PINT OF SCIENCE FESTIVAL
19-21 MAY 2025
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Science is an intrinsic part of our day-to-day life, but where is it actually? Our speakers will help us to find it in the beer, the air and the news and to use it to our advantage.
Brewing Modern Beers: a challenging blend between science and art, mastering tradition and implementing innovation
Tom Mertens
Researcher and consultant
Biercentrum Delvaux
Beer Brewing is one of the earliest examples of turning natural ingredients into nourishment from when we moved from nomadic hunters to sedentary farmers. Although the basics of beer brewing are still the same nowadays (fermenting sugars into alcohol, CO2 and desired flavours), technology has helped a lot to get there. In this talk we will discuss how traditional brewing methods are key to understand modern processes and to implement innovation, which can go from hunting wild yeast between the pyramids of Egypt, sending yeast to the International Space Station or developing ‘bar-tending’ robots.
The Chameleon Effect
"If you want to do this all you life, you have to love it," she said behind close doors when we sat down in her office in Shanghai. She was a scientist and I was a scientist, but unlike her, I was on a journey. She was one of numerous scientists, artists and actors that I have interviewed. I wanted to know, what to do with my life. Today I combine improvised comedy, applied improvisation and science in a unique mix of learning entertainment. This presentation is half talk, half show and full of joy.
Daily News, Fake News. Only in America?
Alexandra Sánchez
PhD Fellow, Faculty of Arts
KU Leuven
This talk addresses Europe’s current fascination with the Trumpian concept of “fake news”. It contradicts the popular notion that “fake news” is an American invention and paints a sobering picture of the current state of mass media in Europe, the US and elsewhere.
