Provost's Lecture Series
A partnership between the Office of the Provost and the ICA at VCU, the Provost’s Lecture Series provides a forum for presentation and discussion that highlight important issues of the day.
Next Provost's Lecture Series event
Date/time: April 20
Location: Institute for Contemporary Art
Event theme: Real and Virtual Movement: Intersecting Art, Technology and Medicine
Keynote speakers
Kate Sicchio, assistant professor of dance and media technologies, School of the Arts
Presentation: Dance and technology collaborations on the stage and in the lab
The intersection of dance and emerging technologies includes many things from live coding choreography, wearable technologies for the body in performance and movement for autonomous systems. This talk focuses on how technology is used in the studio and on the stage, but also how dance and choreography is a rich methodology for developing new technical systems.
Semi Ryu, professor of kinetic imaging, School of the Arts, and associate professor of internal medicine, School of Medicine
Presentation: Performing virtual bodies
Following the technical advancement of cross-reality platforms—including virtual and augmented reality, the term “virtual bodies” has become widespread. Despite its increased use, however, there has not been much investigation of “virtual bodies” taking into account a trans-cultural approach. This presentation will demonstrate the methods of experiencing virtual bodies, in the context of Korean healing ritual, along with discussions of avatar life-review projects, in the phase of wishing, facing and performing virtual bodies. The concept of avatar virtual bodies will be explored, opening trans-cultural dialogues of body, perception and experience, and discussion of art, technology and medicine.
Discussion
Following their presentation, Dr. Sicchio and Professor Ryu will join moderator Dominic Asmall Willsdon, executive director of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, for a discussion.
Previous Provost's Lecture Series events
Select a presentation title below to view the archived recording of previous Provost Lecture Series events:
- B. Frank Gupton, Ph.D – Increasing Global Access to Essential Medicines in a Post Pandemic World
- Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D. – Fluid Flow Challenges in Energy, Environment and Human Health: From Respiratory Viruses to River Flooding and Wind Energy
About the Provost's Lecture Series
The purpose of this series is to raise the profile of VCU faculty within the local, national and international communities; to inspire the community with world-renowned speakers; and to provide cross-disciplinary views/solutions from speakers with divergent backgrounds working on common, societal issues/problems. An annual theme will provide coherence among the lectures and ensure that all academic disciplines within the university are included.
A signature event for the ICA, each lecture will include an in-person audience, and can also be viewed via live stream. Additional details about the future schedule and featured speakers will be shared in the near future.