Vilnius University (VU), together with the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (LSC), presents a new initiative – the VU Discussion Club, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and creating an open intellectual space for the academic community and the public.
“We want to create a university space where people can exercise their minds and shape deeper thoughts,” says the author of the initiative, VU LSC biophysics PhD student Ieva Šiugždaitė, adding that the university should be not only a home of knowledge but also of active thinking. The goal of the Discussion Club is to bring academic knowledge closer to society by turning complex ideas into accessible conversations rather than closed discourses.
“The interdisciplinary VU Discussion Club is a wonderful opportunity to look at the complex world of science from different perspectives. Imagine a space where representatives of the natural, social, and humanities sciences explore a specific scientific phenomenon. It’s not professions that meet here – it’s ideas and different viewpoints. This is a space to express, create, and grow. An idea long in the making has finally taken shape with the help of young colleagues and is now launching its first event. I invite all curious, community-minded, and open-minded people to join,” says Professor Eglė Lastauskienė, Chair of the Vilnius University Senate.
VU Institute of International Relations and Political Science (TSPMI) Vice-Dean for Studies, Associate Professor Lina Strupinskienė, agrees that lively, informal spaces are very much needed at the university: “Our university lacks places where people can meet not to discuss agenda items, but to share ideas and get to know each other better. To co-teach or prepare a research proposal, you first need to know what the other person is interested in, what they study, and whether your enthusiasm, pace, and goals align. I’m sure there are many interesting people at Vilnius University, so I hope the VU Discussion Club will not only be an opportunity to learn something new but also serve as a starting point for new collaborations.”
The first VU Discussion Club event, “Prediction Error”, will take place on December 4 from 18:00 to 20:00 at the VU Central Campus, Aula Parva Hall (Universiteto St. 3, Vilnius).
A doctor rushes to save a patient, convinced it’s a heart attack – but the real cause is something entirely different. A journalist firmly believes his article will become a sensation, yet it goes completely unnoticed. In our brains, neurons expect a strong response but receive none – this moment of dissonance can be a powerful trigger for growth, though sometimes it can have the opposite effect. Every unexpected experience is a prediction error that shapes how we think, act, and understand the world.
The phenomenon will be discussed from different perspectives by:
– Prof. Berent Prakken (Utrecht University) – on the importance of integrating error in scientific research. He also leads Utrecht University’s Public Dialogues discussion club.
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karolis Ažukaitis (VU Faculty of Medicine), pediatric nephrologist and researcher – on prediction errors in medical diagnostics.
– Assoc. Prof. Liutauras Ulevičius (VU Faculty of Communication) – on disinformation paranoia and how readers react to conflicting information.
– Prof. Urtė Neniškytė (VU Life Sciences Center), neuroscientist – on how the brain deals with surprises.
– Dr. Paulius Rimkevičius (VU Faculty of Philosophy), philosopher – on the philosophical origins of prediction error.
The discussion will be held in English.
The event is open to everyone, but registration is required (by December 1). Due to high interest, registration is now closed. Those who did not manage to register are invited to follow the discussion remotely via the Microsoft Teams platform or on YouTube.
The VU Discussion Club meetings are planned to take place monthly.
Organizers’ contacts:
Ieva Šiugždaitė – Science Programme Coordinator, Initiative Author –
Bernadeta Kaminskaitė – Communications and Public Outreach Coordinator –
Igor Nagula – Partnerships and Logistics Coordinator –