Past Events:

SoMA 2024 Conference

Las Vegas, NV, USA

 

Art by Kyla Moffatt (www.kylamoffatt.com)

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 4th (semi) biannual SoMA international conference! The event took place on November 12-13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Golden Nugget Casino. We gathered together together academics, researchers, and magicians from around the world and featured top keynote speakers, presentations on recent research, a poster session, and a gala show.

We welcomed presentations from across disciplines that were themed around rigorous research or theory directed toward understanding the nature, function, and underlying mechanisms of magic and illusion, including submissions from practitioners who have applied principles of theatrical magic in unique settings. SoMA is an inclusive organization that welcomes members with diverse backgrounds and across multiple disciplines including science and technology, humanities, practicing magicians, and individuals who are simply interested in science and magic.

Conference Code of Conduct:

The Science of Magic Association is committed to providing a safe and professional environment during our meeting. All SoMA members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Any form of harassment is prohibited. If you have any concerns, please ask to speak with a conference host.

Invited speakers included:

 
 
 

BSA Workshop on

the Art & Aesthetics of Illusion

Thanks to everyone who participated in our BSA workshop: “The Art and the Aesthetics of Illusions” funded by The British Society of Aesthetics (BSA) and co-sponsored by the Science of Magic Association (SoMA).

When: The workshop will took place on Tuesday 11 July 2023

Where: The Magic Circle 12 Stephenson Way London NW1 2HD United Kingdom

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our latest conference took place at Goldsmiths University of London from 20-22 July 2022. This conference brought together academics, researchers and magicians from around the world and featured top keynote speakers, presentations on recent research, a poster session, and a gala show.

Special thanks to our Gala Show performers Laura London, Edward Hilsum, Paul Zenon, Julius Frack, and Lee Hathaway to our keynote speakers Chris French and Sophie Scott, and to our Guest of Honor Derren Brown!

 

2021 Webinar series

In a(nother) year in which nothing was normal, and we couldn’t gather for magic conventions or academic conferences, the Science of Magic Association presented a series of free online webinars on topics at the intersection of magic, science, philosophy, and culture. Each one-hour webinar featured three or four eminent speakers and ran for approximately one hour on Zoom. Seminars included moderated discussions along with live audience Q&A sessions. Every event was recorded and you can view the recordings by clicking the button below.

 
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Our second annual conference took place in at the Chicago Magic Lounge in the summer of 2019.

Special thanks to our Gala Show performers Mac King , Ginny and Simon Aronson, Jeanette Andrews, Mister Danny, Tom Stone, and to our keynote speakers Professor Elizabeth Loftus and Professor Dan Simons, and our Guest of Honor Simon Aronson.