Little Blowing Bear

As Publicity Chair of ICSR + Art 2026, Oliver Bendel had the opportunity on the third evening to choose between two gifts, one larger and one smaller. Since he had traveled to London with only carry-on luggage, he opted for the smaller one. When he unpacked the cardboard box back home in Zurich, out popped a little bear. Pressing its stubby tail causes it to blow air through its mouth. In this way, it can cool down hot drinks and hot soups. The philosopher of technology tried it out on his terrace. The little bear blew what seemed like a hole right into his coffee. Its name is, by the way, Nekojita FuFu, and it is – like Qoobo and Mirumi – from Yukai Engineering.T he Berlin Bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin and has adorned the city’s coat of arms for centuries. Just outside Germany’s capital lies Potsdam. The city is best known for its magnificent palaces, beautiful gardens, and its important role in German and European history. It is home to the University of Potsdam as well as several renowned research institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. About 6 kilometers outhwest of Potsdam, in the village of Caputh (part of the municipality of Schwielowsee), stands the Einstein House. The famous physicist had this modest wooden house built in 1929 based on plans by the architect Konrad Wachsmann. Einstein and his family spent their summers there, and he worked there until the end of 1932. The University of Potsdam will host ICSR + Health 2027, where Dr. Katharina Kühne and the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG) will welcome the community with open arms. Incidentally, Potsdam’s coat of arms features a red eagle on a silver field (Photo: Yukai Engineering).

ICSR 2026 is Ready for Submissions

The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1–4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. The conference has now opened its submission system, and full details can be found on the official ICSR 2026 submission page (icsr2026.uk/submission). Authors are invited to submit to a range of categories. Regular Papers for the Main Track should follow the guidelines provided on the conference website and be submitted by 15 February 2026. Special Session submissions follow the same Regular Paper instructions but are directed to individual sessions listed on the Special Sessions page. Short Papers follow their own dedicated instructions and are submitted through the same system. Competitions and Debates each have their own portals, with submissions due by 1 March 2026. Additional tracks such as the Robot Fringe and Travel Grants will be announced soon. All submission links and instructions are clearly detailed on the ICSR 2026 submission page, ensuring authors have everything they need to prepare their contributions for this major event in social robotics.

ICSR – Call for Debates

The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1-4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. As part of this edition, ICSR 2026 will host a series of live debates in the Debate Room (Senate Room), addressing pressing questions about social robots in society and culture. Debate proposals may focus on conceptual, ethical, scientific, artistic, practical, or societal aspects of social robotics and should connect broadly to the conference topics listed at icsr2026.uk/topics/. Submissions are open to contributors from social robotics, HRI, the arts, design, engineering, the humanities, and related areas, with interdisciplinary proposals particularly encouraged. Formats may include two-sided or multi-position debates, panel discussions, performative debates, or audience-engaged formats. In a nod to British debating traditions, participants are encouraged to wear academic gowns. Proposals are submitted via icsr2026.uk/debate-proposal, with a submission deadline of 1 March 2026 and notification of acceptance by 15 April 2026.