Cultural Heritage Scholar and Tibetan Studies Expert
Lugyal Bum is a distinguished researcher and cultural heritage specialist who has been actively involved in cultural documentation projects since 2012. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at Northwestern University, his academic journey includes an MA in Cultural Sustainability from Goucher College in Maryland and a BA in English (Tibetan) from Qinghai Normal University in China. His research focuses on the intersection of digital media and Buddhist practices in contemporary Tibetan society, as well as the relationship between ecology and Tibetan Buddhism. Under the guidance of advisors Sarah Jacoby and Sarah Taylor, his work explores how modern digital technologies influence and shape traditional Buddhist practices in Tibetan communities. His expertise in cultural documentation and heritage studies, combined with his bilingual capabilities, enables him to bridge traditional Tibetan cultural practices with contemporary academic discourse, contributing significantly to the preservation and understanding of Tibetan cultural heritage.