Ten emerging media experts will share their thoughts on the next trends in their industry during a Carson Conversations Forum on May 20 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The free, public event is hosted by the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts at Nebraska, and will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 20 in the Temple Building, 12th and R streets. Registration is required by May 17.

The Carson Center is focused on interdisciplinary learning, creativity and research in emerging media. Set to open in 2019, the Carson Center will be an internationally distinct program in emerging media arts that explores the boundaries of where cinematic narrative and storytelling intersects with science, the humanities, computer science, engineering, music, fine arts and other disciplines.

“This event is really a chance for us to learn from the true leaders in the industry, as we make decisions about everything from curriculum to how the building should be designed,” said Megan Elliott, the Carson Center’s director. “I’m excited to bring this amazing lineup to Lincoln to discuss these issues.”

The speakers will include:

• Robert Tercek. One of the world’s most prolific creators of interactive content, Tercek has created breakthrough entertainment experiences on every digital platform, including satellite television, game consoles, broadband Internet, interactive television and mobile networks. He served recently as president of digital media at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and was previously senior vice president of digital media at Sony Pictures Entertainment and creative director at MTV. He is the author of “Vaporized,” the 2016 International Book Award Winner at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

• Roy Taylor. Taylor is corporate vice president and head of Alliances, Content and VR at Radeon Technologies Group AMD. He is responsible for a global team managing all aspects of the AMD ecosystem and external relations. Taylor manages AMD relations with Microsoft, Google, major games publishers and developers. In VR he heads up partnerships with film, broadcast, gaming, academia and industry, as well with Oculus, HTC/Valve and others.

• Sean Stewart. Stewart is the creative director for Magic Leap, the world’s most highly funded startup, which recently raised $1.4 billion. His role is to design, script and prototype immersive experiences for Mixed/Augmented Reality. He was formerly the Creative Director for Xbox Entertainment Studios-LA, and is a New York Times bestselling author.

• Susan Bonds. Bonds is co-founder and CEO of 42 Entertainment, leading the innovation evolution, from alternate reality games to deeply immersive entertainment experiences that engage millions of people worldwide. She was previously chief design and production officer for Cyan Worlds, Inc. where she produced MMORPG, URU: Ages beyond Myst; and a creative director/senior show producer at Walt Disney Imagineering where she developed the attractions Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland and Mission:SPACE at Epcot.

• Norman Hollyn. Hollyn is the Michael Kahn Endowed Chair in Film Editing at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He is a long-time film, television and music editor and has also worked extensively in entertainment and media internet development for large entertainment companies and schools.

• Jeff Nicholas. Nicholas is the director of VR Creative + Production at Live Nation. From 2008-16 he was the executive creative director on the majority of the design, digital and experiential projects that came out of the agency he co-founded, The Uprising Creative. He has executive produced and directed a wide array of award-winning music videos, commercials, branded context and VR experiences.

• Kyle Murphy. Murphy is vice president of design at Hudl where he supports cross-disciplinary teams building apps for athletes and coaches. Murphy is also the founder of NebraskaUX.com—a group that is growing user-centered design praxis in Nebraska.

• Tom Barker. Barker has worked in the UK, Australia and Canada as an educator, researcher, consultant, strategist, designer, serial entrepreneur and maverick in architecture, art, technology and design for 25 years. He has held a number of academic leadership positions as a chair and dean, allowing him to blend research with practice for his clients. His diverse portfolio includes projects with the late Zaha Hadid, Luminato Festival, IMAX, Sony Playstation and O2 Mobile.

• Brian LaDuca. An alum of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at Nebraska, LaDuca is the creator of the IDA – Ideation-Disruption-Aha! – pedagogy for Applied Creative Learning at the University of Dayton. He is the creator of the first national undergraduate certificate in Applied Creativity for Transformation.

• Erica Larson. An artist and adjunct faculty at California Institute of the Art in the Film/Video School’s Experimental Animation program, Larson is also the co-founder of the Calibraska Arts Initiative, a summer program bringing artists from California to her hometown in western Nebraska to teach multi-generational workshops. Larson began her undergraduate studies in graphic design at Nebraska.

The speakers will continue with workshop sessions on May 20-21 with invited faculty to continue discussing the future of the Carson Center.