STUDIUM GENERALE
Studium Generale offers a programme of lectures, debates and talkshows, lecture series, art, film, theatre and we organise the biennial PAS Festival.
Scroll down for an overview of our upcoming (English) program.
Heb je interesse in ons Nederlandstalig programma? Verander rechtsboven de taal van de website.
Opera Zuid: Die Dreigroschenoper | Opera Visit
SUN 16 NOVEMBER, 14:00 (time mentioned in our booklet before, was wrong)
Vrijthof Theatre, Vrijthof 47
Tickets (only for students)
Die Dreigroschenoper is a play with music, in a prologue and eight scenes, based on The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay. It is titillating entertainment that challenges the audience to look critically at society and morality. Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht wrote this satirical play with music, which is full of social criticism, in 1928. Almost a hundred years later, the work is still as sharp and topical as ever.
The Evolution of War and Peace | Tans Lecture
MON 17 NOVEMBER, 20:00
Franz Palm Lecture Hall, Tongersestraat 53
Register (free)
When asked whether they like to engage in warfare, most people answer no. When asked whether there will always be wars, most people answer yes. In order to explain this paradox, Carel van Schaik will examine the evolution of war from its animal origins through human evolution until the present time, and derive the conditions favouring war and peaceful coexistence.
Homo Heuristicus: Decision Making in an Uncertain World | Joan Muysken Lecture
MON 24 NOV, 20:00
Auditorium, Minderbroedersberg 4-6
Register (free)
Can less be more? In a world characterised by uncertainty, simple rules — known as heuristics — often lead to better decisions than complex algorithms. These heuristics are not only more efficient but also easier to understand and apply. This talk explores the concept of the adaptive toolbox (the repertoire of heuristics available to individuals or organisations) and examines its ecological rationality — how these heuristics leverage the structure of the environment to achieve effective outcomes. Gerd Gigerenzer will demonstrate when less can be more, and why.
Resilience or Eco Terrorism? Why Visual Framing of Climate Activism Matters | Lecture
MON 1 DECEMBER, 20:00
Auditorium, Minderbroedersberg 4-6
Register (free)
From halted traffic to orange-sprayed paintings, climate civil disobedience relies on eye-catching acts to highlight the urgency of climate change action. But while visuals can amplify the message, controversy may undermine support. The negative news framing of such activism across Europe weakens its political impact. Activists thus turn to visual social media platforms to reclaim their narrative.
Knock Out Comedy | Comedy Visit
MON 1 DECEMBER, 20:30
Vrijthof Theatre, Vrijthof 47
Tickets (only for students)
Expect pure stand-up comedy: the best jokes, the most brilliant characters, the loudest roast-jokes and razor-sharp observations. An evening of the Knock-Out Comedy Crew guarantees, above all, lots of laughter and unadulterated stand-up comedy, with no common thread. With a line-up of five English-speaking comedians, each show is different.
Light Darkness Light | Film & Talk
TUE 2 DECEMBER, 19:30
Lumière Cinema, Bassin 88
Tickets
After living in darkness for nearly 40 years, Ian Nichols, a blind Anglican priest, becomes one of the first people in the world to receive an experimental bionic eye implant. At the age of 76, Nichols grapples with the profound change, as the groundbreaking scientific advancement offers hope alongside perplexing technical limitations. Audiences see what Nichols sees, as director Landon Van Soest presents impressionistic visualisations of Nichols’ enhanced sight, inviting questions about the nature of our perception.
AI, Human Rights and Warfare | Human Rights Lecture
MON 8 DECEMBER, 20:00
Auditorium, Minderbroedersberg 4-6
Register (free)
In this talk, Jessica Dorsey examines the human rights implications of AI systems, particularly in the context of armed conflict. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into conflict settings, the lines between war and peace, and between military and policing, blur. This raises urgent concerns about accountability, privacy and the erosion of rights, both in conflict zones and in everyday life.
