Chalk Talks: Rethinking Curiosity at Forum Knowledge Göttingen

Rethinking Curiosity: Science Up Close at Forum Knowledge

What makes people curious? How does the impulse to pursue an open question, acquire new information, and perceive one's environment more attentively arise? In the Chalk Talk with Prof. Dr. Nivedita Mani on Friday, November 6, 2026, a topic will be at the center that directly connects research and everyday life.

Research with Chalk and Board

At Forum Knowledge, visitors experience science in a deliberately immediate form. The Chalk Talks forgo modern presentation technology and rely solely on chalk and board. This creates a concentrated event atmosphere, where thoughts become visible step by step and the audience closely follows the scientific explanations.

How Curiosity Influences Our Learning

Prof. Dr. Nivedita Mani provides insights into the work of the Research Training Group 2906 on curiosity. The interdisciplinary research program investigates the biological, neuropsychological, and computational foundations of curiosity. Among other things, the focus is on questions such as what triggers curiosity, how it changes over the course of development, and what effects it has on attention, learning, and knowledge acquisition.

A Leading Expert in Language and Learning Research

Nivedita Mani is a professor of psychology of language at the University of Göttingen. Her research focuses on word learning and word recognition in young children, as well as the interplay between environment, interests, and learning motivation. She was elected to the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen in 2017 and received the Science Prize from the Fritz-Behrens Foundation.

Experience Science at the Göttingen Knowledge Museum

The event series connects scientific expertise with an open targeting of audiences. The format is suitable for people interested in psychology, language development, learning, and modern research, as well as for those who want to experience science in an unusual, personal way. The atmosphere thrives on the direct exchange between research and the public.

Conclusion: An Evening for Those Who Keep Asking Questions

The Chalk Talk at Forum Knowledge makes curiosity itself an event experience. Visitors can expect a free insight into current Göttingen research, vividly conveyed and without technical distance. Those who enjoy experiencing science live and want to give space to their own questions will find an inspiring start to the Chalk Talk series.

Official Channels of Prof. Dr. Nivedita Mani:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• TikTok: no official profile found

Sources:

• kulturis.online – Event Information
• Georg-August-University Göttingen – RTG 2906 Curiosity
• University of Göttingen – Profile of Nivedita Mani
• University of Göttingen – Press Information on the Graduate School of Curiosity