PINT OF SCIENCE FESTIVAL
13-15 MAY 2024
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DNA: building blocks of life or a language?
Technology starts with discoveries, discoveries starts with exploration. Tonight, we will explore DNA, graffiti and musea - who knows what you'll discover?
How can we save all the data of the world using the space of a Pint?
Rocco Stirparo
Ph.D Student
VIB - KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology
From YouTube videos to newspaper articles, our data storage needs are growing more and more. Unfortunately, data storage is already wasting our resources, energy and space and soon enough it will become completely unsustainable. That is why we need to find new method to store our data. The most promising one is DNA. In fact, DNA is extremely dense, stable and, of course, it is organic. Let’s discover how we can actually save our files into molecules like DNA.
Genetic techniques to study human diseases
Frank Bosmans
Professor
Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ghent
Professor Frank Bosmans uses genetic techniques to study human diseases. For his research, he combines human cells grown in a petri dish with mice that have been genetically manipulated to mimic human diseases. His team has worldwide fame as experts in understanding how certain sodium channels in the nervous system work in itch, pain and even epilepsy. Curious how his work is the first step in the development of new treatments? Then come and find out!
Het openbreken van de rigide blik
Marjan Doom
Director Ghent University Museum
Ghent University
Universiteiten zijn de geboorteplaatsen voor kennis en nieuwe toepassingen, maar ook voor kunst. Vergezel Dr Marjan Doom tijdens haar verkenning van universiteitslokalen waar niemand anders kijkt. Met een vurige passie voor anatomie begon ze als curator om de artistieke schoonheid in wetenschap bloot te leggen. Vandaag is ze als directeur van het Gents Universiteitsmuseum gefascineerd door de verborgen schoonheid die zich in het wetenschappelijk proces verschuilt en werkt samen met kunstenaars door hen door universitaire collecties en labo's te loodsen tijdens hun creatieproces. Kom luisteren naar hoe wetenschap tot kunst kristalliseert!
