PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

photograph of a phd student (a young black man with glasses and short hair) in a light blue t-shirt demonstrates examples of visual illusions to visitors at Glasgow Science Festival

 

The Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience is committed to advancing the public understanding of philosophy by communicating our research to a public audience.

We maintain The Illusions Index - a fully searchable interactive curated collection of illusions.

And we host the award-winning online art exhibition Extreme Imagination: Inside the Mind's Eye.

Fiona Macpherson is one of the project members bringing the astonishing Dreamachine project to life May - September 2022. This is a new, one-of-a-kind immersive expereince created by Collective Act, in collaboration with Turner Prize-winning artists Assemble, Grammy and Mercury nominated composer Jon Hopkins, and a team of leading technologists, scientists and philosophers, Dreamachine invites you on a magical journey to explore the extraordinary potential of your mind. Conjured entirely by light and music, the colourful world of the Dreamachine will unfold behind your closed eyes – created by your own brain and completely unique to you.

More generally, researchers at the Centre participate in a variety of public engagement and knowledge exchange activities including public lectures, science festivals, articles and interviews for popular media, social media platforms. Details are below.

We welcome opportunities for future collaboration. We are available to comment on a wide range of issues relating to the science and philosophy of perception and mind. And we are happy to provide interesting demonstrations of perceptual effects suitable for people aged 7 - 70, or public lectures, at an event you organise. If you would like to know more then please get in touch!

Public activities and events

DateEventVenue
May - September 2022 Dreamachine - Explore the extraordinary potential of your own mind London (May 9 - July 24, Woolwich Public Market), Cardiff (May12 - June 18, Temple of Peace), Belfast (July 25 –September 04, Carlisle Memorial Church) and Edinburgh (August 13 – September 25, Murrayfield Ice Rink)
18  May 2022 Dreamachine Schools is a major UK wide programme, developed by A New Direction in partnership with the British Science Association and UNICEF UK, on which Fiona Macpherson is a consultant.  Today, we launch Life's Big Questions.
 Online: https://lbq.dreamachine.world/
7 - 10pm, 10th May 2022 Do You See What I See? - Derek Brown speaks on 'Mixed Reality and Illusion' as part of the Pint of Science Festival The Bungo Bar and Kitchen, Glasgow
7 - 8pm, 18 November 2021 Perceptual Illusion Cafe - online presentation of illusions and  discussion with public Zoom
7 - 8pm, 23 November 2020 Explorathon 2020 - online presentation of illusions and discussion with public. Zoom
7 - 8pm, 18 November 2020 Perceptual Illusion Cafe - online presentation of illusions and discussion with public. Zoom
11 August 2020 Launch of Illusions Index Quiz - completion of which gives you a University of Glasgow 'Master of Illusion' certificate Illusions Index Website
24 April 2020 Launch of Extreme Imagination online exhibition CSPE website
27-28 September 2019 Explorathon 2019 - research stall Riverside Museum, Glasgow
8-9 June 2019 Glasgow Science Festival 2019 - research stall Riverside Museum, Glasgow
5-7 April 2019 Extreme Imagination Confererence 2019 Univeristy of Exeter
30 March - 2 June 2019 Extreme Imagination: Inside the mind's eye - Exhibition 2019 Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
11 January - 3 March 2019 Extreme Imagination: Inside the mind's eye - Exhibition 2019 Tramway, Glasgow
29 September 2018 Explorathon 2018 Riverside Museum, Glasgow
15-16 June 2018 Glasgow Science Festival 2018 - research stall St Enoch Centre, Glasgow
29 September, 2017 Explorathon 2017- research stall Glasgow, The Riverside Museum
18 June 2017 Glasgow Science Festival 2017- research stall University of Glasgow, Kelvin Gallery
6 - 11 June 2017 Cheltenham Science Festival 2017- research stall Bath Road, Cheltenham
5 May 2017 Glasgow Science Centre Lates- research stall Glasgow Science Centre
29 April 2017 Question of Perception Celebration Event- research stall  Glasgow Science Centre
30 September 2016 European Researchers’ Night: Explorathon ’16 Glasgow Science Centre
7 July 2016 Understanding the Senses: Past & Present Project Public Lecture and Poetry Reading by Dr. Nuala Watt (University of Glasgow) (40 attendees) The Gilchrist Club, University of Glasgow
6 July 2016 Understanding the Senses: Past & Present workshop reception and manuscript exhibition University of Glasgow Library
17 June 2016 Beer: History, Philosophy, and Science Gilchrist Club, University of Glasgow
11–12 June 2016

Glasgow Science Festival 2016- research stall
- Public lecture by Professor Fiona Macpherson and Dr David Simmons on the Philosophy and Psychology of Colour (over 150 registered participants)
- Public lecture by Dr David Bain on Pains that are Not Unpleasant (over 100 registered participants)

 Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
26 March 2016 Theatre performance: Michael Brady, ‘Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring.’ Old Granada Studios, Manchester
March 2016 Discussion panel: Michael Brady, ‘On the Couch’ and ‘SICK! Lab 2016’ SICK! Festival, Manchester
November 2015 Keynote lecture: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Illusion and Perception’, at the Hutchesons’ Annual Approaching Philosophy Conference for school children (170 attendees) Hutchesons’ Grammar School, Glasgow
28 Sept–29 Nov 2015 Keith Wilson and Fiona Macpherson contributed an ‘Impossible Lego object’ to the Objects of Research exhibition Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
25 September 2015 European Researchers’ Night: Explorathon ’15 Glasgow Science Centre
8 June 2015 Public lecture: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Vision, Perception and Illusion’, with Colin Blakemore at the Glasgow Science Festival (200 attendees) University of Glasgow
7 June 2015 Public lecture: Michael Brady, ‘The Value of Suffering’ at the Glasgow Science Festival University of Glasgow
6–8 June 2015 CSPE at the Glasgow Science Festival Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum
4 June 2015 Public talk: Keith Wilson, introduction to outdoor screening of The Matrix and interview on philosophy and science-fiction at the Glasgow Science Festival University of Glasgow
19 March 2015 Public talks: Jennifer Corns, Fiona Macpherson, Keith Wilson – Late Night Science: Illusion and Perception The Research Club, Ashton Lane, Glasgow
6 March 2015 Public lecture: Michael Brady, ‘Why is Suffering Valuable?’ University of Glasgow
December 2014 Talk to Eye Surgeons: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Philosophy of Hallucination and Perception’ King’s College Hospital, London
21 November 2014 The Hidden Senses: the secrets of taste and smell, part of the Rethinking the Senses project The Dana Centre, London
16 November, 2014 PUblic lecture: Michael Brady, "The Philosophy of Pain and Suffering" Glad Cafe, Glasgow
October 2014 Public lecture: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Philosophy of Hallucination and Perception’, lunchtime masterclass series Centre for Open Studies, University of Glasgow
26 September 2014 European Researchers’ Night: Explorathon ’14 Glasgow Science Centre
June 2014 Public lecture: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Philosophical Views of Hallucination and Perception’, at the Out of Our Heads art exhibition on hallucination Shoreditch Town Hall, London
May 2014 Keynote speaker: Fiona Macpherson, ‘Individuating the Senses’, The Human Senses: Inspire Gatherings School of Music and Fine Art, University of Kent
April 2014 Speaker: Fiona Macpherson, at Conversations in Mind/Brain/Behaviour interfaculty event, debating with Professor Robert Stickgold (Harvard) Harvard University
December 2013 Discussion leader: Fiona Macpherson, Data, Dada, Data: the Next Big Confluence of Art, Science and Technology workshop organised by UCLIC, UCL Cumberland Lodge
July 2013 Public lecture: Fiona Macpherson, ‘How Many Colours Are in the Rainbow? Lessons from the Variability of Perception’ University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
November 2012 Discussion leader: Fiona Macpherson, Creative Dining, Cooking and Technology workshop, organised by UCLIC, UCL John Salt Restaurant, Islington
March 2012 Public exhibition and conference: Sensory Substitution and Augmentation [video] British Academy, London
November 2011 Michael Brady, philosophical advisor for two theatre productions with Manchester-based theatre group Quarantine Quarantine Theatre Group
May 2011 Public lecture and wine tasting: Fiona Macpherson (organiser), ‘On the Blind Versus Sighted Tasting of Wine’ with Professor Barry Smith (London) and Professor Charles Spence (Oxford) University of Glasgow

 

Radio and TV

DateDetailsMedia
11 May 2022

Fiona Macpherson is interviewed on the ‘All in the Mind’ programme about the Dreamachine.

 Radio 4
5 May 2022 

Fiona Macpherson is guest on Series 1, Episode 10, discussing Roe v. Wade, elections and voting, and living with covid.

“Philosophy Takes On The News” Podcast  
24 March 2022 

Fiona Macpherson is guest on Series 1, Episode 6, discussing duties to others, climate change and energy, and beers in the metaverse.

 “Philosophy Takes On The News” Podcast 

18 March 2022

Fiona Macpherson interviewed for the programme, ‘The Science of Sense’

 RTE: Ireland’s National Public Service Radio 
21 June 2021

Fiona Macpheson interviewed as expert on aphantasia and hyperphantasia

 Canadian podcast ‘Imagine that’, June 2021 
28 January 2021

Fiona Macpherson interviewed as expert on hallucination for the documentary film, “The Islanders Who Saw Visions”, January 2021.

BBC Reel, 17 May 2021
11 July 2019 

 

Fiona Macpherson interviewed by Lindsay McDougall about virtual reality and the Mobius Project

 

 DriveTime, ABC Illawarra Radio, Australia
 6 April 2019

Fiona Macpherson interviewed about her work on aphantasia and the Eye’s Mind’s conference on Extremes of Imagination on the BBC World Service ‘Newshour’ programme

 'Newshour' on the BBC World Service
7 December 2017

Fiona Macpherson interviewed by Tom Metcalfe on augmented reality

 NBC Mach
15 May 2017

Fiona Macpherson interviewed by Nicola Twilley for an article on "Seeing with Your Tongue"

 The New Yorker
3 March 2017

Fiona Macpherson interviewed by Jeff Gailus for piece entitled "We Should Count Balance As One of the Senses"

 Nautilus science magazine
December 2016

Fiona Macpherson interviewed by Timandra Harkeness for a Blakeway Production programme for Radio 4 on sensory substitution and augmentation, to be broadcast in 2017.

 BBC Radio 4
2 June 2016 Radio Interview: David Bain, Michael Brady, and Jennifer Corns, "The pleasure-pain paradox" ABC Radio, Australia
Spring 2016

Fiona Macpherson interviewed for an article on her and her work by Emma Shephard.

 Spring 2016 PhilonoUS, the University of Sheffield Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy
7 February 2015 Fiona Macpherson interviewed for ‘An Image of Sound’ BBC Radio 4
15 January 2015 ‘Top PI Fiona Macpherson: Making Small Grants Count’ Research Professional
7 December 2014 Fiona Macpherson co-hosted CBC’s Spark programme about ‘Rewiring our Senses’ (Programme no. 268) CBC
3 March 2013 Fiona Macpherson in Philosophy Bites podcast on Hallucination Philosophy Bites
January 2010 Radio interview: David Bain on God and the problem of evil Colourful Radio
January 2009 Radio interview: David Bain on is it wrong to kill for organs? [audio download] Kerrang Radio
February 2008 David Bain interviewed on McCauley & Co. BBC Scotland

 

Public articles

DateDetailsMedia
11 June 2017

Guest blog post: Jennifer Corns, ‘Why Pain is Not a Natural Kind’

 History of Emotions Blog
13 January 2016 Article: David Bain, ‘When Pain Isn’t Painful’ The Philosophers’ Magazine
3 August 2015 Guest blog post: Jennifer Corns, ‘Problems with Placebos’ iCog Blog
22 June 2015 Guest blog post: Keith Wilson, ‘Engaging the Senses at the Glasgow Science Festival’ AHRC Science in Culture blog
15 January 2015 ‘Top PI Fiona Macpherson: Making Small Grants Count’ Research Professional
23 December 2014 Guest blog post: Keith Wilson, ‘Taste and Smell: the hidden senses’ Being Human
2 October 2013 German newspaper article on Fiona Macpherson and Dimitris Platchias’s Hallucination volume Der Tagesspiegel
September 2013 Article: Keith Wilson, ‘Perception and Reality’ New Philosopher magazine
Autumn 2012 Fiona Macpherson interviewed about her work on perception and the senses in ‘A Shift in Perception’, by Cynthia Macdonald University of Toronto Magazine
November 2012 Blog post: Fiona Macpherson, ‘The Future of Dining Practices’, which in part records the Creative Dining, Cooking and Technology workshop held at the John Salt Restaurant in Islington (see above) Food for Thought: Thought for Food
August 2012 Fiona Macpherson interviewed for ‘Philosophy gender war sparked by call for larger role for women’, by Kathryn Blaze Carlson National Post Newspaper
January 2010 Article: David Bain, ‘Why does God allow natural disasters?’ BBC Magazine
May–July 2009 Articles: David Bain’s Brain Strain BBC Magazine
November 2008 Article: David Bain, ‘Four philosophical questions to make your brain hurt’ BBC Magazine
Spring 2008 Article: David Bain, ‘Why philosophy should be taught in schools’ Breaktime Magazine

Knowledge exchange

DateDetailsPartner
31 August 2021

Invited talk ‘What is Synaesthesia?’ by Fiona Macpherson, to cast and crew of the play “When Blue was Green”.

 Beacon Arts Centre and Dundee Rep, funded by Creative Scotland 
2017 - 2019

Fiona Macpherson was consultant to Cupboard Games, a small independent computer games firm She shared her knowledge on perception, the sensory modalities, and sensory substitution and augmentation to help them design games such as ‘Umwelt’. Cupboard Games and the University of Glasgow signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2017 to facilitate our connection.

 Cupboard Games
30 May 2017

VR Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Exploring how cutting-edge research can inform cutting-edge VR

 Soluis