. Acquiring a stable immigration status in the US (green card) has helped me make the transition.”
- From Madrid, Spain via New York and Florida to California, USA

“Feeling isolated, feeling like 'fish out of the water', feeling that in the new city/country no one really understands what you are feeling/going through.”
- From Barcelona, Spain via Ireland to USA, back to Barcelona, Spain

“The guilt of leaving, and living in a new world of privilege was very challenging.”
- From Ethiopia to USA

“My work ethic and ability to elevate my community through my involvements, such as through music, art, volunteer work, have been my main contributions in my new country.”
- From Incheon, South Korea via Washington State to California, USA

“We had to prepare twice as much with local degrees and certifications, save, save, and save to reach the same economic status that we had at our home country.”
- From Villahermosa, Mexico via USA to Calgary, Canada

“I'm illiterate. So I study after work every day for an hour or two.”
- From USA to Japan