Conference

SCSMI 2025 in Edmonton, Canada

Wednesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 7

Co-hosted by the Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge.

About the conference

SCSMI is an interdisciplinary organization of scholars interested in cognitive, philosophical, aesthetic, historical, psychological, neuroscientific, and evolutionary approaches to the analysis of film and other moving image media. Conference presentations will facilitate the Society’s mission: to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between moving image theorists, historians, critics, and philosophers, and scientifically-oriented researchers working on moving image media.

Update: The Conference Committee has informed all successful applicants to the conference, and has contacted the eight successful recipients of the $1000 Travel Award. Submission procedures are now closed.

Questions about the conference should be addressed to the conference’s Organization Team at scsmicon@ualberta.ca. The team includes:

Tico Romao (co-host, University of Alberta)
Aaron Taylor (co-host, University of Lethbridge)
Derek Novosad (Conference Manager, University of Lethbridge)
Gordon Burkell (Humber College)
Javid Sadr (University of Lethbridge)

EDI Statement

The Society for the Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image is dedicated to welcoming and encouraging all participants, regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, religion, and other such characteristics. We actively seek to enhance the diversity of our membership and encourage research in areas related to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Visit the website for the full SCSMI Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

Venue

The conference will be held at the University of Alberta’s Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (1405 87 Ave NW 3 394, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9).

The campus is centrally located in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, which is one of the largest cities in western Canada. The University of Alberta is situated near the beautiful Kinsmen Park, the impressive Alberta Legislature Building, and 2 km from the city’s downtown.

More information about Edmonton can be found at exploreedmonton.com, and basic information about transportation can be found here.

Registration

You can register as an audience member through Oxford Abstracts.

Auditor fees (entire conference): $150 USD
Single day pass: $40 USD/day

Registration will enable you to attend all scheduled events, either online or in person.

Free Public Conference Events

Various conference events will be open to the wider University of Alberta community and to the general public free of charge! No registration required, but we ask you to provide your name and email address on the access links. These special events include:

Wednesday, June 4 (7pm MT, ECHA L1-490) – An artist talk on professional screenwriting presented by author, producer, and screenwriter Josh Miller
Friday, June 6 (4pm MT, ECHA L1 190) – A panel on Character Engagement and Moral Understanding facilitated by Allison Eden, Dan Levin, Carl Plantinga & Murray Smith
Friday, June 6 (6pm MT) – A screening at the Metro Cinema of the celebrated film The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open (2019), followed by a Q&A with co-director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and lead actor Violet Nelson Kathleen Hepburn
Saturday, June 7 (9am MT, ECHA L1-190) – A roundtable discussion of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion research and pedagogy featuring Catalin Brylla, Charles Kebaya, and Laura Di Summa
Saturday, June 7 (1-4pm) – A workshop on field audio recording techniques hosted by the University of Alberta’s Sound Studies Institute. Participants will learn about various types of location-based audio recording practices and techniques. Spaces are limited, so register here!
Daily keynote presentations by leading researchers from a variety of areas including:
- Wednesday, June 4 (11:45am MT): film continuity and cognition – Daniel Levin (Vanderbilt University)
- Thursday, June 5 (11:30am MT): Cognitive ethology – Alan Kingstone (University of British Columbia)
- Friday, June 6 (11:30am MT: Cognitive music theory – Bryn Hughes (University of Lethbridge)
- Saturday, June 7 (4:30pm MT): music psychology – Annabel J. Cohen (University of Prince Edward Island

PROGRAM– For non-registered attendees of free events only!

If you plan to attend the free events, but are also considering registering as an auditor, or are just curious about the conference as a whole, please feel free to download the (unofficial) Conference Program!

Please note: only registered delegates or auditors can attend all presentations, and acquiring a nametag at the Registration Desk will be required each morning. Otherwise, everyone is welcome to the free events posted in the Public Conference Events schedule above.

INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES

Finalized Conference Program

The full program is available (to registered delegates or auditors only) on Oxford Abstracts.

Zoom links for all sessions are available in the Oxford Abstracts online program.

About Edmonton

For more information about Edmonton and the University of Alberta Campus, including travel, public transit, campus navigation, food options, and places of interest, please download the SCSMI 2025 Information Guide.

Presentation Information

* NEW: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Due to the hybrid nature of the conference, we strongly recommend that slides used in presentations should be created in PowerPoint only.
All media files used in your presentation are expected to be embedded within your PowerPoint presentations. It is strongly recommended that all video files should be formatted as .mp4 files to ensure playability within your presentation.
Please ensure that your PowerPoint file is shared to an external drive. Your file will be uploaded to the classroom workstation before your presentation begins. We strongly discourage you from using your own laptop to present your material, and cannot guarantee its optimal compatibility with the classroom workstation and/or online (Zoom) system configuration.
Online presenters can (of course) run their presentation from their own laptop / desktop.
A technical guide to formatting your slides, embedding video files, and saving your completed Presentation can be downloaded here.

PRESENTER REQUIREMENTS & PRESENTATION FORMATS

Presenters must be current members of the Society. Non-members must join SCSMI by Friday April 4th, 2025 or acceptance will be withdrawn. For more information about SCSMI, to join, or to learn about membership costs and privileges, visit https://scsmi-online.org.

Presenters should plan to physically attend the conference. However, a limited number of online presentation slots will be made available on a needs basis, and can be requested as part of your presentation proposal. Delegates in need of an online presentation slot in order to deliver their presentation remotely must submit to the Conference Organization Team an Online Presentation Request Form no later than April 4, 2025. All presentations (not including special events) will also be accessible online.

Presenters must present original work that they have not presented elsewhere in one of the following four formats, assigned in the acceptance notification:

Long Paper Presentation

A 50-minute session divided between a 25-minute presentation and a 25-minute Q&A. This format is reserved for well-developed projects that present conceptually complicated ideas or extensive research data.

Short Paper Presentation

A 25-minute session divided between a presentation of 15 minutes or less with the residual time used for discussion. This format is suitable for works in progress or research that may be presented more succinctly.

Poster Presentation or Demonstration

Any form of research display or demonstration, which may present empirical research, scholarship with a single question or thesis, short movies, essay films, or interactive installations. Presenters will display and discuss their research during a plenary session.

Accommodations

Off Campus Hotels

For more information, please follow the provided links to find each hotel’s landing page:

Campus Tower Suite Hotel 0.2 km from campus, $167/night

Campus Towers – 2025 SCSMI

Varscona Hotel on Whyte 1.2 km from campus, $159/night

Varscona Hotel – 2025 SCSMI

Metterra Hotel on Whyte 1.5 km from campus, $169/night

Metterra Hotel – 2025 SCSMI

On-Campus Accommodations

Traditional style single room $70/night

Traditional style twin room $80/night

Private dorm room (w. washroom) $76/night

For more information, please follow the provided link to the U of A residence homepage:

Summer Accommodation | Conference Services

Sound Workshop

The University of Alberta’s Sound Studies Institute will offer an introductory workshop for conference participants on field audio recording techniques. Participants will learn about various types of location-based audio recording practices and techniques, including tips and tricks for capturing soundscapes of indoor and outdoor spaces and objects, and gear-specific advice and comparisons. Registration is currently limited to eight delegates, and slots will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis. Committed workshop participants may register here.

Banff Trip

For those who are able to stay for two days after the conference, information about a separate, two-day trip to Banff (located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains) is included below.

**IMPORTANT** This trip to Banff is not officially sanctioned by SCSMI. Please note that SCSMI is not formally organizing or facilitating this unofficial trip, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to attend. Delegates can participate in this activity of their own accord, and are required to source their own accommodations and travel.

Here are some recommended links:

The FLIX Bus shuttle is the most direct transportation to Banff from Edmonton. The shuttle ride is approximately 7.5 hours in each direction. Should delegates wish to leave together as a cohort, we recommend booking a return ticket in adherence to the following suggested schedule:

Edmonton departure: Sun, June 8 (8:35am – 4:05pm Banff arrival)
Banff departure: Tues, June 10 (12:30pm – 8:55pm Edmonton arrival).

Delegates are also free to rent a car under their own auspices. Banff is 411 km away from the University of Alberta, and can be reached by car in approximately four hours.

Those interested in forming a cohort and communicating about collective travel plans are welcome to provide their name and email address on the SCSMI Post-Conference Banff Trip Cohort form by April 1st. A mailing list will be generated from there in order for those delegates travelling to Banff after the conference to make transportation plans, potentially share accommodations, and connect with one another in Banff

Sponsors

The 2025 SCSMI Conference has been supported by funding from a Connections Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, as well as generous contributions from the following organizations: