Exploring research with all the senses

Can I see with my tongue? How do you travel to Nepal when blind? And how do plants perceive their environment? Treffpunkt Science City¡¯s current spring programme offers visitors countless opportunities to dive into the realm of the senses. The first Experience Sunday on 4 March focused on human senses ¨C and attracted a huge amount of interest. Around 3,000 visitors took the opportunity to discover more about their own senses first-hand.

Plants and animals sense things differently

It¡¯s not only humans who can accurately perceive their environment: plants and animals also send and receive information. For example, ETH Zurich is conducting research on how plants communicate with each other and with insects. At the Experience Sunday on 11 March, researchers will provide insights into the secret language of plants, explain how fish and earthworms see, and discuss how we can use touch to alleviate dogs¡¯ fears.

How senses can be deceived or replaced

Modern technology makes everything possible: we can see with our tongues, smell images in the cinema or sleep well thanks to beeps ¨C moving from reality to sensory deception often only requires a small step. But can sensory organs also be fully replaced? On the third Experience Sunday on 25 March, researchers will show how people can use a hand prosthesis to go cycling again despite having no sense of touch, and how people with visual impairments can use their smartphone to ¡°see¡±.

The appeal of good food

Eating also involves our senses, and we need to find the right balance between enjoyment and health. During the panel discussion on 21 March, ETH Professor Michael Siegrist, restaurateur and TV chef Ren¨¦ Schudel, psychologist Erika Toman and Miss Switzerland 2010 Kerstin Cook will talk about the hype surrounding food.