UMverse at the University of Miami invites you to dive into the cutting-edge world of XR at Miami XR 2025, Thursday and Friday, February 6+7. Join industry experts, tech visionaries, artists, and university scholars from around the globe to explore the latest trends and innovations in XR technology.

Keynote speaker Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, will share insights on how virtual experiences are reshaping education, social interaction, and empathy. Experience the future of XR with interactive demos, panel discussions, and hands-on sessions.

In-person and virtual participation are available—bringing the future to you, wherever you are!

Tentative Agenda | Registration Link Forthcoming

$30.00 per person (both days included) • Free for UM Faculty, Staff, and Students. Please email idsc@miami.edu for the PROMO CODE.

Thursday 2/6/2025 • Shalala Student Center Complex

5:00-5:30 PM Registrations Opens
5:30-5:45 PM Welcome Remarks | Mia Uy
5:45-5:50 PM Lightning Talks Introductions | Thomas Merrick
5:50-6:50 PM Lightning Talks
6:50-8:00 PM Networking Cocktails at The Rathskeller

Friday 2/7/2025 • Newman Alumni Center (Multipurpose ABC)

9:00 AM Registration Opens | BREAKFAST and POSTERS
10:00 AM Welcome Remarks | Mia Uy
10:10 AM Lightning Talks
10:30 AM KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jeremy Bailenson
11:15 AM Break
11:35 AM PANEL “Jobs in XR” | Thomas Merrick
12:15 PM LUNCH and DEMOS
1:30 PM Lightning Talks
1:50 PM SPEAKER
2:40 PM “XR at The U” | Thomas Merrick
3:00 PM PANEL “Storytelling in XR” | Anna Queiroz
3:45 PM Closing Remarks | Kim Grinfeder

Keynote Speaker

Jeremy Bailenson

Founding Director, Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab

Jeremy Bailenson is founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Thomas More Storke Professor in the Department of Communication, Professor (by courtesy) of Education, Professor (by courtesy) Program in Symbolic Systems, and a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. He has served as Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication for over a decade. He earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1994 and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Northwestern University in 1999. He spent four years at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and then an Assistant Research Professor.

Bailenson studies the psychology of Virtual and Augmented Reality, in particular how virtual experiences lead to changes in perceptions of self and others. His lab builds and studies systems that allow people to meet in virtual space, and explores the changes in the nature of social interaction. His most recent research focuses on how virtual experiences can transform education, environmental conservation, empathy, and health. He is the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching at Stanford. In 2020, IEEE recognized his work with “The Virtual/Augmented Reality Technical Achievement Award”.

He has published more than 200 academic papers, spanning the fields of communication, computer science, education, environmental science, law, linguistics, marketing, medicine, political science, and psychology. His work has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation for over 25 years.

His first book Infinite Reality, co-authored with Jim Blascovich, emerged as an Amazon Best-seller eight years after its initial publication, and was quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court. His new book, Experience on Demand, was reviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Nature, and The Times of London, and was an Amazon Best-seller.

He has written opinion pieces for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNN, PBS NewsHour, Wired, National Geographic, Slate, The San Francisco Chronicle, TechCrunch, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, and has produced or directed six Virtual Reality documentary experiences which were official selections at the Tribeca Film Festival. His lab has exhibited VR in hundreds of venues ranging from The Smithsonian to The Superbowl.