Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Pamela Dalton of the Monell Chemical Senses Center.  In this interview, they will discuss loss of smell, smell’s role in heritage and culture, malodors and non-lethal weapons, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center. 

Pamela Dalton is a Principal Investigator/Member at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, basic research institute devoted to the study of smell, taste and chemical irritation. Dr. Dalton received her PhD from New York University and her Masters degree in Public Health from Drexel University. Her research program explores the human response to odors, incorporating both sensory and cognitive experimental approaches. Her work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, with additional funding from the DOD, private foundations and industry collaborations. The research she conducts utilizes precision olfactometry, laboratory chamber studies and field studies to investigate a variety of topics in chemosensation, including how our emotions and behavior are shaped by the olfactory world around us.

Dr. Dalton was the team leader for the Olfaction domain of the NIH Toolbox and a member of the Sensory Functioning Team (Taste and Olfaction) in the National Children’s Study Scientific Committee for Health Measurement. More recently, she led a team to develop SCENTinel, a rapid smell test for COVID-19 surveillance. She is a consultant to many groups in the chemical, food, household products, and fragrance industries, as well as government and community organizations involved in odor issues.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews President of the Digital Olfaction Society, Jesús Lozano. In this interview, they will discuss E-Noses, digital olfaction, and the Digital Olfaction Society. 

Jesús Lozano received the B. Sc. degree in Electronic Engineer in 2001 and Ph. D. degree in 2005 from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. He has worked in instrumentation systems at Electronics Department of the University Complutense of Madrid, in chemical sensors and electronic noses at the Laboratorio de Sensores, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, in control, modelling and simulation at Naval Engineering School of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Presently he works as full professor at the Industrial Engineering School of Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz. From 2019 He is President of the Digital Olfaction Society. His research interests include machine learning and pattern recognition techniques, instrumentation and measurement systems, chemical sensors and electronic noses.

Join Sound Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews Idan Meir, Co-Founder and CEO of RightHear, an advanced accessibility solution that allows people who are blind or visually impaired to acquire better orientation in public spaces. In this interview, they will discuss the inspiration behind the company, why it’s useful for many individuals and companies, and other senses that play a role. 

Idan Meir is an entrepreneur based in Rockville, Maryland, with a passion for making the world more accessible. As the co-founder of RightHear, a Techstars portfolio company, Meir has helped develop an advanced accessibility solution that empowers people with visual impairments to navigate public spaces independently.  Originally from Israel, and having been moulded by the 'can do' attitude of the Start-Up Nation, Idan is driven by the motto "Aim for the moon. If you miss, you might hit a star," and he continues to drive RightHear forward in its mission to make the world more accessible, 'one building at a time'.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Linda Ricci, an emerging technology strategy consultant, speaker, author,  artist, and evangelist. In this interview, they discuss Linda’s background in VR/XR, the benefits and challenges of integrating haptics within VR/XR, and the future of art in sensory technology. 

Linda Ricci is a seasoned Senior Strategist with a dedicated focus on the impact of emerging technologies and XR (VR/AR/MR/Metaverse). With a strong background in tech, strategy, and innovation she advises global leaders on entering, marketing, and commercializing transformative tech. Prior to her 2022 role at Meta, where she led partnerships for the $150 Immersive Learning Fund, Linda consulted for major international brands including TDK Electronics, Alantra, Altria, Bacardi, Canon Professional, Technicolor and Faith Popcorn. She has also directed digital strategy for top Madison Avenue ad agencies, merging consumer insights and next-gen technology into experiences that generates results. An evangelist for the XR ecosystem, Linda serves on the board of the Virtual World Society and is a global speaker on the impact of AI, XR and Web 3.0. Beyond strategic work, she's a skilled interdisciplinary artist (including virtual reality) and holds an MBA from Rotterdam School of Management. A dual EU-US citizen, she's lived extensively in both The Netherlands and The UK.

Join our host and Sight Enthusiast Joel Garrison as he interviews Elizabeth Strickler, who operates at the forefront of media entrepreneurship and innovation as the Director of Media Innovation at Georgia State University's Creative Media Industries Institute. In this interview, they talk about Elizabeth’s background in digital art, the value and protection of art, and the evolution of digital art and NFT’s.

Elizabeth shares her expertise in media innovation to a diverse range of students, from undergraduates to graduates, and collaborates with leading industry labels and iconic cultural figures to pioneer strategies in web3, blockchain, and virtual experiences. Her 2021 TEDx talk is recognized as a foundational resource in the NFT, metaverse, and AI realms, making her a frequently sought-after speaker in this rapidly evolving space. Beyond this, Elizabeth bridges the academic gap between the Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences, securing grants for research on creativity, innovation and XR's role in higher education. She is driven by a vision: to ignite entrepreneurial spirits, craft immersive worlds, and build our cultural economy. Elizabeth operates on the premise that learning is universal, enjoyable, and limitless. Reflecting her broad-ranging passions, her academic pursuits encompass a BA in Philosophy, a BS in Computer Science, and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking and Art.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Professor of Interaction Design at Malmö University, Sweden, Simon Niedenthal. In this interview, they will discuss olfactory play in games and media, Simon’s own background and research in the world of smell, and many other aspects to olfactory research and design.  

Dr. Niedenthal uses game studies frameworks and user-centred methodologies to study olfaction, the sense of smell, in interactive contexts, with the aim of contributing to new applications of the educational, rehabilitative and playful uses of scent. Dr. Niedenthal’s educational background is eclectic: he holds a B.F.A. in photography, an M.A. in medieval English literature, and a Ph.D. in interaction design. In 2008 he defended his Ph.D. thesis 'Complicated Shadows: the Aesthetic Significance of Simulated Illumination in Digital Games’ in the area of game lighting and its effect upon the emotions and behavior of the player. Since 2010 he has employed his multidisciplinary background to explore the history and potentials of smell-enabled gaming and the playful uses of scent. 

Join Sound Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews producer, director, Founder, and CEO Gen Cleary of Sound Connective. In the interview, they’ll discuss Gen’s immersion into the industry, the science behind sound and hearing, and what they see in the future of sound. 

With more than 25 years in the entertainment industry as a lead creative mind, producer and director, Gen Cleary has been known as a pioneer who helped shape the Nightlife industry to become a 1.3B$ success story on the US West Coast and was named in the top 16 most influential women in Las Vegas by Vegas Magazine. Working closely with brands and super star artists such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Kaskade, Paul Oakenfold and so many more, she was part of the Dance Music movement that took the world by storm, by being one of the top creative mind to shape and direct through live performances, wild and original acts and costuming, sensorial design and staging…for top Mega Clubs and tours worldwide.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Gijs Huisman, Assistant Professor of embodied interaction at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Delft. His main interest is in how our sense of touch plays a role in technology-mediated social interactions, in particular in shaping social presence, intimacy, and empathy. Gijs' research is grounded in theories of embodied cognition that he applies to the research and design of digital/physical systems. 

Before joining the IDE faculty, Gijs completed a PhD on Social Touch Technology at the University of Twente, a postdoc at the 4TU Centre for Humans and technology focussing on multi-sensory VR, co-founded a startup where he worked on the design of haptic products for social interactions, and coordinated work on digital/physical systems grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences' Digital Society School. 

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich during the second part of our 2 part series as she interviews neuroscientist and world leading expert on the psychological science of smell, Rachel Herz. They discuss the differences between taste and smell, how smell affects our wellbeing, smell and cognitive function, and more.  

Rachel Herz, PhD has been actively conducting research on the senses, emotion, perception, motivated behavior and cognition since 1990. Dr. Herz is a TED speaker, has published 100 original research articles to date, and has received numerous awards and grants. She is on the faculty at Brown University, a professional consultant to various aromachemical industries, and is frequently called upon as an expert witness in legal cases involving the sense of smell. Dr. Herz is also actively involved in outreach, advocacy, and education on the senses of smell and flavor, and is a founding advisory board member of Fifth Sense, and Smell and Taste Association of North America, Innovation Advisor to The World Taste and Smell Association, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for AChemS, and the Chief Scientific Advisor for OVR Technology. 

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich during the first part of our 2 part series as she interviews neuroscientist and world leading expert on the psychological science of smell, Rachel Herz. They discuss the differences between taste and smell, how smell affects our wellbeing, smell and cognitive function, and more.  

Rachel Herz, PhD has been actively conducting research on the senses, emotion, perception, motivated behavior and cognition since 1990. Dr. Herz is a TED speaker, has published 100 original research articles to date, and has received numerous awards and grants. She is on the faculty at Brown University, a professional consultant to various aromachemical industries, and is frequently called upon as an expert witness in legal cases involving the sense of smell. Dr. Herz is also actively involved in outreach, advocacy, and education on the senses of smell and flavor, and is a founding advisory board member of Fifth Sense, and Smell and Taste Association of North America, Innovation Advisor to The World Taste and Smell Association, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for AChemS, and the Chief Scientific Advisor for OVR Technology.