Megu Kanzawa is an Imaginarium lab technician double majoring in Computer Science (CSCI) and Web Design & Engineering (WDE) and minor in Animation & Illustration and Computer Engineering. Her role in the Imaginarium centers around design and animation in game development, joining the lab by creating 3D model animations within the Metaverse Body Positivity team. Megu was introduced to the Imaginarium in Fall 2023 by Alyce Wu, another team member on the Metaverse team, where she originally assisted with editing videos taken of Horizon World to clean them for data analysis. During her time in the lab, Megu found herself learning the basics of Unity and game development, eventually transitioning to the Body Positivity team and applying her new host of game development skills.
Though she was initially interested in the lab to gain development experience tailored to her technical majors, upon being exposed to the Imaginarium, she found herself immediately fascinated by the widespread missions and interests of the various research teams in the lab. She particularly enjoys witnessing how the research is shaped by every individual involved, finding inspiration being surrounded by many dedicated, generous, and passionate people. While her focus remains on developing her technical skills in the realm of 3D development, her time in the lab has allowed her to branch out into new research endeavors and explore her curiosities surrounding AI and media interactions.
Beyond the work, Megu thrives in the supportive and inspiring environment of the Imaginarium, where the dedication, generosity, and passion of the team consistently motivate her. She deeply values the close-knit relationships she has formed, stopping by daily and finding joy in both the productive and light-hearted moments. One of the surprises for Megu was how the team balances well-being with high-quality work, even allowing stuffed animal cuddles during meetings to prioritize health. Her prominent memories with the lab are from team check-ins, where everyone openly shares their mood before diving into their tasks.