The news was originally published in Vantaan Sanomat newspaper on 7.9.2023. Read the original article here: https://www.vantaansanomat.fi/paikalliset/6191468

The Smart Machine! family day will be held at Heureka on Saturday, September 23rd.

– The goal is to make artificial intelligence, technology, robotics and programming more familiar and accessible. We want to get people excited about these topics and introduce them in an experiential way. Awareness grows at the event and topics can be approached with a low threshold, says Jutta Kujasalo, Heureka's program production manager.

The event features various workshops and exhibition stations. At the event, for example, you can teach an AI-powered robotic arm to recognize and pick up objects through coding. The goal is to get the robotic arm to pick up and place objects into their own containers.

– Teaching artificial intelligence is a cornerstone in the AI phenomenon.

Also included is a LEGO-Spike workshop and a Moving Skeleton exhibition station. In the LEGO workshop, a LEGO robot is programmed to perform a small task. You can also customize the robot to your liking.

The skeletons, in turn, are plastic skeletons depicting a dinosaur skeleton, whose limbs and tail are made to move through programming.

– All workshops and stations are suitable for all ages. Families can come together to try out the stations. Coding is beginner-friendly. In addition, there is staff available at the stations.

All workshops and stations are suitable for all ages.

– No prior knowledge or experience is needed; an open mind is enough, Kujasalo explains.

The event also includes a Binary Code bead workshop, where you can get acquainted with the language of ones and zeros through jewelry. The language of ones and zeros refers to the sequences of ones and zeros that make up binary code, which computers process.

In the workshop, you can get more information about binary code and the meanings formed by them. Beads are threaded onto a ribbon forming the first letters of your own name. You can take the jewelry home from the event.

– We want people to take something home with them and for the thought process that starts at the event to continue even after the visit.

According to Kujasalo, it is typical for Heureka to combine art elements with science and technology education in one way or another.

– This also brings in those who may not initially be primarily interested in science and technology.

Additionally, the event features a functional exhibition station from Heureka's partner CSC, the Center for Scientific Computing, where you can find artificial intelligence, solve word puzzles, play games on your mobile phone, color pictures and try to teach AI to recognize poses, and see if you can tie it in knots.

– Our partners bring their own expertise and content to the event. Visitors also get to talk directly with the experts who use artificial intelligence in their work.

The event is part of the Generation AI consortium project funded by the Strategic Research Council, which includes several universities, the Joensuu Science Association, Heureka, and Finland's Code School.

The consortium includes research institutes as well as organizations that produce events for schools and families. The consortium project creates methods for both students and teachers as well as the general public to increase AI understanding.

At Heureka, you can test the project's methods or learning materials that inspire learning with visitors, and the science center serves as a platform for technology education research.

– Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of everyday life. Through these projects, the topic becomes more familiar, misconceptions are dispelled, problems are highlighted, and AI skills and understanding are increased, Kujasalo says.

– The target groups are students, teachers, children, young people and families.

The Smart Machine! event will be held at Heureka on 23.9. from 10 to 18 o'clock.