the emerging social neuroscience of human-robot interaction
A SOCIAL ROBOTICS WORKSHOP
AUGUST 17-18 2017 BANGOR, WALES
Combing brains and robots
As interest grows among social neuroscientists, psychologists, and roboticists to understand how humans interact with artificial agents, it will become increasingly important for constructive dialogue and collaboration across these domains. The aim of this workshop was to bring together individuals working within and across a range of disciplines to discuss the latest findings, current challenges and exciting possibilities in human-robot interaction. Together, we explored social robotics questions using an interdisciplinary lens and discussed several of the major themes attracting increased research attention in this emerging field, from the technical and theoretical foundations of social robotics to the neural mechanisms and developmental and clinical implications of human-robot interactions. Students and researchers from social and developmental psychology, social neuroscience, artificial intelligence, law, virtual reality and robotics attended this small-scale meeting of diverse minds.
Programme
To foster diversity, we invited both senior and starting researchers as speakers from a wide variety of disciplines. The workshop featured an eclectic mix of keynote lectures, talks and poster presentations revolving around several themes, including ‘Theoretical/Technical Foundations', ‘Neural Mechanisms’ and ‘Developmental and Clinical Aspects’ of Human-Robot Interaction. During the workshop students, postdoctoral and senior researchers discussed their latest research on the border between social neuroscience and social robotics during the poster session.
Keynote speakers
Martin Giese University of Tübingen
Ayşe Saygin University of California, San Diego
Thierry Chaminade Aix-Marseille University
Goren Gordon Tel-Aviv University
Additional Confirmed Speakers
Agnieszka Wykowska Italian Institute of Technology
Mary Ellen Foster University of Glasgow
Tom Ziemke University of Skôvde
Laura Aymerich-Franch University of Barcelona
Fulvio Mastrogiovanni University of Genoa
Hatice Gunes University of Cambridge
Emily Cross Bangor University
Organising committee
This workshop was organized by Ruud Hortensius and Emily Cross and is part of the Social Robots project, a European Research Council-funded Social Neuroscience Research Project. Additional funding was generously provided by the Experimental Psychology Society.
Location
The Social Robotics Workshop was held at Bangor University in scenic North Wales.
The workshop took place in the Powis Hall located in the Main Arts, a Grade I listed building of the University. Take a look at this magnificent Grade I venue here.
The conference diner took place at Reichel Hall, the main dining room of the University.
Bangor is easy to reach by both train and car. There is a direct train from London (<3.5 hours), as well as frequent services from the rest of the UK including Manchester and Liverpool. The train station is within walking distance of the University (around 10 minutes).
Bangor is the ideal hub to explore North Wales. The Isle of Anglesey, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the great mountains of Snowdonia National Park, and the magnificent castles of Edward I and beyond are only minutes away!