Hi, I'm Nandita.

How I Got Here

I am a global citizen, with a passion for STEM, multimedia art, and data-driven journalism that deepens our knowledge of the world around us. As a graduate of NYU Tandon’s Integrated Digital Media major, I feel that sharing experiences through media and technology can enhance depth and understanding of subject matter in the collective consciousness.  
I am fascinated by the way different countries exhibit unique cultural norms. I am of Indian origin. I understand the pain of colonization, the destruction of partition, and what it means to be both a refugee and an immigrant. I have personally struggled with my own identity and complex issues such as cultural assimilation, living in a predominantly white suburb of Washington D.C. and having only visited India twice my whole life. Understanding cultures and histories is of deep importance and value to me.

I know the heart-warming traditions and cultures of West Africa, having lived in Senegal earlier in my life.  In later years during high school, I received a full scholarship to a study-abroad program on peace, politics, and human rights in South Africa. I lived with host families and visited numerous places including the Phoenix Ashram started by Mahatma Gandhi. I was jolted by the lasting effects of systems such as Apartheid -- a system of government designed to legitimize racism and prejudiced ideals. 

Back in the US, I was struck by how sharply my experiences abroad contrast with media portrayals of Africa, as only a place rife with crime, corruption, and disease. While recognizing development obstacles, I want to challenge these stereotypes, and contribute to building a better future through improved education and understanding across communities – not just in Africa, but globally. Modern technology, in the forms of mixed reality, web design, and data visualizations, combined with data-driven journalism, can be an effective tool in developing a deeper understanding of complex subject-matter. It is my hope that science and technology can be used to spread knowledge and truth -- uncovering these oppressive, hidden cycles we live in.

Upon entering college at NYU I joined a group on campus called Project Outreach. Through my experiences in this service and social justice oriented group -- first as a participant and student, then later as a mentor to others -- I have been able to fully translate my knowledge of race-relations in countries abroad (like Senegal and South Africa) to understanding the differences and similarities at home in the United States, becoming a better teacher and learner. It is this type of cross-cultural understanding and problem-solving that I hope to harness in my research.
I am dedicated to bringing diverse, data-driven stories into the mainstream experience using multifaceted technology. I have developed practical cross-cutting skills in media, technology, research, and empathy-building to achieve this vision.