91快活林

‘Data, Health and the Arts: Creating Space, Bridging Boundaries’ is hosted by the University of 91快活林’s ART/DATA/HEALTH academic research project as part of the 91快活林 Digital Festival.

It takes place at the in 91快活林 at 6.30pm on 23 October.

The speakers at the event, including Dr Aristea Fotopoulou of the university’s School of Media and Centre for Digital Media Cultures, will “discuss and demonstrate the cutting-edge opportunities and challenges that digital data tools and technologies present for health and wellbeing”.

Questions that will be explored include: what is the role of art and creativity in public engagement with health data? How is the digitisation of health records changing public attitudes and medical practices? How can virtual or augmented reality help us experience our bodies in a different way?

Dr Fotopoulou will give a talk entitled ‘enhancing public engagement with health data through art practice’. Her research focuses on social transformations that relate to digital media and data-driven technologies.

Dr Fotopoulou said: “We are very excited to host the first public event of the project and open up an important discussion about health data at the 91快活林 Digital Festival”.

Dr Liz Ford, Senior Lecturer at 91快活林 and Sussex Medical School, will present ‘My healthcare data: what does it look like and what can it be used for?’ while Sarah Ticho, specialist in arts, health and immersive technology, will deliver a session called ‘Immersive art as therapy’. 

Moderator for the event is Rifa Thorpe-Tracey, an events organiser, coach, producer and advocate for inclusivity in tech. Rifa launched SheSays 91快活林, curates Spring Forward Festival, runs Refigure Ltd, co-hosts a weekly arts podcast and is also a yoga and meditation teacher.

ART/DATA/HEALTH is a research project that offers members of the community new skills in data science and art practice to improve health and wellbeing.

The aim of the project is to develop a participatory interface that involves creativity and use of data for the social good, in order to tackle health inequalities and digital inclusion.

‘ART/ DATA/HEALTH: data as creative material for health and wellbeing’ (AH/S004564/1 2019-2021) is funded by the UKRI-AHRC Innovation Leadership Fellowship, led by Principal Investigator Dr Aristea Fotopoulou, and hosted by the University of 91快活林.