Andrei Konyaev spoke about scientific thinking in the digital age at the National Centre RUSSIA
The National Centre RUSSIA hosted a live recording of a new
episode of the "Russia Speaks" podcast. The guest was Andrei Konyaev,
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor at the
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Lomonosov Moscow State University, and
publisher of the popular science online outlet "N + 1".
The key topic of the meeting was a critical analysis of
collective intelligence and its influence on the perception of science.
Together with the expert, studio guests discussed how technology is changing
our attention and cognitive processes, touched on the concept of
"beauty" in nature and mathematics, the interaction between science
and art, as well as the role of dystopias in the development of scientific
thought. Participants also learned how to maintain mental hygiene in conditions
of increasing information noise and even why one might explain quantum
mechanics to fish.
In conversation with the podcast host, Anzhelika Kiryan, the
expert also spoke about how the goals of science communication have changed in
the modern world and shared insights into his personal motivation for
educational work.
"In Soviet times, the task of popularising science was
addressed through promoting scientific knowledge itself, whereas today the goal
is not to place science on a pedestal, but at least to ensure that it occupies
a part of people’s attention. It competes for attention — whoever popularises
better gains more 'traffic'. But my personal motivation for engaging in science
is quite different: when I talk about it, I enjoy it, and somewhere in my brain
endorphins are released, so my goal is quite modest," said Andrei Konyaev.
The "Russia Speaks" podcast is an original project
of the National Centre RUSSIA. It continues the tradition of open dialogue on
the most important issues of our time. The project features leading experts,
scientists, and science and culture communicators whose ideas and experience
help to better understand our rapidly changing world. The episode with Andrei
Konyaev will be published on the website russia.ru in the "Livestreams and Videos" section.
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