socialBRIDGES © socialBRIDGES presence in a filtered world © TU Dresden

SocialBRIDGES: Building Research InterDisciplin­ary Groups through E-conferences

Upcoming event: PRESENCE (22-23 September, 2025)
To participate, please reach out to us on socialbridges@tu-dresden.de and let us know whether you'd like to attend in-person or virtually.

With 8 major events, the socialBRIDGES e-conferences are now hosted by TU Dresden.

The upcoming ninth event in the socialBRIDGES series is organized by Merle Fairhurst (TU Dresden), Yasemin Abra (TU Dresden), Matthew McGinity (TU Dresden) and Gijs Huisman (Delft University of Technology) and aims to bring together creative minds from different disciplines to talk about and then discuss what presence means, why and in which contexts it may be a useful concept and how best to measure and manipulate it.

Watch out this space for more details on the exciting Programme and amazing speakers (coming soon!) of this next event.

And until then, you can catch up on our previous event on our socialBRIDGES YouTube channel accessible through our socialBRIDGES archive.

more information SocialBRIDGES: Building Research InterDisciplinary Groups through E-conferences

Catch up on our most recent e-conferences

dance2 © Dance & Dialogues
Dance & Dialogues

This event brought together experts at the intersection of dance and neuroscience to explore movement, synchrony, and social connection. Through keynotes and discussions, we examined how dance enhances intra- and inter-brain synchrony, improves mental health, and fosters social cohesion, and explored how performance art and social neuroscience can deepen our understanding of togetherness, using digital interfaces and biofeedback to enhance social connection.
HR_AT © HR_AT
Trust: Social Bridge between Humans and Technology

As AI, social robotics, and automation become integral to our lives, how does trust in technology compare to human-to-human trust? Do we simply rely on functionality, or do we form deeper, social bonds with machines? This event brought together interdisciplinary researchers to explore the mechanisms, dimensions, and implications of trust in human and technological interactions. Covering fields from psychology and neuroscience to AI and robotics, the conference examined trust’s cognitive, neural, and behavioral foundations, its role in shaping social exchanges, and the design of trustworthy technologies.
fishbowl © socialBRIDGES
Women in Social Neuro-science

What does it take to build a career in social neuroscience? At this event, we put the spotlight on women in the field—exploring their experiences, challenges, and contributions. With talks from senior researchers, interactive sessions for early-career scientists, and a Panel Discussion with pioneers Prof. Uta Frith and Prof. Simone Shamay-Tsoory, this event fostered open dialogue, mentorship, and collaboration. A dynamic platform for insight, exchange, and empowerment—this was a space where the future of social neuroscience took center stage.
presence in a filtered world2.png © Selen Baş

SocialBRIDGES: Presence

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Goodall writes in her book Stage Presence: "If presence is quite literally about the here and now, technologies of representation may be seen as its enemies". But as we will explore in this conference, technological advancements can also shape and deepen our understanding of presence, guiding us through what it means, why and in which contexts it may be a useful concept, and how best to measure and manipulate it.

From the illusion of being in a mediated space to the feeling of sharing a moment with others, presence takes on different forms across disciplines. It is central to discussions in virtual and augmented reality, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, performance studies, and beyond. Are we truly "there" in a virtual world? What makes us feel the presence of others -- physically, socially, or emotionally? Can presence be trained, enhanced, or disrupted?

This conference will bring together creative minds from diverse fields to discuss, debate, and experiment with presence. Through talks, panels, and interactive sessions, we will explore the boundaries between embodiment and perception, illusion and reality, technology and human experience.

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