Alloy Discussion Series
A meeting of minds in curious conversation.
The Alloy Series is an interdisciplinary discussion series coordinated by UC's Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS). Alloys bring unique perspectives to bear on emerging topics in sensing, perception and/or sensor technology development, while purposefully engaging with the city of Cincinnati and the curiosity of our community members. In this way, Alloys are an extension of IRiS’ core mission to bring together diverse voices, from STEM fields to the humanities and fine and performing arts, to better understand histories and horizons in the study of sensing. Alloys are informal pop-up events, hosted at unusual locations around town, and always free and open to the public. We are also increasingly collaborating with community organizations to develop and curate these events. If you’d like to collaborate on a future Alloy, reach out!
What Is an Alloy?
We like to think of Alloys as being “anti-panels”. The intention is not to put a bunch of voices up on a stage for an audience to passively listen to, but rather to spark open, authentic conversation not just between our invited voices, but also between invitees and audience members, and amongst the audience itself. At Alloys, our invited voices are sat together in a circle in the center of the event, with concentric circles of audience seats radiating outwards. The conversation begins in the center with an initial question or topic introduced by the moderator. After an initial round of responses from the invited voices, the audience is encouraged to participate with questions, comments, and personal stories, to which our invited voices respond in a dynamic back-and-forth. When these events work well, the audience members are talking about as much of the time as our invited participants. Alloys also typically involve artistic performances, music, and spoken word, particularly in the social hour leading up to the central conversation.
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Upcoming Alloys
Stay tuned for more info about 2026-27 Alloy Discussion Series events!
Past Alloys
Date - 10/28/21
Location - American Sign Museum
Invited Speakers:
- Joori Suh (Architecture & Interior Design, UC)
- Maura O'Connor (History, UC)
- Tony Chemero (Psychology, Philosophy, UC)
- Tamara Lorenz (Psychology, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, UC)
- Matt Bauer (Industrial Engineering, Procter & Gamble)
Moderator - Peter Langland-Hassan (Philosophy, UC)
Performer - Andrew Elaban (Music)
Date - 11/18/21
Location - Greater Cincinnati Airmen's Club, Lunken Airport
Invited Speakers:
- Elke Buschbeck (Biological Sciences, UC)
- DIeter Vanderelst (Biological Sciences, UC)
- Pravin Bhiwapurkar (Architecture, UC)
- Doug Studer (Graphic Design, Deskey)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performers - Ryan Hall (Music, Whited Sepulchre Records) & Maddy Wattenberg (Poetry/Spoken Word, UC)
Date - 12/9/21
Location - Swing House
Invited Speakers:
- Tehran Davis (Psychology, UC)
- Mark Davis (Art, UC)
- Olivia Harris (Biological Sciences, UC)
- Ilya Vilinsky (Neuroscience, UC)
- Paul Zender (Design, UC)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Science, UC)
Performer - Andy Thomas (Digital Art)
Date - 2/17/22
Location - Cincinnati Observatory
Invited Speakers:
- Paula Silva (Psychology, UC)
- Adam Aurisano (Physics, UC)
- Charles Doarn (Aerospace Engineering, UC)
- Robert Gioielli (History, UC Blue Ash)
- Ming Tang (Architecture & Interior Design, UC)
Moderator - Tamara Lorenz (Psychology, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, UC)
Performer - Preston Bell Charles III (Music)
Date - 3/24/22
Location - Wave Pool Art Center
Partner - Wave Pool Art Center, Welcome Project
Invited Speakers:
- Matty Colston (Sommelier/Winemaker, Colston Biblio)
- Stephanie Gonzalez (Chef, Welcome Project)
- Ashley-Devon Williamston (Poetry, UC)
- Paula Shear (Psychology, UC)
- Heather Duncan (Nephrology, UC)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performers - Ashley-Devon Williamston (Poetry/Spoken Word) & Smoke & Queers (Drag performance)
Date - 5/5/22
Location - Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Invited Speakers:
- Andy Cullison (Ethics, UC)
- Vincent Del Prado (Philosophy, UC)
- Neşe Devenot (Comparative Literature, UC)
- Richard Harknett (Political Science, UC)
- Elizabeth Lanphier (Ethics & Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Bioloical Sciences, UC)
Performers - Nora Barton (Music) & Yalie Kamara (Poetry/Spoken Word)
Date - 11/17/22
Location - UC Digital Futures
Partner - Elementz
Invited Speakers:
- Tammy Brown (History / Global & Intercultural Studies, Miami University)
- Tiffany Cooper (Arts Administration / Community Engagement, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
- Ryan Hall (Music / Independent Record Label, Whited Sepulchre Records)
- Camille Jones (Arts Administration, Elementz)
- Amy Tuttle (Education / Literacy Programming, WordPlay Cincinnati)
Moderator - Damian Hoskins (Hip Hop Cultural Arts, Elementz)
Performer - Camille Jones (Camille Jones, Elementz)
Date - 12/8/2022
Location - Drip Coffee Lounge
Invited Speakers:
- Sam Berten (Law, Fifth Third Bank)
- Kate Bonansinga (Art, UC)
- Sierra Corbin (Psychology, UC)
- Drew McKenzie (Engineer, Subterra AI)
Moderator - Dominique Tanner (Biomedical Engineering, UC)
Performer - DJ Ten (Music)
Date - 1/11/23
Location - Urban Artifact
Partner - Science on Tap, Community of Reason
Invited Speaker:
- Kieran Robertson (History / Queer Studies, Equality Ohio)
- Tristan Vaught (LGBTQ+ Studies / DEIB, Transform Cincy)
- Gio Santiago (Advocacy / Military (USAF), META Center, Inc.)
- Aron Stark (Medicine / Pediatrics)
- Ty Holiday (Music)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performer - Ty Holiday (Music)
Date - 2/23/23
Location - The Mercantile Library
Invited Speakers:
- James Crayton (Music / Hip Hop Performance & Production, Visible Grid Media)
- Brooke Crowley (Geology, UC)
- Craig Dietsch (Geosciences, UC)
- Camielle Howard (Agriculture / Horticulture, Rise Counseling)
- Dylan Ward (Geology, UC)
Moderator - Cassandra Jones (Africana Studies, UC)
Performer - Bailey Miller (Music)
Date - 03/23/23
Location - Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Partner - Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Invited Speakers:
- Brian Anderson (Poetry / Arts & Accessibility, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
- Samuel Foulkes (Braille Production & Accessible Innovation, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
- David Grimes (Quality Assurance / Accessibility, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
- Caroline Karbowski (Technology / Accessible Design (CEO, See3D), See3D, Inc.)
- Emily Kiehl (Advocacy / Blind Student Leadership, Ohio Blind Student Association)
Moderator - Julia Carlson (English, UC)
Performer - Brian Anderson (Poetry/Spoken Word)
Date - 04/06/23
Location - 21C Hotel
Invited Speakers:
- Mrinalini Aggarwal (Art, UC)
- Peter Jonathan Bell (Art History / Curation, Cincinnati Art Museum)
- Lyndsay Kissell (Chemistry, UC)
- Serena Urry (Art Conservation, Cincinnati Art Museum)
- Pietro Strobbia (Chemistry, UC)
Moderator - Christopher Platts (Art History and Museum Studies, UC)
Performer - Rae Fisher (Music)
Date - 03/28/24
Location - The Well
Partner - The Well
Invited Speakers:
- Sonya Verma (Mind-Body Education / Somatic Therapy, Inner Radiant Life)
- Julia Bianco (Art & Performance)
- Andie Bernard (Therapy / EMDR)
- Manuel Iris (Poetry, UC)
- Sarah Schwab-Farrell (Psychology, UC)
- Stacy Sims (Mind-Body Education / Author, The Well)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performer - Sonya Verma (Sound Bath)
Date - 04/24/24
Location - ARCO
Invited Speakers:
- Gabriel Martinez Rubio (Dance / Choreography, Dos Corazones Productions)
- Olga Sanmiguel-Valderrama (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, UC)
- Drielly Queiroga (Biological Sciences, UC)
- Oscar Salamanca (Ethnomusicology)
- Manuel Iris (Poetry, UC)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performers - Oscar Salamanca (Music) & Manuel Iris (Poetry/Spoken Word, UC)
Date - 05/25/24
Location - Hoffner Park
Partner - North by Northside Music Festival
Invited Speakers:
- Ann Driscoll (Music)
- Eric Cronstein (Recording Engineer, Tone Shoppe)
- Isaac Karns (Audio Engineer, Marble Garden)
- Jay Hill (Music)
- Jaki Howser (Music)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 05/26/24
Location - Hoffner Park
Partner - North by Northside Music Festival
Invited Speakers:
- Jill Gibboney (Accessibility Consultant, Designer)
- K Kroencke (Music, Fairview Fest)
- Iris Link (Music)
- Jonathan Sears (Music, PAR Projects)
- Tim Miller (Music)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 09/26/24
Location - (DSGN)CLLCTV
Partner - Talk Low Music Festival
Invited Speakers:
- Fritz Pape (Music / Composition)
- Julianna Eidle (Music / Flute Performance & Education, Western Illinois University)
- Owen Hopper (Sound Art / Composition, Miami University)
- Brianna Matzke (Music / Piano & Production, concertnova)
- Mack Hagood (Sound Studies / Media & Communication, Miami University)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 11/21/24
Location - Cincinnati Museum Center
Partner - Cincinnati Museum Center
Invited Speakers:
- Finley Smith (Disability Advocacy)
- Harvey Lewis (Athletics / Ultramarathon Running)
- Neha Santucci (Medicine / Neurogastroenterology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center)
- Bailey Miller (Music)
- Katherine Gould (Curation / Museum Studies, Cincinnati Museum Center)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performer - Bailey Miller (Music)
Date - 04/24/25
Location - Studio Kroner
Partner - Studio Kroner
Invited Speakers:
- Devan Horton (Artist)
- Eduardo Martinez (Philosophy, UC)
- Sarah Kent (Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Groundwork Ohio River Valley)
- Pete Richman (Farming / Agriculture, Rich Life Farm)
- Emalee Richman (Farming / Agriculture, Rich Life Farm)
- Daniel Hughes (Faith / Anti-Racism, The Hive)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 05/24/25
Location - Northside Tavern
Partner - North by Northside Music Festival
Invited Speakers:
- K-Drama (Music Producer, SoundArt Technology Lab)
- Paige Beller (Music / Multimedia Performance)
- Damon Gray (Luthier, Damon Gray Violins)
- Jenn Howd (Music)
- Peter Foley (Music Engineering, Foleytronics)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 09/28/25
Location - Memorial Hall
Partner - Talk Low Music Festival
Invited Speakers:
- JJJJJerome Ellis (Music / Performance)
- Molly Joyce (Music / Multimedia Performance)
- Stephanie Jones (Tech & Accessibility, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
- Brianna Matzke (Music / Piano & Production, concertnova)
- Cheli Reutter (English, UC)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Performer - Molly Joyce (Music)
Date - 12/04/25
Location - Losantiville Design Collective
Invited Speakers:
- John Cavanaugh (Aerospace Engineering, UC)
- Chenxing Xie (English, UC)
- Judi Ketteler (Author & Journalist)
- Sam Obafisoye (Electrical Engineering, UC)
- Jillian Aurisano (Computer Science, UC)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 02/19/26
Location - Cincinnati Art Museum
Partner - Cincinnati Art Museum
Invited Speakers:
- Charlotte Reed (Art Therapy, Art Equals)
- Nandita Baxi Sheth (Architecture / Design / Art, Melliferous Design Studio)
- Britni Bicknaver (Multimedia Art & Education)
- Preeti Parikh (Poetry / Essay)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
Date - 04/02/26
Location - The Lounge at the Liberty Exhibition Hall
Partner - UC’s Center for Humanities and Technology (CHaT)
Invited Speakers:
- Jelle Bruineberg (Philosophy, University of Copenhagen)
- Robin Zebrowski (Philosophy, Beloit College)
- Takunda Matose (Philosophy/ Ethics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center)
- Elmo Feiten (Philosophy, Penn State University)
Moderator - Nathan Morehouse (Biological Sciences, UC)
About IRiS
The Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS) is an interdisciplinary research institute focused on novel routes to innovation in sensing research and sensor technology development through purposeful integration of STEM and non-STEM perspectives, including basic and applied research, medicine, engineering, the humanities, social sciences, and fine and performing arts. At IRiS, we seek not only to expand what is possible, but also to ask what is good, for human thriving and the health of our planet. Our mission is one of connection, integration, and holism as we pursue breakthroughs in sensing research at the University of Cincinnati and beyond.
IRiS activities include:
- The IRiS Graduate Research Fellowship program, which brings together 16 doctoral fellows every year in the context of immersive interdisciplinary training and real-world problem solving in partnership with public and private sector entities. More about the IRiS GRFP can be found here.
- The IRiS Ignite Conference, a biennial interdisciplinary conference that reimagines the traditional academic meeting by bringing together scholars, innovators, artisans, and entrepreneurs to spark new collaborations and conversations on sensing, spanning perception, sensor technologies, ethics, the sciences, humanities, and the arts. More about IRiS Ignite can be found here.
- IRiS Working Groups are focused interdisciplinary teams that tackle pressing issues in sensing research through a hybrid colloquium and workshop model. More about the most recent IRiS Working Group, titled “Light and life: From basic science on how light has shaped life, to human wellbeing, art and architecture”, can be found here.
- IRiS Espresso & Sensing is a monthly research hour that brings together graduate students, faculty, and researchers for informal talks, networking, and interdisciplinary discussions on sensing, perception, and sensor technology. Upcoming events are posted here.