Learning About Science and Religion (LASAR)

A Reflection on the RSC Exhibition

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A Reflection on the RSC Exhibition

Royal Society of Chemistry

I had the privilege to attend the fascinating Epistemic Insight: Future of Knowledge Event on the 28th September 2022. The organizer picked the Royal Society of Chemistry as the location for this exhibition. There was an absolutely breath-taking collection of literature on chemistry right next to Piccadilly-square, setting the mood for what would be an afternoon full of rich and engaging conversations about interdisciplinary projects.

The bulk of exchanges occurred within the library of the Royal Society of Chemistry, where the hosting LASAR Centre researchers set up a multitude of tables. The different stations displayed diverse research projects addressing issues and challenges at the borders between disciplines. Enhancing transparency and epistemic insight on the internet by searching news in a prototype next generation search-engine, or being invited to build your own spinner and modify it to maximize revolutions per second, the range of different topics discussed in the library exhibition was broad and engaging. Many students got involved in discussing areas of interdisciplinary exchange with our presenters for long periods of time, nearly missing out on other talks due to their enthusiastic engagement.

As the day went on, a series of presentations about enhancing epistemic agency in students was run. With presenters joining us from all over the world the talks where inspiring, being a dialogue between audience and presenter rather than a lecture-like presentation. The panel discussion I had the fortune to participate in was a prime example of such a dialogue: questions and comments by the audience were fluently integrated into the conversation, making it engaging and knowledgeable.

Additionally, students were given the opportunity to present their ideas to us and their fellow students. Their topics were incredibly sophisticated, for example discussing how multi-lingual AI-learning could improve the performance of autonomous cars in the future. The general atmosphere was buzzing, with the staff of the Royal Society of Chemistry providing excellent catering service. I left this Event exhausted by the number of new perspectives I learned about that day, but at the same time I was eagerly excited to continue working in this vibrant, expanding and important area that is epistemic insight and interdisciplinarity.

Nik Zuppa is studying BSc Psychology (second year) here at Canterbury Christ Church University.

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