28 Feb 2020 11:24 am

Be a part of the University of Bedfordshire Festival of Science and Engineering

Sign up to be a part of the second University of Bedfordshire Festival of Science and Engineering (9 to 13 March). The festival coincides with British Science Week, and celebrates the University’s new STEM building which opened in September 2019.

Both events are free to attend.

• Artificial Intelligence: What does it hold for our future?

Thursday 12 March, 12.30 to 1.30pm, PG Centre Lounge, Luton Campus

Sign up here

Rather than something to be feared, and spelling the end of humanity, artificial intelligence is coming of age with strategic capabilities and potential to significantly advance how we work.

In this lecture, Dr Paul Sant, Head of School of Computer Science and Technology, will discuss the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the commercial and research world.

He will discuss how computer systems are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.

Paul will focus on a number of real-world examples, including the use of AI to detect blindness in India (Microsoft) and within fields such as assisted living (robotics), through to recent development in the use of AI to detect and cure disease.

• A Taste of Science

Friday 13 March, 12.30 to 1.30pm, Metro Bar, Luton campus

Sign up here

Our STEM academics are heading for the SU Metro Bar where they will tackle common misconceptions around food and drink, and discuss the latest research on the psychology of food – all over a pint and a pizza.

Join Paul Cavendish, Dr Lindsay McDermott, Dr Faye Powell, and Dr Shaobo Zhou for our first ‘Taste of Science’ event aimed at staff and students as part of the University of Bedfordshire Festival of Science and Engineering.

At this FREE TO ATTEND event Paul, Lindsay, Faye and Shaobo will discuss and answer questions on:

• Fat or thin – is it predetermined?
• Dietary advice
• Sensory specific satiety – the sensory hedonic phenomenon that refers to the declining satisfaction generated by the consumption of a certain type of food, and the consequent renewal in appetite resulting from the exposure to a new flavour or food
• Practical tastings – perceptions of taste

Free pizza available on production of an Eventbrite ticket.

On Tuesday 10 March, our STEM academics and students are heading over to The Mall in Luton where they’ll be taking over the Central Mall space for one day only. Pay them a visit and have a go on a range of activities including a virtual reality demonstration, making DNA bracelets, and getting up close and personal with robots.

Other activities include a Batak reaction challenge, a fingerprint scanner and a 3D internal image exploration.