Jason Lau
Areas of interest
- Digital Development within Asia
- Global Digital Cultures
- The Impact of Smartphones and Mobile Internet
- Technology and Society
- Creation of Digital Cultures
- Design and Technology
Biography
Jason Lau is the Richard Charles Lee Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the United States and the Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. He earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the New School for Social Research, where he focused on the impact of digital technologies in Chinese society. His research, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation, among others, examines the transformative effects of smartphones and the mobile internet on governance, identity, and everyday life.
Dr. Lau previously taught at Parsons School of Design in New York, integrating social sciences, design, and technology into his courses. Committed to public engagement and influencing policy on digital wellness, he is dedicated to fostering dialogues that bridge academic insights with community and policy-making initiatives, thereby enhancing our understanding of global digital cultures.
Select publications
2024 “Making Mobile Phones, Building Microworlds.” explores the intricate processes behind mobile phone production in China and their broader implications for understanding global technological ecosystems.
2024 “The Chinese Internet as a Mode of Governance.” analyzes the Chinese internet’s role in shaping governance strategies, highlighting the intersection of technology, policy, and societal control.
Awards & recognition
2022-2024 M+ Museum / Design Trust Research Fellowship: Awarded for research on Chinese alternative design, focusing on innovative practices outside mainstream industry paradigms. 2021 Stanley Diamond Memorial Award in the Social Sciences: Recognized for outstanding doctoral research in the social sciences.
2017-2018 Graduate Institute for Design, Ethnography & Social Thought Fellowship: Supported interdisciplinary research and workshop development at the intersection of design, ethnography, and social sciences.
2014-2016 Jury Membership, China Electronics and Information Industry Development Research Institute: Served as a jury member evaluating advancements in mobile technology.
2013-2015 National Science Foundation, Division of Social and Economic Sciences: Funded research on the impact of mobile technology in China, exploring its social and technological implications.
2013-2015 Wenner-Gren Foundation Fieldwork Research Grant: Supported ethnographic fieldwork on the use and design of mobile phones made in China, emphasizing user interaction and design processes.
