# ORIentate Seminar, Oxford Robotics Institute, University of Oxford

**Source**: https://ori.ox.ac.uk/orientate-seminar
**Parent**: https://ori.ox.ac.uk/

ORIentate is the bi-weekly seminar series ran by the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI). It is an opportunity for the ORI community to connect and share their work. We host diverse sessions ranging from presentations from our academics and students, tutorials on technical topics, and keynotes given by invited external speakers.

External research talks are open to all members of the University of Oxford community and are marked with an asterisk [\*]. All other events are only for members and associates of the Oxford Robotics Institute.

Lead: [Perla Maiolino](https://ori.ox.ac.uk/people/perla-maiolino/)

Postdoc Chairs: [Victor-Alexandru Darvariu](https://ori.ox.ac.uk/people/victor-alexandru-darvariu/) and [Joe Watson](https://ori.ox.ac.uk/people/joe-watson)

# Upcoming Talks

[[\*] 19 February 2026. Jana Tumova (KTH Royal Institute of Technology): Formal methods for robot planning and control](#)

**Formal methods for robot planning and control**

**Speaker**: Jana Tumova (KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Visiting Professor at ORI)

**Location:** LR2, Thom Building

**Time:** 4pm-5pm

[[\*] 5 March 2026. François Pomerleau (Université Laval): Autonomous Navigation in Harsh Environments](#)

**Speaker**: François Pomerleau (Université Laval)

**Location:** LR1, Thom Building

**Time:** 3:30pm-4:30pm

**Abstract:**\
**Abstract**: As the promise of autonomous cars keeps being delayed, more and more questions are raised about the accessibility of this technology in remote locations. Moreover, extreme meteorological events are on the rise with the concretization of climate change. This new reality stresses the importance of investigating how robust navigation algorithms are against harsh environmental conditions.\
\
In an era of simulations and augmented datasets, this presentation will focus on our efforts in facing complex research questions through field robotics. Field robotics is a sub-community of researchers challenging theoretical simplifications with experimental work closer to real applications. During this talk, we will dive into our latest scientific results with an emphasis on lessons learned related to lidar-based mapping and navigation in subarctic conditions.\
\
A few minutes will be reserved to explain how we are consolidating the Canadian robotics ecosystem and the opportunities it triggered for British researchers.

[[\*] 19 March 2026. Lorenzo Masia (Technical University of Munich): Title TBC](#)

**Title TBC**

**Speaker**: Lorenzo Masia (Technical University of Munich)

**Location:** LR1, Thom Building

**Time:** 3:30pm-4:30pm

[16 April 2026. Nick Hawes (ORI): How to Give a Presentation](#)

**ORGS Lecture Series: How to Give a Presentation**

**Speaker**: Nick Hawes (ORI)

**Location:** TBC

**Time:** TBC

# Past Talks

[5 February 2026. Ethan Yifu Tao (ORI): Tutorial on SLAM and 3D Perception](#)

**Tutorial on SLAM and 3D Perception**

**Speaker**: Ethan Yifu Tao (DRS-P Group, ORI)

**Location: LR1, Thom Building**

[22 January 2026. Digby Chappell (ORI): Placing Humans at the Centre of Wearable Assistive Robotics and Technology](#)

**Placing Humans at the Centre of Wearable Assistive Robotics and Technology**

**Speaker**: Digby Chappell (Oxford Robotics Institute)

**Location:** LR1, Thom Building

**Time:** 3:30pm-4:30pm

[11 December 2025. Transfer of Status Presentations](#)

**Transfer of Status Presentations**

**Speakers**: ORI students preparing for Transfer of Status (ToS)

**Location:** HBAC Lecture Theatre

**Time:** 3:30pm-4:30pm

[12 November 2025. Zac Manchester (CMU): Composable Optimization for Robotic Motion Planning and Control](#)

**Composable Optimization for Robotic Motion Planning and Control**

**Speaker**: Zac Manchester (Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University)

**Location:** LR1, Thom Building

**Time:** 4pm-5pm

*Note that this seminar is taking place on a Wednesday.*

[30 October 2025. Alex Schutz and Victor-Alexandru Darvariu (ORI): Tutorial on Graph Neural Networks](#)

**Location: LR1, Thom Building**

#### Session 1

**Tutorial on Graph Neural Networks**

**Speakers**: Alex Schutz and Victor Darvariu (GOALS Group, ORI)

#### Session 2

**Intro to Oxford University Innovations (OUI)**

**Speaker**: Serena de Nahlik (OUI)

[16 October 2025. Introduction to ORI Research Groups](#)

**Introduction to ORI Research Groups**

**Speakers**: All ORI Principal Investigators

**Location:** Lecture Theatre LR7 (Information Engineering Building)

**Time:** 3:30pm-5pm

[18 September 2025. Michael Levin (Tufts University): Intrinsic motivation in evolved, engineered, and hybrid systems](#)

**Location: Thom Building Lecture Theatre LR2**

#### **Session 1**

**Intrinsic motivation in evolved, engineered, and hybrid systems: the interface of biophysics, computer science, and behavioral science**

**Speaker**: Michael Levin (Tufts University)

#### **Session 2**

**Evaluating Intuitive Physics Understanding in Video Diffusion Models via Likelihood Preference**

**Speakers**: Jianhao Yuan (CRG & MRG Groups, ORI)