Stand Up Science

Do you want to experience as much as possible of a wide variety of super-interesting scientific research in a short time? Then be amazed at Stand Up Science. Come to Café Lux, grab a pair of headphones, and immerse yourself in the most diverse fields of research.

Do you want to experience as much as possible of a wide variety of super-interesting scientific research in a short time? Then be amazed at Stand Up Science. Come to Café Lux, grab a pair of headphones, and immerse yourself in the most diverse research. 

 
11:50 Ever wondered what seals say when no one’s listening?  
Join us for a splashy science talk with researcher Koen de Reus (Max Planck Institute), where he dives into the fascinating world of seal communication and what it can tell us about the evolution of human language. Koen will take you from curious pupcalls to surprising seal conversations, sharing insights from his research on how harbour seals use sound, rhythm, and turn-taking… some features we thought were uniquely human. 

12:15  Taboo breaking technology: bladder level measuring through ultrasound 
At the Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen, a smart, wearable bladder sensor was developed, the sensor gently vibrates when it’s time to go to the bathroom. The sensor helps prevent accidents, restore self-confidence, and regain control of your day and night. Filine van den Bosch takes you through this remarkable story: how technology can break a taboo and how this small device can make a big difference. 

 
12:40 De geheime diensten en de grondwet door Rowin Jansen (NL)
Geheime diensten zijn bijzondere overheidsorganen. Zij beschermen de nationale veiligheid en de democratische rechtsorde – juist ook in deze tijden van geopolitieke turbulentie. Om hun werk effectief te kunnen doen, maken zij echter geregeld inbreuken maken op grondrechten. Hoe ver mogen inlichtingenoperaties gaan? En hoe houdt men zulke diensten binnen de grenzen van de Grondwet?

 
13:05 Beyond doomscrolling: what science says about it:
Curious about what social media really does to our wellbeing? Join Selim Sametoglu from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics for a fresh and eye-opening stand-up science talk. Based on twin research, Selim will unpack why simple conclusions about ‘doomscrolling’ are … too simple. He will explain how genetics and individual differences play a surprisingly big role in shaping both our online habits and our wellbeing. Expect insight, surprising facts, and a lively perspective that flips common assumptions on their head. 

 
 
13:30 Role it out, women in tech
Gender diversity isn’t a checkbox, it’s a catalyst for better innovation. Role It Out makes women in tech visible, credible, and heard. Their message to women in tech is: step into the spotlight; your story can ignite someone’s future! Be the role model you once needed. Their message to companies is: put your female engineers on stage and amplify their impact. To realise a future with more gender diversity in tech: come and Role It Out!

14:00 Fear vs Robotic touch 
How do we experience fear when it’s shared? How does a gentle touch from another person change your experience of fear? Or could a robot replace your relationship when it comes to calming your nerves? Hold tight and find it out yourself with Dutch Touch Society.

14:20 Molecules that collide  
Bas van de Meerakker (Radboud University) is a chemical physicist who studies what happens when simple molecules collide. Isn’t it strange that we know how supernovae form millions of light-years away, but we don’t know what happens when oxygen molecules collide? With his particle decelerator, Bas will show how molecules collide and will use lasers to observe what happens during such collision.  

14:45 How to cure more people with cancer without causing serious side effects?  
Scientist Suzanne van Dorp (RadboudUMC) researches how to improve the treatment of blood and lymphomas, using immune cells from patients and donors. The goal is to make immunotherapies, such as CAR-T cell therapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, more effective and thus cure more patients without causing serious side effects.
 
15:10 The coexistence of genetics and psychiatric problems and possibilities 
Psychiatric disorders often coexist. What is perhaps less well known is that conditions linked to insulin resistance, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, are also much more common in people with psychiatric problems. Janita Bralten (Radboud UMC) will tell you about the role of genetics in this interplay and the potential opportunities it offers for psychiatry. 
 
15:35 Black holes in space 
Astronomer Lieke van Son (Radboud University) researches one of the most mysterious objects in our universe: black holes. Their enormous gravitational pull swallows everything that comes near them, but we still don’t know much about them. With the discovery of gravitational waves 10 years ago, we can finally study black holes, and that’s exactly what Lieke is working on. 

16:00 Citizen knowledge in research: a good match!?
How does collaboration between citizens and researchers look. Kirsten Bevelander (Radboud UMC) shares that researchers and citizen knowledge can sometimes feel like a relationship drama: full of curiosity, misunderstandings, and mysterious sparks and connections. Using examples from research 
projects, she demonstrates how different languages and expectations can clash, but also leads to genuine, equal collaboration.