UC research institute hosts first annual festival of sensing
Interdisciplinary expo explores sensing research through sciences and humanities
The University of Cincinnati's Institute for Research in Sensing hosts its first annual Expo & Festival of Sensing this month to convene an interdisciplinary conference exploring the topic of sensing in all its forms, from the sciences to the humanities.
The event will be held on May 25 and 26 in Tangeman University Center, 2600 Clifton Ave., and is open to faculty, staff, students and the public. Register here.
UC College of Arts and Sciences associate professor Nathan Morehouse is director of UC's Institute for Research in Sensing. Photo/Jay Yocis/UC Creative + Brand
The conference brings together representatives across disciplines — from engineering, biology, ethics, the humanities, performing arts and more — to explore sensing through a variety of lenses, says institute director and associate professor of biology Nathan Morehouse.
“We hope the event raises awareness of the amazing breadth of work happening on sensing at UC, while at the same time stimulating new conversations between the sciences, engineering, the arts and humanities,” he said.
Launched in 2021, the institute is dedicated to exploring innovation in sensing research and technology, brought together by collaborators in UC’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering and Applied Science. It is sponsored in part by UC’s Office of Research 2030 initiative. Researchers in both colleges are advancing sensor study in areas such as disease diagnosis and mobile applications including drones, robots and self-driving cars.
In its first year, the institute hosted the Alloy Discussion series, which brought together academics, researchers and the public for talks exploring topics such as taste, smell and memory; hallucinations and the nature of perception, and ethical frontiers in sensing.
This sense of intellectual adventure and discovery is really what IRiS is about.
Nathan Morehouse, Director of UC's Institute for Research in Sensing
“The Alloy Series has shown us both the benefits of and appetite for this kind of interdisciplinary community-building here in Cincinnati,” Morehouse said. “One thing that has struck me in particular from the Alloy Series is this sense of people coming alive in the presence of new ideas. People who join our events often walk away invigorated, with their heads swimming in new ideas.
“It’s not unusual to hear from someone several days later that they are still thinking about what was discussed … this sense of intellectual adventure and discovery is really what IRiS is about, so it’s been incredibly rewarding to feel this happen in real life and real time.”
Keynote speakers for the Ignite event include Gymama Slaughter, executive director of the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University, who will talk about next-generation implantable glucose sensors for people with diabetes. Slaughter is the recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Career Award for outstanding research, education, and the integration of education and research.
Also speaking is Misha Sra, director of the Perceptual Engineering Lab in the computer science department at the University of California Santa Barbara, whose talk “Human Augmentation” will cover how technology can be used to break through traditional limitations of perception and cognition.
In addition to the keynote addresses, the event will include a program of 15-minute lectures, a poster session, an art exhibit and short performances.
General admission tickets for the two-day event are $25, $10 for students, and include free refreshment breaks and meal tickets for food truck lunches on May 25. Registration is required for all attendees.
Register here for UC's IRiS Ignite event.
Featured image at top: Abstract image of an eye.
Related Stories
UC climbs to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships in 2027 U.S. News rankings
September 22, 2026
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, the University of Cincinnati rises to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships — No. 1 among public institutions — and posts gains in undergraduate business, computer science and psychology.
Engineering graduate student developing intelligent AI systems
September 21, 2026
Artificial Intelligence is on the rise, and researchers are working harder than ever to understand, develop, and improve it. Aneesh Deshmukh, computer science M.S. student at the University of Cincinnati, is working on AI systems modeled after human brain functionality. Deshmukh's goal is to help these robots understand their surroundings and take this knowledge to navigate unfamiliar environments in the future. For this work, he has been named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
UC expert explains geology of Mammoth Cave
September 21, 2026
UC Associate Professor Dylan Ward and UC geosciences graduate Rachel Bosch joins an episode of OutSCIder Classroom to talk about weathering in caves found in places such as Mammoth Cave National Park.