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Exploring the Art and Science of Sleep

08 Nov 24 | Events

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Set your alarms for our Conscious Sleep Symposium Day on Wednesday 20 November, where we take a journey into the history of sleep from the Victorian Age to the modern era with our panel of expert academics.  Plus a hands-on session exploring the scents used to aid sleep and closing with a special live DJ set from Michael Diamond.

With an epidemic of sleeplessness sweeping the globe Professor Sally Shuttleworth places these concerns in historical perspective in Overwork and Sleeplessness in the Victorian Age.  Dr Holly Fletcher introduces early modern understandings of sleep circa 1500 – 1750 in relation to both physical and mental health.  

We turn to the 20^th Century with Dr Kristin Hussey who explores the history of shift work and in particular working at night whilst Dr Tiffany Watt Smith looks at our attempts to study and rationalise the sleeping body. DJ and medic Michael Diamond and music psychologist Eric Clarke delve into the musical and psychological factors that underlie music’s capacity to shape our consciousness. 

Dreams and sleep have inspired numerous authors and poets and Professor Ankhi Mukherjee asks us; what is it to write in, of, or like a dream? While Professor Matthew Bevis, inspired by the poet Alice Oswald, ponders the action of waking. 

Get scent-ient with Dr Anna Fielding who hosts a hands-on practical session exploring scented ingredients that were used in the 16^th and 17^th centuries to aid sleep, purify bedchambers, and deter pests. Create your own historical linen powders and sweet-smelling bags to take home. 

Be the first to try out new prototype digital immersive experiences for free, meet the artists and find out where these projects are going next with the Immersive Assembly Vol 4: Dreams & Echoes Showcase. Mediale has brought together six of the UK’s most exciting emerging digital artists with Oxford University academics to develop three brand new prototypes inspired by dreams and echoes.

Round the day off with Michael Diamond’s DJ set, waking us up with an energising dance party and then lulling us to a blissful sleep with dreamlike sounds. Tickets have just gone live and are free but booking is required.

If you would like to know a little more about the Conscious Sleep Symposium Day, watch this short video from Professor Sally Shuttleworth who gives a superb overview of what to expect. You can also find out more about the individual talks and events on the Conscious Sleep event page. We look forward to seeing you on the 20 November 2024.