Carleton University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Science will hold a CU in the City event featuring Jim Davies, an associate professor in the Institute of Cognitive Science and director of the Science of Imagination Laboratory.
Davies will discuss the science behind why some things seem to resonate with our minds and others do not. Why do we get hooked on a hockey game, or a novel? Why do some religious stories seem so meaningful? Drawing from research from psychology, biology, computer science, and more, Davies will explain the underlying psychological traits human beings have that serve as the foundation for all things compelling.
When: Wednesday Nov. 19, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Cube Gallery, 1285 Wellington St. West, Ottawa
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is limited. Click here for more information and to register.
Davies will also launch his new book, Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One with the Universe , at an event on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. The event will be hosted by CBC’s Alan Neal.
When: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Room 270, Residence Commons, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
Learn more about the book launch here.
About Jim Davies:
Jim Davies is an associate professor in the Institute of Cognitive Science at Carleton University. As director of the Science of Imagination Laboratory, he explores processes of visualization in humans and machines and specializes in artificial intelligence, analogy, problem-solving, and the psychology of art, religion and creativity. His work has shown how people use visual thinking to solve problems and how they visualize imagined situations and worlds.
In his spare time, he is a published poet, an internationally-produced playwright, and a professional painter, calligrapher, and swing dancer. His book Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make us Laugh, Movies Make us Cry, and Religion Makes us Feel One with the Universe was released in August 2014. For more information, visit jimdavies.org
About CU in the City:
The aim of CU in the City is to share research from Carleton University’s (CU) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) with the Ottawa community by holding lectures in various neighbourhoods across the city. The CU in the City series will provide opportunities for FASS faculty and students to interact with one another off campus as well as strengthen ties between FASS and the general public. A friendly question and answer session follows all CU in the City talks. We hope to CU in the City!
Media Inquiries:
Chris Cline
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
christopher_cline@carleton.ca
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Thursday, November 13, 2014 in News Releases
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