You’re taking a similar road – says MIT Media Lab expert
Author: Kristýna Vávrová
Professor Agnis Stibe was invited by the Center of Advanced Technology, Faculty of Science of the University of Hradec Králové (CAT PřF UHK), to visit our Faculty. He attended the Faculty from the 5th to the 7th November 2018. Professor Agnis Stibe is an internationally recognised expert in developing persuasive cities and technological advancements that encourage healthy and sustainable living. He worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab (MIT Media Lab), Hewlett-Packard and ESLSCA Business School Paris.
Prof. Stibe is also the founder of the Transforming Wellbeing Theory (TWT). It describes how to permanently change our behaviour, step-by-step, by changing our approach and our environment through technical innovations. “This is my third time to the Czech Republic, but the first time that I can lecture here and share my experience with applied research centres, like the Center of Advanced Technology. It is centres like this one that interest me because it is here that I can test and implement my research, which is somewhat theoretical.”
The programme focused on inter-combining commercialisation and the introduction of scientific research results into practice. One of the highlights was a presentation of research projects on smart solutions and sensory systems run at the Faculty of Science of the University of Hradec Králové. Some of the research projects are based on consultations that took place two years ago: “I met Professor Stibe during one of my business trips to MIT and I am very happy to be able to welcome him at our University. What was a mere common vision two years ago is today a reality thanks to our efforts at the CAT,” describes the start of cooperation Dr Richard Cimler, CAT Head, and Prof. Stibe adds: “It warms my heart to see that this University and the CAT is on the same path as MIT and other similar institutions given the immense efforts they are filtering into developing, designing and applying new technologies. I saw exactly the same in the MIT Media Lab.”
Prof. Stibe also met with representatives of the Center for the Transfer of Biomedical Technologies and the Technological Center of Hradec Králové, and, technological scouts and entrepreneurs. Prof. Stibe shared his experience from when he worked at MIT during one-to-one consultations with research workers from the Faculty of Science of the University of Hradec Králové. He also gave public lectures in which he presented his projects, including those overseen by MIT Media Lab. He homed in on the transfer of good results into practice through so-called start-ups.
Cooperation will be furthered on current and new topics relating to persuasive cities and sensory solutions. Research will be directed at the application of technological advancements in towns and cities, especially in what concerns improved healthy and sustainable living: “Thanks to this visit we can now look forward to directly cooperating more with colleagues at MIT and to consulting our intentions with them,” concludes Dr. Cimler.
