Michael Banissy

Michael Banissy is an award-winning Professor in Social Neuroscience and Science Communicator. He has expertise in several research areas, including touch, social perception, creativity, and empathy. The breadth of his work is not only seen in scientific contributions but also in his efforts to bring science to the public and to industries. A member of The Royal Society Industry Research Fellow College, Michael has close interactions with technology companies exploring the tools to support social interaction in the workplace. He is also an experienced science communicator, having been involved in several major public festivals and working with a variety of media outlets for the last decade.

His most recent project was the Touch Test - a science and broadcast collaborator with the BBC and Wellcome Collection. This project explored attitudes and experiences of touch via the world's largest contemporary survey on the topic, public exhibitions, and a series of broadcast programmes focused on the topic of touch that received worldwide attention. When We Touch is Michael's first book.