Toby Heys

Professor Toby Heys is a Research Professor at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University. He leads research in digital art, sound studies, and media theory, focusing on virtual reality, acoustic surveillance, and sonic warfare. His work spans installations, publications, and collaborations with institutions like AUDINT and Hexagram. Key projects include AUDIENCE WITH A HERO (Innovate UK), LIKELY STORIES (AHRC), and UNHEALTHY BIAS (Wellcome Trust). He holds a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University and has been a Visiting Scholar at NYU.

Research Interests: Toby’s work explores the intersections of technology and culture, particularly through sound and virtual reality. His projects investigate how sonic frequencies and digital tools influence perception, memory, and society. Recent themes include the ethics of AI in health communication, the legacy of acoustic surveillance in espionage, and the cultural implications of virtual necromancy.

Grants & Projects:

• AUDIENCE WITH A HERO (£1m): VR-based Holocaust witness experiences.
• LIKELY STORIES (£60k): Machine learning in social media narratives.
• UNHEALTHY BIAS (£1.2k): NHS video efficacy for South Asian audiences.
• MOOD/MUSIC (£83k): Co-creating emotion-sensing music tools for young carers.

Publications: Toby’s outputs include books like Sound Pressure (2019) and Unsound:Undead (2019), as well as exhibitions such as The Phantom Economy of Torments (2025) and Ghostcode (2023). His research group AUDINT examines sonic frequencies in military and civil contexts.