Nathan Cohen graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art at University College London and then completed his Masters at Chelsea School of Art, London in 1985. Since this time he has exhibited internationally, including solo shows in the UK, Japan, Europe and the USA. In addition to his work as an artist he is an educator, establishing the first MA Art and Science course in the UK in 2011. Nathan Cohen has worked extensively with scientists in the UK and Japan and has been a Visiting Researcher at Keio University (2010). Collaborations with exhibited and published outcomes include Tachi Lab (Ars Electronica 2008, Intangible Spaces Aisho Miura Arts, Tokyo (British Council funded) 2010); Olfactory Art and Science Research (Kakenhi Funded: Kyoto, Paris, Sweden, London 2017-22). He is a lead researcher on the STEAM+ Erasmus project (2020–22) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I will be working with Prof Takamichi Nakamoto, creator of human olfactory interface technology at the IIR Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, and his team, exploring ways to enhance user experience in the combination of visual, olfactory and haptic stimuli in VR environments. I am interested in researching how particular odours can be identified and potentially combined to create associative scentscapes that correspond with and enhance comprehension of narratives in film, image and gaming. I will also be exploring other ways in which olfaction in conjunction with technology can practically impact our lives toward enhancing well-being. A combination of insight and expertise from engineering sciences, technology and art should result in novel outcomes with the potential for future innovation.