Dr. Neil Randall

Biography

Neil Randall is a long-time faculty member in the English department at the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he serves as the Executive Director of the Games Institute and as Chair of the Council for Responsible Innovation Technology (CRIT). His academic pursuits focus on the ethics of current and emerging technologies, particularly as they relate to creative practices and digital engagement. Since the inception of the Games Institute in 2010, he has been instrumental in leading research on game-driven interactions and their implications across various fields, including humanities, social sciences, health sciences, and engineering. The Institute serves as a collaborative hub for faculty and graduate students to explore themes around entertainment games, serious games, virtual reality, and augmented reality within interactive media. Under his direction, the Institute has received significant funding, including a $2.55 million SSHRC Partnership Grant to establish the IMMERSe network, fostering multi-disciplinary research on player experience and game interpretation. Beyond his administrative role, Randall has contributed to developing undergraduate and graduate programs in Rhetoric and Professional Writing, and has published numerous articles and computer books. He actively engages with industry partners to explore topics like digital media creation and interactive communication. As a games enthusiast, he incorporates his interests in board games and video games into his scholarship, particularly regarding narratives and adaptations in the works of J. R. Tolkien.

Research Interests