What if the most powerful weapon in modern warfare isn’t a missile or a tank, but the way we think? As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the battlefield has expanded beyond borders — into our very minds. Cognitive warfare is the use of psychological tactics – through disinformation and other digital tools – to influence human behavior, shape public perception, sway political outcomes, and even disrupt societies. What do we know about cognitive warfare, how does it change our (military) defense strategies, and can we protect ourselves against it?
On Monday, May 19, during the Pint of Science festival, Science Café Nijmegen will bring together two experts – Marie Šafář Postma and Peter Pijpers – to shed light onto diverse aspects of cognitive warfare. Šafář Postma (TiU) is professor of Computational Cognitive Science and investigates how artificial intelligence can be used to protect us against cognitive manipulation. She develops, among other things, AI tools designed to detect and counteract the online spread of disinformation. Peter Pijpers (NLDA, UvA) is a colonel of the Dutch military and associate professor of Cyber Operations. His research focus is on the legal and cognitive dimension of influence operations in cyberspace, below the threshold of the use of force. Together with the public, they will discuss how warfare has become everyone’s business!
To soothe the battle of thoughts, Danny Keen will accompany the evening with disarming psychedelic improvisations on guitar and V-Guitar systems.
Scientists /8pm: Marie Šafář Postma (TiU) and Peter Pijpers (NLDA, UvA)
Music /7.30pm: Danny Keen
Moderator: Ronald Kleiss
Time: Monday May 19th 2025, 7.30/8 – 10 pm
Venue: The Shamrock, Smetiusstraat 17, Nijmegen
Admission: free admission (until full capacity)
Language: Dutch
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