Monica Arés

Executive Director of the IDEA Lab at Imperial, UK

Revolutionizing Learning: Adaptive Intelligence in Human-Centered Ecosystems

What if learning could evolve as rapidly as the technologies reshaping our world? This talk explores the creation of adaptive, human-centered learning ecosystems that merge cutting-edge technology with new opportunities in intelligence. Discover how AI-driven simulations, immersive XR experiences, and adaptive content are revolutionizing education—making learning more personalized, engaging, and impactful while equipping future leaders with the skills needed for an evolving digital landscape.
Central to this transformation is cross-sector collaboration. We’ll dive into how tech companies, research institutions, and startups are driving this educational revolution through strategic partnerships. Join us to challenge conventional paradigms, unlock new possibilities, and collectively shape the future of learning by redefining what’s possible in education.

Bio: Monica is a leading expert in innovation and immersive technology, whose roles across technology and education solidify her as a leader in the global technological landscape. Her pioneering work in building new tools with XR and AI technology has made strides in fostering lifelong learning, curiosity, and the quest for innovation with the goal of increasing access to education and transforming the way we learn. As the former Head of Immersive Learning at Meta and a visionary leader on Interactive Learning Labs at Amazon, Monica has become a seminal figure in the field of immersive education.
Named among the Top 100 Global Women of the Future in Emerging Tech, Monica’s influence resonates globally. As an advisor and Chief Innovation Officer for startups and Founder of Th3 Third Door, she has formulated and executed innovative tech solutions that reimagine the future of work and learning.
As the Executive Director of the IDEA Lab at Imperial, Monica is defining the vision for the future of learning while leading an expert team through the development and growth of new solutions for the rapidly evolving industry. In its scale, scope, and complexity, this transformation of technology will be unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Monica’s leadership embodies an inspiring journey towards a future where the convergence of technology and humanity will unlock revolutionary tools to solve some of our biggest challenges.

Pr. Armin Grasnick

IU Internationale Hochschule, Germany

Beyond the Headset: Auto-stereoscopy as a Window into the Metaverse

One of the barriers for anyone to enjoy the metaverse is the reliance on VR headsets. Autostereoscopic technologies offer a promising pathway to immersive 3D experiences without the need for wearable devices. To define the degree of immersion achievable through autostereoscopy, we will differentiate between full (global) and partial (local) immersion. We examine key methods such as integral photography, multiview displays, and holography, investigating which technologies hold the most potential to enable immersive visits to the Metaverse while eliminating the headset.

Bio: Armin Grasnick is Professor of Augmented & Virtual Reality at IU International University of Applied Sciences. With a background in technical optics, he has founded a few companies focused on 3D/VR technologies. Prof. Grasnick holds a PhD in autostereoscopic displays from FernUniversität Hagen and brings experience in high-performance lens design and 3D display development to his current role.

Pr. Benjamin C. Lok

University of Florida, USA

Measuring What Matters: Lessons Learned from Taking Virtual Patients from Research to Realization

Did you know you’ve likely been seen by a nurse that has been trained using virtual patients to improve their critical thinking and communication skills? In this talk, we will discuss the process of how the idea of talking with a virtual human to improve communication skills with real people progressed from conceptualization to realization. We will explore key findings in how people react to virtual humans as well as lessons learned from creating the company Shadow Health. Shadow Health brought virtual human patients into curricula at thousands of universities and colleges. Finally, I will use the experience of getting virtual patients to impact our lives to motivate everyone to continually reevaluate how we measure our progress and impact of our research and our careers. The goal of this talk is to provide the audience insights into transdisciplinary collaboration, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and a metacognitive reassessment of where we are in our research careers.

Bio: Benjamin Lok is a Professor in the Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering Department at the University of Florida and entrepreneur, having previously co-founded Shadow Health (now a part of Elsevier). Professor Lok's research focuses on using virtual humans and mixed reality to train communication skills within the areas of virtual environments, human-computer interaction, and computer graphics. Professor Lok received a Ph. D. in 2002 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Lok is an inaugural inductee of the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Academy, the 2019 UF Innovator of the Year Award, and received an NSF Career Award (2007-2012).

Jeremy Dalton

PwC, UK & USA

The Post-Metaverse Era: Navigating the Future of XR Technology

In this talk, we explore the evolving landscape of XR as it moves beyond the initial excitement of the metaverse. The focus will be on analysing current trends and use cases of the technology globally to understand where the true value sits, the challenges that industries face in adopting these technologies, and practical strategies to drive successful implementation. By combining research from PwC and real-world case studies, attendees will leave with actionable insights to navigate XR's post-metaverse future.

Bio: Jeremy leads PwC’s Immersive Technologies team bringing over a decade of experience in building and deploying XR solutions. His clients have included the Fortune 500, government entities, NGOs and startups across a wide range of industries. He has commissioned reports which have been cited worldwide, produced XR applications that have been deployed in the thousands, and published books which are being used by businesses and universities all over the world. His work is regularly featured in The Financial Times, The Economist, and other media outlets.

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