The festival started yesterday with the film AlphaGo. Today is the second day of InScience. The program contains lots of interesting films, big ideas and DIY-labs. With so much choice, it’s difficult what to see and to do, so here are some tips for today!

Film / Mademoiselle Paradis (Barbara Albert)

Maria Theresia Paradis is a blind pianist with an extraordinary talent. After countless failed medical experiments, the treatments performed by ‘miracle doctor’ Franz Anton Mesmer appear to be successful. However, she soon realises that as her sight returns, her musical virtuosity starts to decline.

There are differing opinions on the use of hypnosis as a treatment method. Hans Nelis, professor emeritus of Microbiology at Ghent University, explains these views from a scientific and an alternative framework.

This program starts at 13:00 in LUX 6. Tickets available here.

talk / pim haselager about the consequences of the creative use of robots

Is it a he, a she or an it? Robots are already becoming commonplace, but once inside our homes, they can have consequences that the developers or buyers never envisioned. Like influencing human interaction, for example. Will grandchildren stop visiting their grandparents if they have a companion robot? Will robot friends strengthen children’s social skills or isolate them? Will we bond with robots as we do with people or much-loved pets? And what are the consequences of using robots in ways the designers never envisioned? In this lecture, Pim Haselager will discuss the unexpected implications of creative robot use.

This program starts at 19:30 in the Synthonzaal at LUX. Tickets available here.

diy-lab / cijfertaal

These days, we use words and numbers to communicate. Programming language is becoming increasingly important. Experience this first-hand with playful robots or create your own art using mathematical formulas.

This program takes place from 15:00 – 20:00 in the Mariënburgchapel and has free entrance.

research / gaming against your brain

Recent research has shown that brain activity can predict a person’s actions before they even realize it. In other words: armed with a brain scanner, a scientist knows what you’ll do before you do! Is this true? Brain researchers at Radboud University will test it out during InScience. In a live game between man and machine, they will determine how accurate these predictions are. Join the experiment and find out for yourself!

This program takes place from 13:00 – 18:00 in the library De Mariënburg and has free entrance.

Photo by Jimmy Israel.