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On Wednesday June 19, 2024, °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s Interaction Centre (°×С½ãÂÛ̳IC) had the honour of welcoming back Professor Orit Shaer, Chair of the . This visit marked 20 years since Professor Shaer was a visiting PhD student at °×С½ãÂÛ̳IC.

The visit included a seminar by Professor Shaer titled "Tangible and Embodied Interaction (TEI) for the Future of Work and Learning". The seminar, attended by the HCI research community both in-person and online via Zoom, covered key topics such as virtual nature experiences for stress reduction and the use of Virtual Reality in scientific collaboration. Professor Shaer referenced her book, *Weaving Fire into Form: Aspirations for Tangible and Embodied Interaction*, co-authored with Brygg Ullmer, Ali Mazalek, and Caroline Hummels (DOI: ). A recording of the seminar is available to .

To celebrate the visit, we organized a nostalgic walking tour around the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ campus, visiting all the former homes of °×С½ãÂÛ̳IC. We visited 26 Bedford Way, 33-34 Alfred Place, the Malet Place Engineering Building, and our current home, 66-72 Gower Street. Accompanying Professor Shaer were Professors Anna Cox and Duncan Brumby, with photos capturing the group at each location under the sunshine and blue skies of summer.

°×С½ãÂÛ̳IC’s rich history began in the mid-1960s with the Ergonomics Unit, evolving through the years into a leading centre for HCI research and education. From its early focus on the physical environment to the current emphasis on human-computer interaction, °×С½ãÂÛ̳IC has continually advanced the field through interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research. For more information on °×С½ãÂÛ̳IC’s history, please visit our history page.

Professor Shaer's visit and seminar were a testament to the enduring legacy and impact of °×С½ãÂÛ̳IC, inspiring both current students and faculty. We look forward to many more such inspiring events in the future.