Science & Cocktails: Randomness in science and daily life

Science & Cocktails is a series of public talks by scientists with live music and smoky dry-ice chilled cocktails in your hand. This event will be in English. Be the first to know when the next Science & Cocktails Amsterdam event(s) will take place by subscribing to our newsletter.

19:30h: doors open for cocktails
19:45h: Graeme James (live music)
20:30h: Klaas Landsman (talk)
Event in English, semi-seated

Randomness in science and daily life
What does randomness mean?  What is the meaning of probability? Does absolute randomness really exist? Can we know that some phenomenon is random?  Do people get cancer by chance?

Randomness and in its wake chance, probability, and coincidence, are among the most elusive concepts we have to deal with. Everybody knows lucky examples of coincidences, like meeting your future partner or an old friend by chance. Quantum physicists claim that absolute randomness exists. Biologists say that evolution originates in random genetic mutations.  Mathematicians have proposed a totally paradoxical definition of a random number. What does this all mean? 

Klaas Landsman gives both an enlightening introduction and a firm vision on all these subjects, which will touch and give new ideas to everyone with an interest in science and philosophy.

This event is an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) with the support of NWA route 2. Science & Cocktails Amsterdam is presented in cooperation with Paradiso Amsterdam and acknowledges the support of New Scientist NL.