Gastvortrag Prof. Dr. Maarten Lamers, Leiden University (NL)

Abstract: The Media Technology group at Leiden University is part of its computer science department. However, it approaches computer science and digital life in a non-traditional manner. Through small, often playful experiments it aims to find new research directions and explore unconventional hypotheses. Can bacteria and fungi be used for procedural content generation? Does Botox facial treatment reduce affective expressiveness, and can we explore that digitally? Does memory retention decrease when we move into virtual reality, and vice versa? A sampling of research projects illustrates the unconventional approach of the group to science, and opens the door to discussion.

Maarten H. Lamers is assistant professor at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (Leiden University, The Netherlands). As cross-disciplinary researcher, he combines computer science with other interests and playful thinking. Themes that reappear in his research and lecturing are artificial intelligence, robot-human interaction, and hybrid bio-digital systems. He holds an MSc in computer science from Utrecht University (1993), and a PhD in neural networks and environmental epidemiology from Leiden University (2001). Maarten was listed as one of the 100 most interesting nerds in The Netherlands by a major national publisher. He co-founded a worldwide leading laser game brand, for which he still designs game technology, and was a technical game producer for thirteen seasons of Netherlands’ most popular adventure TV-show.