Science Slam

In the organizer's words:

Read and be read - Science Slam at the University of Potsdam

The literary spectrum of the next Science Slam at the University of Potsdam ranges from Tacitus' "Germania" to Karl May's "Winnetou", which will set some cultural science accents on May 13 at 8 p.m. in the Waschhaus Arena. But what exactly happens in the brain when we read? And how does artificial intelligence actually read? A cognitive researcher has the answers. Without misinforming, this time it's also about misinformation: Find out why "alternative facts" are believed to be true and why "perceived truths" can be dangerous. Dr. Bryan Nowack, himself a successful slammer and biologist, will moderate the competition, in which the audience will decide who wins by applause and points.

Latin student Leon Amelang, who has been studying Tacitus' work "Germania", knows how "Tacitus became Nazitus". The prospective teacher explains what is meant by the term "Germanic tribes" and how the work, which dates back to the 1st century AD, is repeatedly misinterpreted and instrumentalized by right-wing extremists.

The slam by Andreas Brenne revolves around Karl May and the "Indians". The professor of art education and art didactics addresses a complicated topic: is May a bridge builder to foreign cultures with the aim of universal understanding - or does he reproduce colonial fantasies, racist stereotypes and attacks that need to be overcome today?
Dr. Dario Paape examines the process of reading, in which words must first be recognized and then combined into units of meaning, not from a literary but from a cognitive science perspective. Eye movements play an important role in this process. But how does an AI model like ChatGPT, which has no eyes at all, read?

As always at the Science Slam, the researchers' presentations are based on scientific facts. Even when it comes to "alternative facts". Sociologist and political scientist Dr. Christoph M. Abels explains why information that contradicts obvious facts is believed to be true and why "perceived truths" can be manipulated.

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A science slam is a format in which researchers present their scientific topics in short, exciting talks - often with a touch of humor. The audience has the opportunity to actively participate and vote for the best presentation. This brings science to life and makes it tangible.

For the Science Slam at the Waschhaus Potsdam, the concert stage is transformed into a stage for innovative ideas and exciting research. Researchers and students from the University of Potsdam meet here to present their latest findings. You can look forward to a diverse range of topics and an inspiring atmosphere.

At the end of the spam, the audience will vote on which topic was best summed up in just ten minutes. The moderator is Bryan Nowack, himself a successful slammer and biologist, who has researched how plants adapt to heat stress in his doctoral thesis, which is still hot off the press.