Mestizajes / 3rd International Conference on Literature and Science

What is matter? How can a group of atoms lead to life? How is it possible that a cluster of neurons makes us conscious? The answer to these questions varies depending on whether they are analysed from the point of view of science, literature or humanities. The link between these disciplines, however, is closer than we think. In this context, the Mestizajes programme aims to foster intellectual diversity and break away from hyper-specialisation of knowledge, so that literature, science and humanities can complement each other for mutual enrichment.

Prominent professionals like writer Luisa Etxenike, physicist Jose Edelstein, philologist Jordi Fortuny and others will try to promote dialogue between these three forms of knowledge at the 3rd International Conference on Literature and Science. This time it will focus on matter, life and consciousness.

The talks, that are open to the public, will take place on 23, 24 and 25 October at San Telmo Museum in San Sebastian, from 6-9pm. All the talks will be in Spanish and admission is free.

Mestizajes is organised by the Donostia International Physics Centre (DIPC), in partnership with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Materials Physics Centre (CFM), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).

Programme:

Monday, 23 October 2017

• 6pm – 7.20pm Matter, Literature and Science

Luisa Etxenike, writer, and José Edelstein, Department of Particle Physics of the University of Santiago de Compostela

Moderator: Gustavo A. Schwartz, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) CFM / DIPC – San Sebastian

• 7.20pm – 7.40pm Break
• 7.40pm – 9pm Matter and Writing: Return Trips

Menchu Gutiérrez, poet, and Germán Sierra, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of Santiago de Compostela

Moderator: Carlos López de Silanes de Miguel, Neurologist and Doctor of History of Science at the University Hospital of Torrejón (Madrid)

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

• 6pm – 6.40pm: Language and Thinking: The Search for the Perfect Language

Jordi Fortuny, Department of Catalan Philology and General Linguistics of the University of Barcelona

• 6.40 pm – 7.20pm: Non-linear Dynamics, Forks and Chance in Digital Literature

Belén Gache, writer and poet, Madrid

Moderator: Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo, Basque Centre for Biophysics – Department of Logic and Philosophy of the University of the Basque Country

• 7.20pm – 7.40pm: Break
• 7.40pm – 9pm: Evolution, Life, Complexity and Consciousness

Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias, Director of the Chair of Scientific Culture of the UPV/EHU, and Xurxo Mariño, Professor of Physiology at the University of A Coruña

Moderator: José Edelstein, Department of Particle Physics of the University of Santiago de Compostela

Wednesday, 25 October 2017

• 6pm – 7.20pm Material Nature of Consciousness: Bonds of Music and Poetry

Elixabete Etxebeste, Music Philosophy and Aesthetics and Ethnomusicology at Musikene, and Amalia Iglesias, philologist, poet and cultural journalist

Moderator: Víctor Bermúdez, Donostia International Physics Centre

• 7.20pm – 7.40pm Break
• 7.40 – 8.20 Neuroscience, Reading and Literature

Manuel Carreiras, Scientific Director at Basque Centre on Cognition, Brain and Language

• 7.20pm – 9pm Neuroconscious Literature: Poets Thinking that they Think, Vicente Luis Mora, writer, poet and literary critic

Moderator: Isabel Jaén Portillo, Portland State University – USA