Oliver Grau
Art historian and media scientist. A professor at the the University Siegen and Art University Linz (where he received Habilitation) and is head of the German Science Foundation project Immersive Art at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Since 1999 he is also developing with his team the first international Database of Virtual Art. He lectures in numerous parts of the world, has received various awards and is widely published. Recent: Virtual Art: From Illusion to Immersion, MIT-Press 2003. (4th print) His research focuses on the history of immersion and emotions; the history, idea and culture of telepresence, genetic art, and artificial life. Grau is an elected member of the Young Academy of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Currently he is director of Refresh! First International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology, Banff 2005.
