The digital revolution and artificial intelligence (AI) have become part and parcel of our daily lives. These technological developments are having a huge impact on our society and future. But what do young people really know about AI and how it will change their world? The brand new "Your Technology of Tomorrow" educational program has a mission to make young people aware of AI and involve them in this revolution. During the weekend of Zpannend Zernike, the program will be presented for the first time at the Science Truck. On Saturday, Sept. 30, it will be located on Deusinglaan near the UMCG, and on Sunday the truck will move to the Zernike campus.
'Your Technology of Tomorrow' is an initiative of the ELSA AI lab Noord-Nederland (ELSA-NN) , a consortium of research institutions, social partners, businesses, patients and citizens who together are researching and want to contribute to responsible development and implementation of AI in healthcare. The UMCG, as ELSA-NN's lead agency, will implement the program together with the Jantina Tammes School of the University of Groningen, the AI Hub North Netherlands, the municipality of Groningen and the Hanzehogeschool. By offering the "Your Technology of Tomorrow" program in the science truck, young people can learn about AI in a playful and interactive way and complex technology is made understandable and accessible.
Since 2005, the science truck of the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen has been driving around the Netherlands and Northwest Germany to interest schoolchildren in engineering and science. The truck visits 120 schools and events annually, reaching 25,000 students a year. With the program 'Your Energy of Tomorrow,' visitors learned about all facets of energy in recent years. Now, with "Your Technology of Tomorrow," a program on artificial intelligence in the world around us is being added to the curriculum.
Mirjam Plantinga, ELSA-NN project leader and initiator, explains, "With the 'Your Technology of Tomorrow' program, we aim not only to increase young people's knowledge about AI, but also to actively involve them in its development and application. Our vision is to prepare a new generation for the digital future, while together with our partners we profile the Northern Netherlands as a hub for AI expertise and innovation. I am enormously excited by the collaboration with the science truck. Together we can reach a large group of young people."
The addition of the "Your Technology of Tomorrow" program to the science truck will be formally ratified on Thursday, Sept. 28, during the North's AI Congress, taking place at the Groninger Forum. A few days later, the truck in its new outfit will be on display for the first time during Zpannend Zernike, on Saturday at Deusinglaan 1 during the public afternoon at the UMCG Medical Faculty and on Sunday on the Zernike campus.
