A joint meeting of Research in Touch and IASAT
How do you feel… how do you want to feel?

The Festival of Touch aims to bring together researchers working in the sense of touch from across the world. It will be a joint meeting of two conferences: Research in Touch and the meeting of the International Association for the Study of Affective Touch.

The Festival of Touch will be held 4-7 July 2023 at the St Charles campus of Aix-Marseille University (3 place Victor Hugo, 13003 Marseille, France) and will include four days of oral and poster presentations on touch, as well as hands-on demonstrations. This will be an excellent opportunity for researchers interested in touch to come together from across the world to present and share their research. We will have different sessions that focus on topics such as peripheral mechanoreceptors to the central interpretation of touch and include the domains of haptics and affective touch.

For further information and to contact us, please use: touch2023@sciencesconf.org

*Abstract submission has closed*

We are accepting abstracts for open talks (10-15 mins) and posters. This closed on 9th June and all presenters have been contacted (if not the case, please reach out to us at the main touch2023 email).

You can choose to submit an abstract to be considered for a talk and/or a poster or for a poster only. Each abstract should be no more than 250 words and provide an overview of your work.

You do not need to upload additional files, but if you want to send us a picture representing "What touch means to you", please feel free! We hope to use these, anonymously, to illustrate our world of touch during the conference.

*Registration has closed*

Options for registration:

180 €  Permanent academic (including researchers, lecturers, clinicians, therapists, etc.)

240 €  Permanent academic with gala dinner

120 €  Student or post-doc (PhDs, Masters, post-docs, other non-permanent staff, etc.)

180 €  Student or post-doc with gala dinner

240 €  Industry (businesses, private enterprises, etc.)

300 €  Industry with gala dinner

0 €     Special organiser (category for organizer, requests for financial help – contact us)

60 €   Special organizer with gala dinner

Our gala dinner is on Thursday 6th July evening at Le Cercle des Naguers restaurant.

Please contact us (touch2023@sciencesconf.org) for:

- Statement of registration payment

- Certificate of attendance (after the meeting)

• How skin mechanics shape touch
• Affective touch: more than skin stroking
• Wetness, slip, stick, and texture
• C-fibers – what is their functional role?
• Multisensory and central influences in touch interactions
• Tricking the system: tactile illusions and prosthetic touch

Abstract submission for oral communication deadline: 19/05/2023

Abstract submission for posters deadline: 09/06/2023

We are limited in space, therefore please register as soon as possible. Also, spaces are limited for the gala dinner (max. 150), so do include this if you would like to come.

Registration deadline: 09/06/2023

Late registration possible until 23/06/2023 *but you need to contact the organziers*