Mindlab is a theatre performance that aims to spark a conversation within the university; about integrity and social safety. A conversation that provides depth and a new perspective on what is going on, how we treat each other and our own behaviour.
Are you open to seeing, instead of looking away? To be confronted with what you would rather not feel? And maybe you are even curious about your own blind spots?
Then be sure to come to Mindlab. The theatre performance that touches the heart of science.
Confronting
Watching
Listening and learning
A starting point for conversation
In November, the first colleagues were able to attend a performance. Afterwards, we asked what Mindlab released:
‘Well played, very interesting. And food for thought.’
Staff member
‘When you see the same thing with several colleagues, and discuss it among yourselves, it makes the threshold to do something about it lower.’
Manager
“Definitely worth the effort to come and sit, and take that moment to reflect.“
Employee
Mindlab: starting point for conversation
From TU Delft, we contribute to solving urgent societal challenges. To achieve sustainable innovation, good cooperation in a safe working atmosphere is indispensable.
Mindlab is going to help us achieve this. The performance is based on stories from scientific research reality. It is about leadership, social safety (scientific) integrity and the balance between research and education. Important topics, which need to be discussed in order to create a safe and inspiring working and study environment together. Mindlab offers a collective experience, a shared space for everyone's perspective, a common language.
Agenda
Monday 20 January 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Fac. EEMCS |
Monday 20 January 14:00-17:00 | Fac. AS |
Tuesday 21 January 10.00-13.00 uur | University-wide |
Tuesday 21 January | Fac. AS |
Wednesday 22 January 10.00-13.00 uur | Fac. CEG |
Wednesday 22 January | Fac. EEMCS |
Thursday 23 January | University-wide |
Thursday 23 January | QuTech |
Friday 24 January | Fac. ME |
Friday 27 January | Fac. AE |
| Monday 27 January 14.00-17.00 uur | University-wide |
Tuesday 28 January 10.00-13.00 uur | Fac. EEMCS |
Tuesday 28 January 14.00-17.00 uur | Fac. AE |
Wednesday 29 January 10.00-13.00 uur | Fac. ME |
Thursday 30 January | QuTech |
Thursday 30 January | Fac. CEG |
Friday 31 January | Fac. EEMCS |
Monday 3 February 10.00-13.00 uur | University-wide |
Monday 3 February 14.00-17.00 uur | Fac. IDE |
Tuesday 4 February 10.00-13.00 uur | Fac. AE |
Tuesday 4 February 14.00-17.00 uur | Fac. BK |
Thursday 6 February | Fac. BK |
Thursday 6 February | Fac. EEMCS |
Friday 7 February | Fac. BK |
Note: The performance is at Lijm & Cultuur, next to the campus and is Dutch spoken, with English subtitles
Mindlab; a collaboration between universities and theatre makers
Mindlab is an artistic interpretation of real situations from the university context. Developed by TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk (TMRK), on the initiative of Prof Dr Ellen Giebels of the University of Twente. Prof Dr Giebels, together with top researchers from the University of Twente and the University of Utrecht, formed the sounding board team for the development of the theatre production.
Initiator Prof Dr Giebels (UT) when asked how she came up with the idea for the performance: ‘Around me, I feel a collective dissatisfaction growing more and more. Because even though there are initiatives such as codes of conduct and paying less attention to the amount of publications, in part those initiatives are a paper reality. If you want to change a culture, you have to do it in different ways.
TMRK conducted extensive literature research and interviewed many staff from multiple universities to develop the show. Pictured: Daphne Goudsmit, business director of TMRK, and Walter Supèr, artistic director of TMRK
FAQ
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What is Mindlab?
Mindlab is the combination of a high-profile theatre performance and an in-depth follow-up discussion in small groups guided by discussion facilitators (the Mindlab Café). The performance is given by the company TheaterMakers Radio Kootwijk and is specifically aimed at the academic context. Mindlab appeals to what touches us in our underbelly, in what makes us happy, sad, uncomfortable or angry, in what we find deeply important. Mindlab immerses us all in theatre and exposes the sometimes extreme, often subtle aspects of social (in)safety and the impact of our behaviour on others, and makes this discussable in a safe way. It is neither a documentary about TU Delft nor an educational performance, but a science fiction thriller that above all aims to loosen and deepen the conversation afterwards. With five top actors and an intriguing story. And afterwards, a conversation about what you have seen and experienced, in which we really need you. Because we can only create a pleasant working climate together, no voice excepted.
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How was Mindlab developed?
The project originated from a collaboration of TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk with Prof Dr Ellen Giebels (UTwente) and Prof Dr Naomi Ellemers (Utrecht University), both of whom have made the topic of social safety and good working climate a topic in their work. Together with Theo Toonen (UTwente) and Madelijn Strick (UU), they took the initiative to have TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk develop this performance Mindlab. It is an artistic interpretation of actually happened situations from the university, based on extensive literature research and interviews with staff from various universities.
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What is the theatre performance about?
Mindlab is a theatre performance that goes to the heart of science. About truth-telling, values and truthfulness within the institution of ‘the university’. A science fiction thriller that can happen to us all if we dare to live our own truth and impact of actions in full transparency. When cognitive dissonance reduction has left our minds...Veni, Vidi, Vici? A challenging theatre performance for anyone who shares with heart and soul much of their life within the university. For the one who ever wants to say ‘it was really worth all the effort’.
‘You are not who you think you are. You are what you do.’
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What is the objective of the theatre performance Mindlab and the follow-up discussion?
The theatre performance Mindlab is ‘a performance that touches the heart of science and wants to spark conversation about who we are, what we (stand for) and where we want to go’, according to initiators Ellen Giebels and Theo Toonen of the University of Twente, and Naomi Ellemers and Madelijn Strick of the University of Utrecht. Mindlab aims to spark conversations about what is needed to create and maintain a socially safe, honourable and inspiring climate within the university. A climate in which diverse employees come into their own and receive recognition and appreciation; a climate where integrity is paramount. Mindlab inspires and challenges you to think and discuss - together - what is important in your daily work, career and life - inside and outside the university. Mindlab is threshold-reducing, gripping and unique.
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Who is the performance intended for?
Mindlab is intended for all university employees.