Explore the future in an interactive AI-experience
Library
- Date
- 22 April 2026
- Time
- 15:00 -18:30
- Location
- University Library
- Room
- Laboratorium & the Salon
Take part in Ancestors, an award-winning interactive group experience at the University Library. Use your smartphone to build a family line of future descendants together with other participants. Make choices, interact with those around you, and discover how climate change, technology and social challenges shape the world of tomorrow.
The programme and how to join
-
15:00-16:15 Ancestors round 1
-
16:15-17:00 Talk & discussion on future thinking
-
17:15-18:30 Ancestors round 2
Ancestors runs in two rounds, with a talk and discussion on the theme of future-thinking in between. You sign up for one round. Depending on which round you choose, you can either join Ancestors first and then attend the talk; or start with the talk and join the Ancestors-experience afterwards. The talk is also open to attend on its own, without taking part in Ancestors. Spots per round are limited, so registration is required.
During the discussion, we will explore different ways of giving the future a voice, together with Dr Daan Oostveen and Mare de Wit.
Dr. Daan Oostveen aks a simple yet urgent question: who are we in a world in crisis? He shows how climate change, new technologies and social changes are transforming our ways of life. Oostveen is Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht and editor-in-chief of Future Humanities. At the UvA he teaches the honours course “Future Belonging”, in which students explore how ideas of belonging are shifting under the influence of ecological crises and innovations such as AI and big data.
Since 2025, Mare de Wit has been Future Ambassador for Water and Climate Adaptation on the staff of the Delta Commissioner. She makes it clear and open for discussion whether current choices prevent future problems or actually create opportunities. Mare de Wit initiated “Future at the Table”: an inspiring and concrete approach to structurally involving, securing and leveraging the interests of tomorrow in policy development, thus quite literally giving the future a seat at the table.
Practical information
Make sure your smartphone is fully charged before you arrive. During the experience, you will be asked to take and share a selfie as part of the performance. You will be able to choose between Dutch and English during this performance, but please be aware there might be other participants that only speak English.
