The seminar day at the OWL University of Applied Sciences at the Innovation Campus Lemgo revolved around the future of science and what role machines play in it. Alexander Kuhn took up the topic right at the beginning of the event by presenting the participants with insights and outlooks into the new technical possibilities surrounding the interaction between humans and machines. Alexander Kuhn has been working intensively on equipping work environments with digital assistance systems that enable people with disabilities to master more complex tasks. He also explored the potential solutions that technological advances can create to address the challenges of demographic change, such as the shortage of skilled workers.
Following this, the group of "young leaders" explored SmartFactoryOWL and Patrick Spanier showed those interested the many opportunities for research in robotics, artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0. The participants were particularly interested in testing additive manufacturing methods and digital assistance systems. The final workshop of the afternoon was led by Nikolas Rolf, project manager of TRInnovationOWL, on the topic of "Taking over the machines?". In it, participants were encouraged to independently create and discuss visions of the future with regard to the possibilities of robotics and artificial intelligence.
"We are very happy about the visit of the 'young leaders' to our university and the keen interest of these motivated people in red-hot topics such as artificial intelligence," said a delighted Nikolas Rolf, who was in charge of organizing the day on the part of TH OWL. "The development dynamics of technical possibilities have increased massively in recent years. It's great to see young people engaged, asking the appropriate questions and getting involved in shaping the future at an early stage."
The visit of the "young leaders" has been conceptualized in the context of the transfer project TRInnovationOWL (Bund-Länder-Initiative "Innovative Hochschule") and resulted from a joint impulse of the university presidium of TH OWL by Prof. Dr. Krahl and the management of young leaders GmbH, Mrs. Verena Bauer.