Professor Rob Allison will lead York University’s Centre for Vision Research (CVR) as its new director, as of July 1. Allison, a full-time faculty member at York since 2001, previously served as associate director of CVR. He takes on the role after Professor Laurence Harris, who stepped down after serving 10 years as the centre’s director.
“I have been proud to serve as director for the last 10 years which has been an extraordinary period of growth and expansion for the Centre for Vision Research,” said Harris. “As an interdisciplinary scientist, Rob is an ideal choice as the next director of the Centre for Vision Research.”
Rob Allison
Allison is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and with graduate appointments in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Psychology and Digital Media. He holds the York Research Chair in Stereoscopic Vision and Depth Perception and leads the interdisciplinary Virtual Reality and Perception Lab. His research areas include biological, computational and artistic aspects of vision research and focuses on the interface between engineering and human psychology: how people use vision to interact with 3D worlds, both natural and synthetic.
His basic research program investigates the visual perception of depth and self-motion and the role of vision in the guidance and control of movement through the world. His team has had success in applying research, particularly in the domains of 3D film, 3D games, optometry, forestry, aviation, security and rehabilitation. Allison is currently working with leading industrial and government research bodies on improving the state-of-the-art in advanced virtual reality displays and simulations.
New associate director
Professor Denise Henriques will step into the role as associate director for CVR.
Denise Henriques
Henriques is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science with graduate appointments in Psychology and Biology. She runs the Sensorimotor Control Lab which carries out research into how multiple senses, including vision, touch and the body-position sense, cooperate to steer multiple body parts. A critical part of this is how the world with which we interact is represented in the brain. Her research also extends to include what happens as we grow, age or are injured.
“Denise has extensive experience coordinating large groups of scientists and is ideally suited for role of Associate Director of CVR,” said Harris.
Harris will remain an active member of the CVR, which will be interacting with the new Neuroscience Centre at York directed by Jeffrey Schall who will be joining York early in 2021.
About the Centre for Vision Research (CVR)
Founded by Ian Howard (1927-2013) in the late ’60s and originally known as the York Vision Group, the CVR is now the most comprehensive vision group in the world embracing the labs of some 36 faculty members with representatives from computer science, biology, psychology, kinesiology, arts, digital media, physics, neuroscience and philosophy, all brought together by a common interest in vision and perception.