Four Public Engagement Seed Fund applications honoured

William Beckerson: ''With our project, we want to get participants interested in science by teaching them more about scientific research through ‘Zombie Ants’. To this end, we have created an immersive VR video game, Zombie Ants VR, which guides players through the life cycle of Ophiocordyceps, a fungus that lives in ants. With this funding, we will adapt the game originally developed in the US for a Dutch audience and test whether it can improve science literacy.‘’

By 2050, up to 80% of Africa's population will have multiple chronic conditions. That poses a challenge to broad economic development and the already fragile health systems there. Martin Heine: ''For our research project in Mozambique, we are working with people with multiple chronic conditions, such as HIV and diabetes. We use photovoice (the use of a camera) as a method to document first-hand experiences of living with multiple chronic conditions and associated health needs. The selected images and discussions based on the photographs form the basis for future research and engage stakeholders through a local photo exhibition.''

Nowadays, a lot of art is (partly) made with Artificial Intellegence. According to Alejandro Lopez-Rincon, this does not have to be a bad thing but can actually have advantages. After all, it does not have to mean replacing artists and human creativity. In this project, scientists and artists are creating a collaboration between AI-based technology and human artistic expression. Eventually, the artworks and the process behind their creation will be exhibited, and a debate on the use of AI in the creative process will take place on the opening night.

Every day, people are confronted - consciously and unconsciously - with questions and considerations about how to treat animals. Are you eating meat tonight? What do you do with mice walking into your house? Simcha Verweij and her colleagues developed a game that creates space for dialogue about and awareness of this complex relationship. Participants turned out to be interested in a small version to take home. With this seed funding, they want to make two new versions of the game: one on location and one at home. Both contribute to reflection on human-animal relationships. The game targets individuals who are usually underrepresented in academic outreach activities.