ERN Recap: a well-attended night of science and spectacle

Thumping drums, dance and, above all, plenty inspiring scientists. The senses of visitors to the European Researchers' Night were dazzled last Friday in Forum Groningen. The four Schools for Science and Society jointly organised the sold-out science festival.

In the Forum's main area, the drummers of BEAT Plastic Waste, with instruments made of plastic waste, provide the starting signal for Groningen's European Researchers' Night. Meanwhile, Andrew Greenwood performs a ‘dance on prescription’ to warm up the visitors for an evening of science themed Living in a Smart World.

Behind a stall, two scientists question people on what they would like to see in the museum a thousand years from now. A little further, mathematicians explain how to use algorithms to determine who will be the first to receive a donor organ. Needless to say, the variety among the forty-plus programme items is enormous. Themes such as artificial intelligence, biodiversity, climate, energy, food, health, language and technology are covered extensively at the various stalls in the Forum.

The ‘main programme’ consists of talk shows, topped off by poetry, music or dance. Poet Myron Hamming, for instance, provides tailor-made poetry to accompany a talk on energy and inclusion. Scientists share their expertise and the enthusiastic host, Lukas de Man, keeps up the pace with a barrage of questions and thoughts. Sustainable textiles, an inclusive transition, elderly care and a smart city are the topics of discussion.

Mental health and social media are also on the programme. De Man asks the audience whether they want to ban mobile phones at school. Only one or two of the visitors turn out to be against such a ban, after which UG researchers Marieke Pijnenborg and Ulrike Schultze give their scientific view on the matter. Afterwards, singer and songwriter Leonie Tiemessen provides an impressive musical finale.

And it does not stop there. Visitors are welcome to visit the various rooms of the Forum, such as the Newsroom, where researchers conduct workshops on healthy food and future-proof informal care, among other topics. Slightly further on, they might learn about the 'eierbal' - pardon the protein ball. Just around the corner, visitors get science ‘on demand’ during a genuine ‘science battle’.

Walking up one floor, you might end up in a ‘live’ surgery on the stairs of the Forum, where an experienced doctor explains how to communicate during a surgery. Again one floor down, researchers talk about their favourite object from the University Museum during a mini-lecture, organised by Studium Generale. Discussing AI around midnight, or attending a workshop on a climate-proof house: it is not very common, but during the European Researchers' Night it is a reality.

After a spectacular chair act by Circus Santelli and the final drum solos by BEAT Plastic Waste, the evening comes to an end. Living in a Smart World was the theme of the Night. At least the visitors will go home a lot smarter.

The ERN programme was created by: the UG Schools for Science and Society, Studium Generale, University Museum, Young Academy Groningen, Science LinX, Forum Groningen and BKB | Het Campagnebureau. The whole programme can be found here .