Laser Talk: Within Touching Distance: The senses and empathy in immersive spaces

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Within Touching Distance: The role of the senses in creating empathetic behaviour in the brain, with applications to Immersive Theatre and Health Simulations.

The emergence of immersive technologies such as VR Headsets and Game Engines provide new opportunities for artists and scientists alike. In this Liverpool Art Science Evening Rendezvouz (LASER) Talks we bring together speakers from very different disciplines whose work greatly extends the potential of these tools within neuroscience, health immersive theatre to reveal insights into the artistic, scientific and technological basis of their unique illusionary and immersive power.
Our speakers are:

• Dr Susannah Walker, Behavioural Neuroscientist and co-lead of the Somatosensory & Affective Neuroscience group at LJMU, explores how sensory stimuli, particularly touch, taste and smell, influence our emotions and behaviour.
• John-Paul Mills, Digital Simulation Learning Technologist and member of the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice at LJMU, explores the uses of immersive technologies in simulations for learning in Health settings.
• Prof. Jorge Lopes Ramos is Professor of Interactive Theatre and Performance at the University of Greenwich focusing on disabled-led arts practice, interactive technology and serious games. Jorge is co-founding Director of ZU-UK, theatrical company pioneering immersive performance and participatory theatre. ZU-UK’s latest work ‘Withing Touching Distance’ from which the title of this event is taken, is an award winning, genre defining piece of immersive theatre. Central to the power of piece is the bringing together of visual images from VR headsets with touch stimulus from actors, clothing and other props to deliver an experience of unparalleled emotional impact.

Running Order: Doors 17.45
· 18:00 – Event start – Introductions by Dr Mark Wright and Mark Roughley
· 18.15 – 15 min talk from Dr Susannah Walker
· 18.30 – 15 min talk from John-Paul Mills
· 18.45 – 15 min talk from Prof Jorge Lopes Ramos
· 19.00 – ‘In conversation’ chaired by Dr Mark Wright
· 19:30 – Q& A and networking
· 20:00 – Event end

Liverpool LASER Talks is funded by X-Lab at the Institute for Art and Technology (IAT) at LJMU.

Liverpool LASER TALKS:
Liverpool LASER is part of the worldwide series of Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (LASER) Talks sponsored by Leonardo, the International Society for Art, Sciences and Technology (Leonardo/ISAST). Liverpool LASER Talks are organised by Mark Roughley, and supported by the MA Art in Science programme, which aims to bring artists and scientists together to explore the boundaries of art-science research and practice.