How to reclaim your attention in the digital age
How many times a day are you distracted? How many times a minute?
Your attention span is over-demanded in the digital age. Constant messages, light and sound from screens drain the tank. In a world where attention spans are getting shorter, and distractions are everywhere, can we control our own focus? Tonight, we will explore what hijacks our attention and what we can do to (re)train our focus muscles.
Get some context in a short interactive talk by neuropsychologist Surya Gayet, then dive straight into discussions with your fellow audience members while getting bombarded with distractions for all your senses.
Together we’ll discuss what, if anything, our attention is really worth.
We start our evening with pizza. Walk in, have a slice and get to know your fellow audience members in an informal setting. At 19:30 we will kick off the programme.
* Please note: this event is an invitation to talk about shared and diverse experiences with the modern cultural landscape. The title of this event is not to be taken literally.
Critical Mass – Studium Generale
How does our society work? Why is it the way that it is? Hey – and if we don’t like it, what can we do about it? Critical Mass is Studium Generale’s experimental space at Theater de Veste. We bring in experts to unpick society’s biggest problems. Then it’s over to you. Can you apply what you’ve just learned? Work with other audience members to solve a specially designed challenge. Maybe together, you can change the world.
| Date & time | Monday 11 May 2026 – 19:00 to 21:00 |
| Location | Theatercafé, Theater de Veste, Asvest 1 |
| Language | English |
| Entrance | €7,50 (student) / €15,00 (other) |
Surya Gayet
Dr. Surya Gayet is assistant professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Utrecht.
His general research interest revolves around elucidating how the human brain interprets the plethora of sensory input that is registered by our sensors on a moment-to-moment basis, ultimately leading to a conscious experience of the world around us. For more info, click here.
Omgaan met stress is iets wat je kunt leren. De Mentale Agenda wijst je de weg naar concrete stappen: leer omgaan met spanning, ontdek wat je energie geeft, en krijg inzicht in je stress-signalen. Alles op één plek, laagdrempelig en dichtbij.