Events Archive

GRAND @ SXSW

OCAD University professor and GRAND researcher Emma Westecott will join a SXSW Interactive 2014 panel: "Interaction Design and the Performing Arts." This panel looks at a wide range of intersections between interaction design and the performing arts, from narrative to puppetry to dramatic theory. The performing arts may be characterized by the expression of emotion and intent within a performative frame. Westecott’s research centers on the status of the player as performer, engaging the critical lens of performance theory to develop a nuanced approach to new interfaces for games, she talks about performance methods used in her pedagogy at OCAD University.

Also at SXSW Interactive: Biotech startup Synbiota, a collaborative biotech development platform co-founded by GRAND HQP Connor Dickie at Queen's University (www.synbiota.com) was selected from out of 48 finalists in six different categories as a finalist in the Innovative World Technologies category for the 6th annual SXSW Accelerator competition presented by Oracle. This is the marquee event of SXSW Interactive Festival’s Startup Village where leading startups from around the world showcase some of the most impressive new technology innovations to a panel of hand-picked judges and a live audience. The two-day event will now be held the first weekend of SXSW Interactive, March 8th – 9th.

About SXSW 2014

The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery.

Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings provide buzz-generating exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning, business activity thrives at the SXSW Trade Show: The Exhibition for Creative Industries and global networking opportunities abound.

Austin serves as the perfect backdrop for SXSW®, where career development flourishes amid the relaxed atmosphere. Intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders continues to spark new ideas and carve the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, long after the events' conclusion.