Digital Hub launches Trinity Term 2025 Programme

This term’s programme is one of the Digital Hub’s biggest yet, and features a broad range of events that explore VR and the human body, spatial illusion technologies, digital scholarship, the potential of brain computer interfaces to restore communication for profoundly paralysed patients, and digital health and climate justice. We are also pleased to welcome back the sixth iteration of Immers-eXpo – Oxford’s annual showcase of the latest immersive technologies – and the Institute for Ethics in AI’s fourth annual lecture.

All Digital Hub events are free to attend, and booking details are below. You can also visit the Hub’s ‘What’s On‘ page for further details.

• Hacking the Body: How virtual reality is revolutionising our understanding of human vision and shape

Thursday 1st May, 17.00-19.00, FREE

In collaboration with the Atlantic Institute, Hacking the Body features lightning talks from the new Atlantic Fellows on how virtual reality is revolutionising our understanding of human vision and shape. Followed by networking reception. BOOK HERE.

• The Art of Spatial Illusion: Immersive Encounters between People, Media & Place

Friday 9th May, 17.00-19.00, FREE

Join experts from film, music, art, and cultural heritage to discuss the history and current developments of spatial illusion technologies in the digital age. Introductory talk by Professor Richard Koeck (University of Liverpool), author of The Art of Spatial Illusion (Routledge, 2024). BOOK HERE.

• Hacking History: Digital Scholarship Hackathon

Tuesday 13th May, 09.00-16.00, FREE

A free workshop to learn and practice new digital scholarship methodologies. Using Gale’s Digital Scholar Lab, participants will work in groups to answer a research question, and present their findings. Parallel workshop strands to accommodate all levels. BOOK HERE.

• Digital Humanities in Progress

Tuesday 13th May, 17.00-19.00, FREE

The Gale Digital Humanities Scholars showcase their research projects. Talks and drinks reception. BOOK HERE.

• Digital Hub Annual Lecture: Promises and Challenges of Brain Computer Interfaces

Thursday 22nd May, 18.00-20.00, FREE

Dr Oiwi Parker Jones, Hugh Price Fellow in Computer Science, discusses the promises and challenges of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) that can restore communication to profoundly paralysed patients. His team in the Parker Jones Neural Processing Lab (PNPL) are weaving together the research threads of computer science, neuroscience, language and speech, with the aim of creating safe and effective BCIs that can help paralysed patients to communicate when they are unable to speak or gesture effectively themselves. Utilising the power of modern machine learning is key to the success of speech BCIs. In this second annual Hub lecture, Oiwi will describe his lab’s initial research breakthroughs using large-scale machine-learning methods, and the challenges that lie ahead in his quest to help paralysed patients to communicate again. Followed by drinks reception. BOOK HERE.

• Digital Health and Climate Justice

Wednesday 4th June, 10.00-12.00, FREE

As part of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, join us for a discussion on the climate impact of digital health technologies. What does climate justice mean in the context of digital health? How can we understand the severity of these costs and weigh them against the expected health and environmental benefits of digital technologies? Who will get the benefits, and who will bear the costs? BOOK HERE.

• Immerse-eXpo 2025: Innovating at the Edge of Reality

Thursday 5th June, 13.30-17.00, FREE

Oxford’s annual showcase of immersive technologies, co-organised by the Oxford X-Reality Hub and the Digital Hub. Now in its 6th year, this special edition focuses on the growing intersection of AI and XR (extended reality), with industry experts and leading academics exploring how these technologies are transforming research and innovation. Expect hands-on demonstrations, interactive exhibits, networking opportunities, and lightning talks covering fields from cultural heritage, product development, medicine, urban space, soft skills training, engineering and beyond. BOOK HERE.

• Institute for Ethics in AI Annual Lecture

Thursday 12th June, 17.00 -18.30, FREE

Jessica Riskin, Frances and Charles Field Professor of History & Director of Graduate Teaching, Stanford University, discusses The Onion Axiom: A History of the Outside-In Approach to Artificial (and Natural) Intelligence. MORE INFORMATION HERE.