A Bermudian expert on media and child development will deliver a presentation on the subject this month at the Bermuda National Gallery.

Katie Davis, an associate professor at the University of Washington and director of the university’s Digital Youth Lab, is set to speak on how technology and media can have an impact on education.

A spokesman for the BNG said that Dr Davis has been researching the impact of digital technology on learning, development and wellbeing for almost 20 years.

She recently published a book, Technology’s Child: Digital Media’s Role in the Ages and Stages of Growing Up, on the topic.

The spokesman said: “Drawing on her expertise in developmental science and design research, she will describe what happens when child development and technology design interact, and how this interaction is complicated by children’s individual characteristics as well as social and cultural contexts.

“Critically, she will explain how a self-directed experience of technology — one initiated, sustained and ended voluntarily — supports learning and development, especially when it takes place within the context of community support, and how an experience that lacks these qualities can have the opposite effect.”

Peter Lapsley, the director of the BNG, said: “As the community relies increasingly on technology, its influence can be seen in all facets of our lives, and the arts are no different.

“We are often discussing the intersection of art and technology and have a summer programme with that very title for students, so having the opportunity to hear from Dr Davis on how we can all better understand its impact on our young people is timely, and I would encourage the community to join us for the event.”

The presentation is to begin at the BNG on April 13 at 6pm. Tickets are available at the BNG website, and cost $20 for gallery members and $35 for non-members.