Annual LAMPA Conversation festival took place on August 21-22 this year in multiple locations in Cēsis and online. It included more than 200 events on important topics. Roberts Rimša, leading researcher from ISSP UL’s Laboratory of Prototyping of Electronic and Photonic Devices participated in the discussion "Cyberpeople 2030: Respect for Natural Evolution vs. the Possibilities of Technology to Improve Humans" organized by the University of Latvia and Radio NABA on the Science Café / Discussion FM stage.
Other participants of the discussion were Jānis Liepiņš, leading researcher, UL Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Signe Mežinska, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Leading Researcher, UL Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Member of the Board of the Association "Health Projects for Latvia", and Leo Seļāvo, Professor, Faculty of Computing, University of Latvia.
The discussion tried to find the status quo in 2021 at the time when Neuralink chips are becoming a reality and phones are our second brain. The following topics were discussed: Is it acceptable to improve our genes, insert chips in the brain to improve our daily lives? Are we ready to become robot-humans? And how far are we from reality seen in the Matrix movies?
In our forever-changing world, the LAMPA Conversation festival creates an environment and an impulse for personal growth. The festival offerings enable one to overcome apathy – two uplifting days, during which one can sharpen one’s mind, expand one’s horizons, challenge one’s assumptions. It is an inspiring and energizing platform for everyone, who has something to say. Everyone, who wants to learn and talk about issues important to Latvia, Europe, and the world.
The team behind the festival: DOTS Foundation for an Open Society, Swedbank Latvija, Cēsis District Municipality , communication management agency Deep White, ad agency Armadillo, and the British Council in Latvia. The festival is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation, Society Integration Foundation, German Federal Foreign Office, European Commission Representation in Latvia, as well as enterprises Latvijas Finieris, Enefit, and SCHWENK Latvija.
Recording of the discussion in Latvian available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV6QNeHrCQ0
