Sensorium, a research unit in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD), is hosting a weekly seminar series presenting a variety of artists and scholars of vast disciplines to share their work.
“We work mainly with scholars who do arts-based research with a technology twist. We’re really interested in how we can create knowledge across different disciplines, so we collaborate with artists, computer scientists, biologists, philosophers, astrophysicists, and many other disciplines. We run different events, help write grants, and offer space for these researchers to come together to have really interesting conversations,” says Dr. Melanie Wilmink, the Sensorium Research Centre coordinator.
“Right now, we have people scheduled to talk about bio-art, theatre and technology, virtual reality, how you can make art as an astrophysicist, and queer archives — we even have the Dean of AMPD scheduled to talk about her own research on intermedial collaborations in media studies,” adds Wilmink.
“I think it’s a really exciting opportunity to casually interact with some very interesting members of the York research community,” says Ian Garret, a professor in the department of theatre. ”We spend so much time in our own departments, or limited to the topics of full classes, these offer the rare opportunity to get introduced to people we are excited about, share their passions, and maybe find new things to explore and collaborate around.”
“The Lunchtime Seminar Series is supposed to be a very casual introduction to the work by various scholars, so you won’t need a lot of specialized knowledge to understand what they’re talking about. It’s a space for people who are curious to just come and learn what kind of amazing projects are happening at York,” says Wilmink. They add that by attending these talks, people will get to know faculty members and “ maybe even start long-term relationships with them that might support your own research or generate collaborative opportunities where you can work on their projects (or create projects together).”
Mary Bunch, an assistant professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Arts, explains that the seminar series is a way that students can feel part of a community and helps them give a fuller sense of who their professors and TA’s are as researchers and artists.
“There is a myth that academic work is a solitary experience. This seems especially true during the pandemic, when so many of us are isolated in lockdown for long stretches of time,” says Bunch. “But in reality, the academy is a sprawling conversation that crosses both space and time. The word ‘academy’ is derived from the Greek word for garden, referring to the garden where Plato gathered with his students to talk and to teach. The Sensorium Lunchtime Series is the garden where we meet; where our knowledge and creativity is cross-pollinated through conversation.”
While this seminar series is presented by faculty and graduate students, Sensorium highly encourages undergraduate students to attend and to benefit from.
“I think undergraduates could get a lot out of this series. It’s a great opportunity to discover more about topics you’re passionate about, or become passionate about. I really relish every opportunity to ask (potenitally dumb) questions of smart people who are excited about what they’re working on, especially when there isn’t a grade on the line,” adds Garrett.
Wilmink also shares that Sensorium is hoping to host in-person workshops in the future, particularly on how to create art through coding. However, the seminars will be conducted virtually during the month of January and depending on the progression of the pandemic, will change into a hybrid model for the remainder of the winter semester.
