Aesthetics 2025

We are thrilled to announce that, in collaboration with Congressi Stefano Franscini and ETH Zurich, the Social Brain Sciences Group is organizing the Arts Engagement and Aesthetic Experience – Bridging the Gap between Arts and Science conference, September 28th to October 2nd, 2025, at Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland.
The main aims of the conference are to

Create a multidisciplinary platform to exchange cutting-edge research findings and practices on the topics of arts engagement and aesthetic experience to foster a dynamic and productive academic environment for the dissemination of empirical knowledge.
Encourage multidisciplinary collaboration between academic scholars from different disciplines, such as the arts and science to enable constructive discussions and a holistic understanding of biological and psychological factors that contribute to arts engagement and aesthetic experience.
Promote metascience research methodologies, and practices to enhance to the transparency, reproducibility and efficacy of research work within the scientific community investigating the arts engagement and aesthetic experience.

Programme

To foster diversity, we have invited both senior and junior researchers as speakers from a wide range of disciplines related to the study of aesthetic experience. The conference will feature a mix of keynote addresses, invited talks and poster presentations all centered on bridging the gap between the arts and sciences. The conference aims to bring together visual and performance artists, art educators, psychologists, and cognitive neuroscientists to discuss three main topics: empirical findings, theoretical advancements, and methodological innovations.

Keynote Speakers

Beatriz Calvo-Merino (City, University of London)

Anjan Chatterjee (University of Pennsylvania)

Fredrik Ullén (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Manuel Anglada-Tort (Goldsmith University of London)

Ionela Bara (ETH Zürich)

Zaira Cattaneo (University of Bergamo)

Julia Christensen (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)

Emily S. Cross (ETH Zürich)

Kohinoor Darda (ARISA Foundation)

Ophelia Deroy (Ludwig Maximilian University)

Young-Jin Hur (University of the Arts London)

Manuel Hendry (Zurich University of the Arts)

Christine Knoop (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)

Guido Orgs (University College London)

Andrea Orlandi (Sapienza University of Rome)

Letizia Palumbo (Liverpool Hope University)

Robert Pepperell (Cardiff Metropolitan University)

Hanna Poikonen (ETH Zürich)

Eftychia Stamkou (University of Amsterdam)

Edward Vessel (The City University of New York)

Johan Wagemans (Katholieke Universiteit, KU Leuven)

Abstract Submission Guidelines and Key Dates

Submissions

We welcome submissions for talks and poster contributions from disciplines exploring aesthetic experience, spanning both artistic and scientific perspectives.

Dates and Deadlines

Submission period: 10 February 2025 - 31 March 2025

Notification of acceptance: 10 April 2025

Submission Requirements

Please include the following information:

Title (max 12 words)

Presenter and any co-author(s): Name, affiliation, and email address

Abstract (max 250 words)

Keywords (max 5)

Preferred format to be considered: Talk or Poster

How to Submit

The form to submit abstracts is available external page here

Organising committee

The conference is organized by Emily S. Cross and Ionela Bara at Social Brain Sciences Lab, ETH Zürich

Venue Information

The conference will take place at Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland. The Monte Verità conference centre has a campus-like structure, comprising a hotel, conference halls, restaurant and park. Monte Verità offers a convenient full board package (including hotel, lunches, and dinners) at an estimated rate of 225 CHF per day. This estimate is provided by the Monte Verità organizers.

Further details are available at external page https://www.monteverita.org/en

How to get there:

https://csf.ethz.ch/monte-verita/by-train0.html

Alternatively, as Ascona is a popular resort area, you may choose to book nearby accommodation (such as an Airbnb or other hotel/b&b). Please note that staying in Ascona may entail a walking distance of 20-30 minutes to the Monte Verità conference complex.

Registration and Conference Fee

The conference fee is 120 CHF. Registration for the conference will open in April 2025.