Exploring Planetary Health and Global Foresighting Through Immersive Media: Highlights from Three Landmark Events

Pravin Pillay, Creative Director of MOVE37XR and Community Fellow at York University’s Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, has recently taken the stage at three influential events to share his vision of how immersive media can inspire systemic change and address the urgent challenges of planetary health. From the Vancouver AI Community Meetup to the Creative City Network Summit and beyond, Pillay’s presentations have emphasized the transformative power of storytelling, technology, and collaboration.

Immersive Storytelling at the Vancouver AI Community Meetup

During the NeurIPS conference in December 2024, Pillay spoke at the Vancouver AI Community Meetup, held at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Against the cosmic backdrop of the Space Centre, Pillay presented MOVE37XR’s mission to foster empathy and drive ecological and social transformation through immersive media. Highlighting projects like "Breathe," which explores the relationship between Humpback whales and the Nuu-chah-nulth people, he illustrated how extended reality (XR) technologies can bring hidden ecological narratives to life, encouraging global collaboration and action.

Pillay also addressed the convergence of AI and immersive media, exploring how these fields can reveal the interconnected health of human and natural systems. His call for interdisciplinary engagement resonated with the diverse audience of technologists, researchers, and creatives, sparking new ideas for collaboration and innovation.

Transforming Cities Through Immersive Media at the Creative City Network Summit

In October 2024, at the Creative City Network Summit in Vancouver, Pillay co-led the “Immersive Keynote Experience” with artist-composer Ruby Singh and artist-researcher John Desnoyers-Stewart. This session challenged cultural leaders and municipal policymakers to reimagine public spaces as platforms for storytelling, civic engagement, and ecological awareness.

Through immersive exercises, participants explored themes such as psychogeography and collective creativity, learning how XR technologies can turn cities into dynamic canvases for cultural and ecological expression. Pillay emphasized the role of arts and culture workers as catalysts of change, equipping attendees with practical strategies to foster civic participation and address planetary health challenges in urban contexts.

Fostering Global Collaboration at the Transformative Impact Summit Africa

Earlier in June 2024, Pillay presented at the Transformative Impact Summit Africa in Zanzibar, Tanzania. His talk, "Building a Global Network of XR Studios to Cultivate Empathy and Enhance Human and Ecosystem Health," highlighted the potential of decentralized XR networks to bridge cultural divides and address ecological challenges. Drawing on MOVE37XR’s projects, Pillay demonstrated how immersive media can create emotional connections that inspire systemic change.

Zanzibar’s historical role as a nexus of trade and cultural exchange underscored the global relevance of MOVE37XR’s mission. Pillay’s presentation resonated with an audience of change-makers, illustrating how immersive storytelling can be a catalyst for fostering empathy, innovation, and sustainability on a global scale.

A Unified Vision for Planetary Health

Across these three events, Pillay’s work consistently bridges art, technology, and ecological foresighting, reflecting the Dahdaleh Institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to planetary health. By making the invisible visible—whether through revealing ecological systems, amplifying cultural narratives, or fostering collective creativity—MOVE37XR inspires new ways of thinking and acting in response to the challenges of our time.

Pravin Pillay’s role as a Community Fellow continues to amplify these efforts, fostering connections between global health research, immersive technologies, and cultural innovation. His talks have not only illuminated the potential of immersive media but also called for greater collaboration across disciplines to create a sustainable, equitable future.

To learn more about MOVE37XR and Pravin Pillay’s work, visit MOVE37XR.

You may also be interested in...