From fascinating experiments to compelling talks: Nerdland Festival is the event where science comes to life. Five of our researchers will share interesting facts in a festival setting. Come along, immerse yourself in science, technology and wonder — and meet our researchers.
Watch the full program and all information on the website van Nerdland Festival.
Melissa Schuring - Missing is desirable - Podcast - Saturday in The Cube
When science makes the news, it is almost always about success stories. In the podcast “Missing is desirable”, Flemish researchers paint a more honest and complete picture of science with their funny stories of failure. Come and listen live to some of the bloopers and blunders from the podcast series!
Sarah Lamotte – Science Battle - Saturday
Sarah is participating in the science battle with her research on the Congolese rainforest and its water-rich secrets.
Lynn De Mey - Solve it - Monday
Lynn will share her vision on how her research can contribute to conflict prevention, in conversation with other female scientists.
Emilie Grégoire – Bright Club Comedy - Saturday to Monday
In this experiment where science and stand-up comedy meet, Emilie and five other researchers step out of their comfort zone to perform comedy sets based on their research.
Vincent Crabbe – Nerdland for children – Saturday & Monday
During this show, Vincent gives a live microscopy demonstration of microbes he collected from the presenter's armpit and on the Nerdland grounds.
Astrid Luypaert - Mary: pious virgin or sexy muse? - Focus Talk - Sunday in The Voyager
How did the Virgin Mary become an icon with erotic connotations in the 15th century? Why were sacred representations with a touch of sexuality completely normal at the time? And how does that image influence our contemporary representations? Using penis processions, prayer books full of vulvas and a collection of bawdy poems, Astrid Luypaert delves into the visual culture of the early Renaissance! From courtly paintings to pilgrimage insignia, everything is reviewed!
Dennis De Vriese - Nerdland Academy - Focus Talk - Monday on the Talent Stage
In the brand-new concept: Nerdland Academy, promising speakers are given a 9-minute platform. Linde Merckpoel presents, a professional jury and the audience vote. Next year, the winner will get a full slot on one of our larger stages. VUB researcher Dennis De Vriese talks about the history of humour.
Ann Dooms - Focus Talk - Monday in The Voyager
Can machines think? Alan Turing asked this question back in 1936 in his iconic article “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”. With this, he laid the foundation for artificial intelligence. And mathematics turned out to be the key. But how exactly? In this talk, Ann Dooms unravels the mathematical principles behind the technology that makes machines “think”. From the first concepts to the latest algorithms, from classification to GenAI: discover how the ultimate mind sport is pushing the boundaries of machine intelligence. A fascinating journey from theory to practice!
Koen Stein - Dinosaurs: poo, snot and vomit - Show - Saturday and Sunday on the Kleine Nerds Stage
Fossilised bones are not the only evidence left behind by dinosaurs. Their eggs, feathers, skin impressions, and even faeces and stomach contents also provide a fascinating insight into their lives. In this show, palaeontologist Dr. Koen Stein and dinosaur nerd Alexander Decommere delve into behaviour that we know all too well: pooping, vomiting and snotting! They start with Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Jurassic Park, where Triceratops poop and Brachiosaurus snot splatter across the screen, and continue that line into science. With visual experiments and a generous helping of filth, they bring dinosaur poop, vomit, and snot to life. The audience can literally feel it!