Dr Megan Catherine Rose

Dr Megan Catherine Rose is a cultural sociologist and artist based in Sydney, Australia. She is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Vitalities Lab, UNSW Sydney, and a doctoral researcher at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society. 

Megan researches visual cultures and links between creativity, wellbeing and inclusion. She is interested in how creativity is used in new technologies and collective cultures for care, safety and belonging. She specialises in action-led participatory research, which centres the experiences of marginalised groups as experts in their own lives. She collaborates with queer and disabled communities based in English and Japanese language online spaces, and also works in field-sites in both Sydney and Tokyo.

Megan's latest research explores the significance of self-determined cultures, communities and supports for autistic adults, as well as the cultural impact of care robot design. Megan is also publishing her ongoing work into visual expression and safe space building of neuro-queer femme subcultures local to Harajuku and Akihabara, Tokyo. She is best known for her specialisation in "cute studies", Japanese popular culture, and its intersections with care, queer identities and neurodiversity. Her work has culminated in invitations to collaborate on arts and community initiatives, including Somerset House UK's 2023 Cute exhibition.

Megan has worked for a range of research centres including Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, and the Disability Innovation Institute. Her previous work investigated equity, diversity and inclusion in education settings, and she serves on advisory boards as a disability advocate.