Kirk Woolford, Professor of Immersive Arts and Technologies, is a pioneer in the field of Immersive Media, with more than 40 years’ experience developing games and VR/AR/XR applications and experiences. Kirk directs the Institute for Creative Technologies at Norwich University of the Arts, where he leads research on visualisation and simulation of natural environments and Embodied AI, in partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bristol University, the Broads National Park, Sony Europe, et al. His research is transdisciplinary, and he has received funding from the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC), Arts Council England (ACE), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and others.
Kirk has a hybrid background working between industry and academia. He has founded and co-founded startups in New York, London, Austin, and Amsterdam working with clients including Sony Interactive Entertainment, BBC2, Channel Four, Sky Television, Economist Group, Economist Intelligence Unit, and the Royal Institution.
Shipped projects include, leading the design team for one of the first Nintendo Wii games (My Horse and Me), tech director for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and VR for the Royal Geographic Society. Kirk is currently developing visualisations and simulations for the UK Flood and Drought Research Infrastructure in partnership with UKCEH and the University of Bristol.