Call for Participation:

SocialBRIDGES Symposium Series: Presence
September 22-23, 2025
TU Dresden, Germany and online
https://tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotechnik/ias/socialtouch/socialbridges/socialbridges-presence

TU Dresden hosts the ninth edition of the socialBRIDGES symposium series, this year devoted to the topic of Presence. With keynotes from Olaf Blanke, Kristine Nowak and Mel Slater and presentations from experts in philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, performance studies, human–computer interaction, art and theatre, we examine the concept of presence from a wide range of perspectives.

Goodall writes in her book Stage Presence: “If presence is quite literally about the here and now, technologies of representation may be seen as its enemies”. But as we will explore in this conference, technological advancements can also shape and deepen our understanding of presence, guiding us through what it means, why and in which contexts it may be a useful concept, and how best to measure and manipulate it.

From the illusion of being in a mediated space to the feeling of sharing a moment with others, presence takes on different forms across disciplines. It is central to discussions in virtual and augmented reality, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, performance studies, and beyond. Are we truly “there” in a virtual world? What makes us feel the presence of others — physically, socially, or emotionally? Can presence be trained, enhanced, or disrupted?

This conference will bring together creative minds from diverse fields to discuss, debate, and experiment with presence. Through talks, panels, and interactive sessions, we will explore the boundaries between embodiment and perception, illusion and reality, technology and human experience.

We invite all to join us, online or in person.

Full program:
https://tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotechnik/ias/socialtouch/socialbridges/programm

Abstracts and bios here:
https://tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotechnik/ias/socialtouch/socialbridges/socialbridges-presence

Presentations will be streamed live here: https://youtu.be/nuGKjSgKzow

For participation via Zoom or on site, please register by socialbridges@tu-dresden.de