New Service for the Science Bar
The Bar des sciences, Montpellier’s premier science culture event organized by the University of Montpellier’s Science Culture Department, is back for a new season. The first public participatory debate will take place on January 25 at 8:30 p.m. at Le Dôme brasserie. The theme of the evening? “Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence?” And the rest of the season will follow each month…
Regulars are now familiar with the format: from January through June, the University of Montpellier hosts a participatory, community-focused discussion once a month, where scientists from all disciplines come to engage with the public. Admission is free, and the events take place in the welcoming setting of Le Dôme brasserie, a long-standing partner of this event. After a year in 2023 marked by the emergence of ChatGPT, the first event of the season—taking place on Thursday, January 25, at 8:30 p.m.—will explore a highly topical issue: “Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence?”
Season Kickoff
Just like the steam engine or electricity in the past, artificial intelligence is transforming our world and our society, making it one of the most strategic technologies of the 21st century. Consumer goods giants, as well as manufacturers of tech products, home appliances, and cars, are systematically integrating AI into their products. It lies at the heart of the future of medicine, industry, the banking and insurance sectors, defense, and aerospace. As for the advent of generative AI, it is revolutionizing our relationship with machines and fueling an endless debate between technophiles and technophobes.
So should we fear AI, or should we embrace it? To answer this question, four experts will engage in a discussion with the audience:
- Alain Chavanieu, researcher atthe Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules;
- Mathieu Lafourcade, a researcher at the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics (Lirmm);
- David Morquin, hospital physician and medical director of the Center for Research and Integration of Digital Health Tools (Erios) at the Montpellier University Hospital;
- Joseph Salmon, a mathematics researcher atthe Alexander Grothendieck Institute in Montpellier and a junior member ofthe Institut universitaire de France.
The season is co-produced by theUM scientific outreach departmentsUM its partners: INRAE, INSERM, and IRD.
This event is part of the Halles de l’IA series.
One meeting per month
The public can visit the Bar des sciences every month at Le Dôme brasserie to enjoy the new program offered by the University of Montpellier’s Science Outreach Department and all of its scientific partners:
- February 29: Palavas Underwater: Science Fiction or Reality?
- March 14: A Healthy Gut Microbiome for a Healthy Mind?
- April 25: Agroecology: Adaptation Challenges Related to Climate Change.
- May 16: Horses Then and Now: A Whole Story!
- June 13: Biodiversity: The Migration of Animal and Plant Populations Since the Dawn of Time.
- Find the full program on the Bar des Sciences website .