Bringing Researchers and XR Creators Together

The 6th Annual

A meeting of the minds between researchers and xr creators

New York City · JULY 14-16, 2023

Presented By

With Support From

Logo for HTC Vive
Dell Technologies Logo
Bigglesworth Family Foundation logo

Applications for the 2023 XR Brain Jam have closed. 

what it is

How can the work of research biologists be applied to virtual reality experiences? What if a social science researcher teamed up with a team of AR developers? What happens when you take virtual reality expertise and apply it to neuroscience problems?

The XR Brain Jam is an innovative, collaborative event that pairs researchers with xr game developers and digital creatives, and charges them with exploring the intersection of their domains together.

Teams work together for an intense weekend to learn, discuss, explore, and create experiences that tackle questions like these. And when it’s all done, their work and lessons learned are shared at the Games for Change Festival.

How it works

XR developers and digital creatives interested in creating XR experiences that drive meaningful impact are paired with domain experts focused on addressing a specific issue (medical, environmental, education, etc). These cross-discipline teams are led through a structured workshop experience designed to accelerate the prototyping process. This workshop period is followed by a multi-day jam, where teams develop a working prototype of their concept. 

Then teams are invited to share their work with a curated panel of experts. These experts are chosen from a variety of fields to give teams maximum value feedback, including funding, design, distribution, marketing, and development.

The 2023 XR Brain Jam will begin with an online pre-jam workshop on July 8th. Then on July 14th – 16th all participants will gather in NYC for a weekend of in-person collaboration and development. 

The prototypes created at the XR Brain Jam will be presented at the 2023 Games for Change Festival on July 13-16th.18-20th.

2023 Research PRompts

In the past five Brain Jams, teams have tackled a variety of interesting areas of research, including neuroscience, teen anxiety, grief, sensory processing, Parkinson’s disease, physics education, mosquito population management, and traumatic brain injuries. Each year XR Brain Jam selects a small set of research prompts that highlight areas of focus for the jam. Teams then choose a specific topic of their choice when they begin collaborating in July.

The 2023 Research Prompts
  • Diverse & Resilient Communities
    Research about strengthening human institutions and bonds across different intersections
  • Human Health and Wellness
    Research about the human body, how it works, and how we care for it
  • Sustainable Ecosystems
    Research about natural and human-made ecosystems
  • Artificial Intelligence
    Research about AI and its implications for society
  • Next-Gen Education
    Research about new ways of learning and teaching
 
 

Who should apply?

Subject Matter Experts

Researchers, Scientists, Graduate Students, and Educators in fields that resonate with our yearly areas of focus

XR and Game Creators

Visual Artists, Audio Designers, Producers, Writers, Programmers, and Designers

Subject Matter Experts

We are looking for a diverse group of subject matter experts across our target problem spaces. If you are a researcher, scientist, or other expert working in any of our areas of focus and are excited about applying cutting-edge interactive technology to your discipline, please apply!

XR and Game Creators

If you work as a digital creative writing code, making art, designing audio, managing dev projects, telling stories, or designing game experiences, you are welcome to apply. Each year we have a mix of studio-based teams that apply together as well as individual applicants. Creators will be paired with other disciplines to build robust development teams.

Applications for the 2023 XR Brain Jam are open! Apply by May 14th, 2023.

Do I need Access to or Experience with XR Tech?

Experience with XR technologies specifically (virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality,  input peripherals, etc) is not required to participate in the XR Brain Jam. One of the jam’s goals is to expand exposure to this technology to researchers and developers. However, if you have experience working with these platforms, particularly for tech developers, this is a plus. 

Participants are encouraged to bring their own XR equipment. We will also provide XR hardware on site for teams’ use during the jam. 

Can’t Join us this year?