Title: The science of illusions: What can illusions tell us about how we perceive the world?

Professor Gavin Buckingham
Associate Professor of Sensorimotor Control, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Exeter

Synopsis: We use our senses of sight, hearing, and touch to interact with our environments. But how does our brain make sense of all this incoming information? In this presentation I will examine some of the ways in which a range of different illusions demonstrate how our brain must be scaffolding our sensory input to help us experience the world around us, and show some surprising ways in which our ability to control our movements is separate from our experience of the world around us. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to interact with, and discuss, a range of illusions.

Professor Kate Ellacott

Professor of Biomedical Neuroscience,
Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), Faculty of Health & Life Science, University of Exeter

Dr Darren Schreiber, author of 'Your Brain is Built for Politics' and TEDxLondon speaker
Synopsis: The past twenty years have demonstrated the role of biology in our political predispositions, with evidence from twin studies, genetics, and even brain imaging. Recent trends have highlighted political polarisation on an emotional, identity-driven level where the other side is seen as a hated enemy. The consequences have ranged from increasing dissatisfaction with democracy to a rise in violent extremism.

Department of Politics, University of Exeter
https://www.politicsemerging.com/index.html