Dr Matt L Tompkins

Digital Futures Institute explores AI's impact on literature and connection to magic The Digital Futures Institute presented two panels at the King’s Festival of Artificial Intelligence.

Nice write up of my event @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social w/@drkatedevlin.bsky.social, where we discussed how the science of magic/illusion can be applied to psychological research on AI and neurotechnology
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/digital...

Magic, Minds, and the Mysteries of AI Step into a world where magic and technology collide in a fascinating exploration of AI and deception.

Then on Friday evening, find out about the link between magic, brains and AI with @mattltompkins.bsky.social:
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/magic...

New SoMA Newsletter: Happy Maundy Thursday! Ft. Witches, Tarot Exhibits, New Publications, A Book Review, Podcasts, and Philosophy Debates: open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

My review of 'Conjuring The Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums' is live on @spr1882.bsky.social (w/thanks to @nemomorck.bsky.social for inviting me to write this) spr.ac.uk/node/19583

I currently have two fully-funded PhD opportunities in my lab - both providing a chance to work on the incredible LEAF data set that we have been collecting the last couple of years (220 children followed longitudinally from 10-30 months on measures of attention and early EF). Please share!

Great- SoMA one will work fine (otherwise my personal one is contact@matt-tompkins.com)

That'd be great! I did find your chapter when I was googling around it- but ironically couldn't figure out a copyright free way to share it (also I should really pick up that book)

Science of Magic Association January Newsletter open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Maybe you already heard this, but episode 3 is a major highlight- takes some very fun liberties with the original plot (I think it's slightly more fun/surprising if you remember the game bit, but is great tv, either way)

Edgar being festive

New SoMA Newsletter: Post Conference Updates and Eyeball Gouging Celebrations open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

And we're off! The Science of Magic Conference has begun. @mattltompkins.bsky.social leads off with a historical overview of interaction between science and magic. #SoMA24

I was too distracted to make social media posts yesterday. It was an amazing first day of the Science of Magic Conference! Here's some documentation. #SoMA24

I was trying to think of my favourite HP page. It could be this.
It discusses infrasound creating visual distortions, we use the Herman grid illusion to create said visual distortions, the effect is entirely tied into the medium and it has this elegant (if I do say so), spooky astronaut sequence.

SoMA September Newsletter Conference Updates, New Books, a Paper, & a Podcast

SoMA September Newsletter: Conference Updates, New Books, a Paper, and a Podcast
open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Likewise!

A poster announcing The Science of Magic Association Conference in Las Vegas that takes place in Las Vegas from 12-13 November 2024. The image is in the style of a Golden Age magic poster, featuring a stylized Las Vegas skyline- depicting the High Roller, The 'Fabulous' Las Vegas sign, the Luxor pyramid the Eiffel Tower, The Strat, The Golden Nugget, and the Vegas Sphere, which is drawn to look like a human brain. A giant white gloved hand grasps the brain sphere between it's first finger and thumb. Four red imps surround the hand. One imp is springing cards between it's hands, another is taking notes on an old-fashioned school slate, a third imp in a lab coat and googles examines a test tube, and fourth imp presents three linking rings.

Delighted to debut the new poster for our upcoming conference: scienceofmagicassoc.org/home#confere...
(Art created by the amazing Kyla Moffatt kylamoffatt.com)

Cognition folks: I REALLY love teaching about the mental imagery debate. Even though I tend to live on the propositional code side of the debate, much of my discussion is about analog code. I've never found a reading that focuses on propositional code and that's accessible to undergrads. Any help?

Reminder about the Early Registration Deadline for SoMA 2024 + A Preview of Coming Attractions Hi all,

Reminder about the Early Registration Deadline for SoMA 2024 + A Preview of Coming Attractions (i.e. all confirmed presenter abstracts)

You have until August 17 to take advantage of the discount!

t.co/Aw2DnQJKsQ

DEADLINE Reminder: SoMA 2024 Conference Presentation Proposals Due July 14! open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Thanks for the great piece!

SoMA Newsletter July 2024 Deadline reminder, an interview series, and new articles on magic

SoMA Newsletter July 2024: Deadlines for Conference Abstracts, New Interview Series, & Two New Stories
HT @annamerlan.bsky.social @magictony.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

A Magical Mystery Tour in L.A. After a lifetime of building illusions for the world’s greatest sleight-of-hand performers—and curating a museum full of priceless automata—John Gaughan takes a modest bow.

Today in delightful: I got to write about John Gaughan, a legendary magic builder and inventor who has a semi-secret museum of magic history in the back of his shop. www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a...

SoMA June Newsletter & Conference Updates Hello, Hope everyone’s respective summers are off to excellent starts! The main purpose of this newsletter is to provide some exciting new updates on our upcoming 2024 conference. We’ve got an excelle...

New SoMA Newsletter: Featuring conference updates, new publications, a contest, and a case study of nonmagical needle swallowing. t.co/ujpPSpVvK3

Crossing Over: Hocus Pocus and the Magic of Comics in Research at SR 3 (WD 1.64) Clothworkers Central Building, University of Leeds Tickets are now available for Crossing Over: Hocus Pocus and the Magic of Comics in Research at SR 3 (WD 1.64) Clothworkers Central Building, University of Leeds, Leeds on Mon 13 May 2024 at 3:00PM. C...

Next week @jordancollver.bsky.social and I will be chatting with Professor Richard Wiseman about our comic Hocus Pocus and how to make science comics. We’ll also be doing a Q&A!
Tickets are free!
Available in person and online.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/comicsatleed...

Sent to me by a colleague. Funny stuff.

Why we practice magic By Helen De Cruz

Philosopher, Helen De Cruz, explores the transformative role of wonder and awe in an uncertain world, and why we practice magic. press.princeton.edu/ideas/why-we...

#Philosophy #philosopher

New SoMA Newsletter: A Call for Abstracts, Book Recommendation, New Neuroscience Study, and A Breaking-ish (simultaneously very old) Story About Magic & Tech
open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Happy Leap Day from The Science of Magic Association!
scienceofmagicassoc.substack.com/p/happy-leap...

Had an excellent first gig of the year at “Ringar på vattnet–En varm kväll för Ukraina” in Åland. Was a privilege to share the stage with amazing artists, including the Lviv women's choir, to help raise money for Ukrainian medical aid. (Pics by Daniel Eriksson) www.alandstidningen.ax/nyheter/gala...