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Dear members of the Cognitive Science Society, </div>
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Please find below the Call for Submissions for the upcoming VSAC 2026 Conference, which will be held in
<b>London, United Kingdom, 20–22 August 2026.</b></div>
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<b>What is VSAC?</b></div>
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The VSAC’s main focus is to better connect the communities of visual scientists, researchers, and artists in order to deepen our understanding of aesthetic phenomena. This conference welcomes academics, researchers, and students working across visual science,
neuroscience, psychology, design, engineering, and related interdisciplinary fields exploring perception-driven innovation. (Learn more history of the conference
<a href="https://vsac.eu/" title="https://vsac.eu/">here</a>).</div>
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<b>2026 Theme - Vision Forward: Perception, Art and Technology</b></div>
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This year’s theme aims to bring together designers, scientists, artists, engineers, and innovators to explore how visual perception and artistic practice intersect to shape human experience and interaction with the world. The conference examines how insights
from perception and art advance our understanding of visual experience and inform creative practice, scientific inquiry, and the development of intuitive and effective technologies. It highlights design as a critical interface between humans, complex systems,
and technologies, showing how artistic and aesthetic approaches can help us understand, model, and enhance perceptual processes.</div>
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<b>What can I expect at the conference?</b></div>
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Hosted by the Department of Engineering, VSAC 2026 builds on King’s College London’s interdisciplinary strengths, bringing together the Department of Engineering (<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/nmes" title="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/nmes">Faculty of Natural, Mathematical
& Engineering Sciences</a>), the <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/neuroscience/about/departments/neuroimaging" id="OWA2969bb97-3d27-155c-e287-c51a95439fe1" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Department of Neuroimaging">
Department of Neuroimaging</a> (<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn" id="OWA8d4c706d-7afe-1dfe-14ba-ea0219079b3b" class="OWAAutoLink" title="IOPPN">Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience</a>), and the
<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ddh" id="OWA18388e94-f1c8-5026-84c4-186ff5faf6d1" class="OWAAutoLink" title="DDH">
Department of Digital Humanities</a> (<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums" id="OWA8e1edd46-764c-58ed-7672-e9057eb8644a" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Arts & Hums">Faculty of Arts and Humanities</a>), while connecting to broader networks across healthcare,
social sciences, and industry.</div>
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The conference will explore how insights from visual perception and artistic practice can inform visual systems and interfaces through Keynote talks, Empirical presentations, Workshops, Collaborative sessions. Sessions will explore topics from visualisations
and augmented reality systems to medical imaging tools, assistive devices, and interactive environments that promote well-being and inclusive living.</div>
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<b>Submissions</b></div>
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We welcome submissions, including but not limited to the themes below, especially those aligned with this year’s focus on design:</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation">Fundamental research in visual cognition or neuroscience addressing mechanisms of visual experience</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation">Research in visual perception, empirical aesthetics, or psychology of art, using artworks or aesthetic experience to investigate perceptual processes and inform visual interfaces</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation">Investigations into perception-driven innovations for healthcare design, mental health, or socially responsive environments</div>
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<div role="presentation">Empirical research on perceptual phenomena in art and their technological applications for usability, performance, or well-being</div>
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<div role="presentation">Cross-disciplinary research in machine vision, Vision Language Models (VLMs), and computational modelling and simulation of visual phenomena</div>
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<div role="presentation">Studies of perceptual mechanisms applied to human-computer interaction, AI, VR/AR, medical imaging, or assistive technologies</div>
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<div role="presentation">Case studies of perception-informed prototypes in AI, VR/AR, medical devices, or assistive solutions</div>
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<div role="presentation">Interdisciplinary work exploring how visual science informs ethical, accessible, and sustainable solutions</div>
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We welcome participants from all disciplines who are curious, collaborative, and eager to share ideas and transform this conference into a hub for interdisciplinary dialogue, creative inspiration, and the incubation of future innovations.</div>
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**All accepted abstracts will be published in the Q1-ranked journal Art & Perception **</div>
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<b>Submission Dates</b></div>
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<div role="presentation">Symposia submissions: until April 15, 2026</div>
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<div role="presentation">Talk, Poster and Conversation submissions: until May 1, 2026</div>
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<div role="presentation">Notification of acceptance: May 20, 2026</div>
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<div role="presentation">Early-bird registration: until June 10, 2026</div>
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<b>Submission Information</b></div>
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Submission guidelines are available on the VSAC website <a href="https://2026.vsac.eu/submission-guidelines.html" id="OWAa815b68f-49c5-82b7-86a4-0bef06b43fb2" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Submission guidelines">
here</a>.</div>
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The submission portal is accessed via EasyChair <a href="https://easychair.org/account/signin?l=8998140514774792180.1772813505.17792d16" id="OWA31a80b47-b378-44bb-e8a4-1fa9c4598155" class="OWAAutoLink" title="EasyChair">
here</a></div>
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For email enquiries please contact <a href="mailto:%20VSAC2026@kcl.ac.uk" id="OWA2fc05e58-353f-42a5-c2a7-50411657b6c7" class="OWAAutoLink" title="email address">
VSAC2026@kcl.ac.uk</a> </div>
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Registration for the conference is via the <a href="https://estore.kcl.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/academic-faculties/faculty-of-natural-mathematical-sciences/department-of-engineering/vsac-2026-visual-science-of-art-conference" id="OWAc2b20d15-2d41-5d3b-10a9-296824314c5f" class="OWAAutoLink">
King's eStore</a>.</div>
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We look forward to welcoming you to the conference.</div>
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Kind regards,</div>
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The VSAC 2026 Team</div>
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