Below is an overview of the events that took place.
1. VIP LECTURES
Thom Brooks – How Not to Save the Planet
In full Fireplace hall of the Hotel Continental a popular-scientific lecture was held “How Not to Save the Planet“. Thom Brooks, Professor and former Dean of the Durham University Law School and author Climate Change Ethics for an Endangered World He presented to the audience his view of the dominant movements engaged in the prevention of climate change, and pointed out some shortcomings of these positions.
2. PANEL - DISCUSSIONS
2.a. Denis Deković and Rajko Samueli Kačić: Introduction of compulsory military service
4 March at Fireplace Sali Hotel Continental The first panel discussion was held as part of the popularization of science project Opatija Coffeehouse Debates in 2024. Organizers from the Association “Cultural Front”, Amadria Park Hotel Opatija and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka focused the panel on Recently announced introduction of compulsory military service in Croatia and on Advantages and disadvantages of this decision, and as speakers – invited panellists military experts and retired Denis Deković i Rajko Samueli Kačić from the Officers' Council of the City of Rijeka.
Filip Grgić, Martino Rossi Monti and Lovro Kralj: Fanatism
U the Continental Hotel Café On April 16, another panel discussion was held. Experts with the Institute of Philosophy i the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka - Doctors of Science Filip Grgić, Martino Rossi Monti i Lovro Kralj – they talked about fanaticism, his historical examples and current examples, his fanatical way of thinking and his impact on contemporary society.
2c. Andy Yang and Michael Shi: Entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence in the framework of human values
This panel discussion was held on Monday, October 7, 2024, in the premises of Business Incubator Hubbazi in Opatija. The event attracted a large audience interested in the ethical, business and social aspects of AI applications. The panel discussion brought together top experts in the field of technology and ethics. That's how the first disputant was. Andy Yang, an experienced entrepreneur and consultant from Silicon Valley, and in the discussion joined him and Michael Shi, Researcher at META, which develops advanced machine learning algorithms. Panel moderated Tomislav Furlanis, an expert on the ethics of artificial intelligence from the University of Ljubljana, while a philosopher and ethicist Ivan Cerovac from the University of Rijeka further enriched the debate with its questions and reflections on the social and political aspects of technology.
3. CHD RIJEKA
3a. Vid Simoniti, Maarten Coëgnarts and Elvio Baccarini: Culture, Art and Society
In the early autumn evening, on September 2, 2024, in Pub Bačva in Rijeka, a panel discussion entitled “Art, culture and society” was held. This discussion, which is organized in cooperation with the Department of Aesthetics of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, attracted the attention of the general public and was held in English. The panellists were prominent experts in the fields of art and philosophy: Vid Simoniti University of Liverpool, Maarten Coëgnarts the University of Antwerp Elvio Baccarini from the University of Rijeka. The aim of the panel discussion was to explore the ways in which different artistic practices contribute to social and cultural changes, especially in the context of social injustices such as racism, sexism and homophobia. Participants discussed the potential of art to influence solutions to current societal challenges, including climate change, ideological conflicts, the immigration crisis, and the impact of artificial intelligence on society.
3.b. Anđelko Milardović: Globalization and Europe at the Crossroads
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, at the premises the Rijeka City Library (Art district Benčić), a presentation of the book was held “Globalisation and Europe at a crossroads: Europe from the will to power to the will to nothing’ Author of the book, prof. dr. sc. Anđelko Milardović, and one of the reviewers, Doc. dr. sc. Ivan Cerovac, gave the audience an insight into the key ideas and analyses that the book brings, with many interesting discussions and questions from the audience. The event attracted a diverse audience, from students and academics to interested citizens.
4. CHD LOVRAN
Aleksandar Šušnjar: Knowledge or blind belief in science?
The First Lecture in Laurus Gallery in Lovran in 2024, it took place on 16 February, where Aleksandar Šušnjar, PhD student at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka and an expert associate at the University Centre for Quality Assurance and Improvement of Education, held an interesting lecture entitled “Knowledge or blind trust in science”. The lecture dealt with the question of how much of what we “know” we can directly view, check and critically analyze ourselves, and how much we simply accept by trusting certain authorities.
4.b. Aneli Dragojević Mijatović: Political or cosmopolitan economics?
The dilemma between economic protectionism and the free market among countries has been present in economic thought for centuries. Is it in the interest of all countries of the world, including all mankind, abolish all restrictions on free trade; to optimise the allocation of resources by the market, or free trade is an idea that only serves more developed countries, and the only way to protect the economy of the less developed is to close borders in trade and encourage their own production? The reflections of renowned economists and philosophers on these and many other topics were shared with the gathered audience by dr.sc. Aneli Dragojević Mijatović, assistant professor – external associate at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka.
4.c. Ana Cerovac: Fantastic creatures of the Northern Adriatic
On Friday, 12 April 2024, starting at 7 p.m. at Laurus Gallery in Lovran the Lecture of the Writer Ana Cerovac entitled ‘Fantastic creatures of the Northern Adriatic’. The author of the popular literary series “Between a Lion and an Eagle” spoke about fantastic beings from the folk tradition that she studied during the research of the ethnographic background for her literary work. The lecture covered elements of folk beliefs and procedures related to magical action from the area of Kvarner and Istria, but also parts Slovenia and Northern Italy, guided by the principle of common features of folklore narratives.
4.d. Domagoj Krpan and Jana Ovanin: Use of video games in teaching / Philosophical problems of video games
27 September 2024 in the Tower Gallery in Lovran, the first autumn meeting within the project was held. This time, instead of one, the audience had the opportunity to listen Two interesting lectures related to video games and their impact on society. The first lecture entitled “Application of video games in teaching” was held by Domagoj Krpan, history and philosophy teacher and doctoral student at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka. Krpan showed how video games, although originally created as a source of entertainment, can have significant educational effects. The second lecture was entitled “Philosophical Problems of Video Games” and was given by Jana Ovanin, Master of Philosophy and History She recently graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka. Aries focused on Aesthetic discussion about video games as a form of art, questioning their ability to provoke real emotional reactions in players, since they do not represent reality.
4.e. Kristijan Petrović: Samhain - The most ghastly night of the year
Friday, October 25th, in a crowded Laurus Gallery in Lovran, Kristijan Petrović, known as The Dark Storyteller, held an intriguing lecture entitled “Samhain – The most sinister night of the year”. The lecture attracted fans of myths, history and the occult, who enthusiastically followed the story of Halloween, its historical roots and the dark legends that accompany this night.
4f. Elvio Baccarini: Do the emancipatory movements realize the dreams of conservatives?
25 October Laurus Gallery in Lovran hosted an interesting and provocative lecture on contemporary emancipatory movements and arguments used by these movements. The lecture was given Elvio Baccarini, full professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka. The lecture, which bears the provocative title “Do emancipatory movements realize the dreams of conservatives?”, began with the explanation of key terms in order to give the audience a clear framework for understanding the topic.
5. CULTURAL FORUM
5a. Ivan Cherneh: The Potential of Digital Pedagogy in a Changing Education System
Are students becoming more lazy, unmotivated and incompetent today? Do the defeating results of the state graduation, according to which 5,000 seniors fall on summer vacation (and a total of just under 29 thousand approached), that young people leaving the secondary education system are not ready for the complex challenges of modern society and the labor market? Ivan Cherneh, teacher of philosophy, ethics and logic at the Eugen Kumičić Gymnasium in Opatija and doctoral student of philosophy from the University of Zadar, who held a popular scientific lecture in mid-March in the Cultural Front in Opatija, considers that this is not the case. Namely, the results do not show a general lack of knowledge and skills in students, but indicate that the current ways in which knowledge is tested, as well as the current teaching methods used in secondary schools, do not correspond to the ways in which new generations of students learn;.
5.b. Zvonko Jadrešin: Freemasonry (and secret societies)
On Monday, April 15th, Villa Antonio in Opatija was filled with curious visitors who came to listen to the intriguing lecture “Secret societies through history and today”, organized by the association “Cultural Front”, in cooperation with Rotary Club Opatija Lungomare. The lecture was given Zvonko Jadrešin, expert in the history of secret societies, translator and passionate researcher of Freemasonry thought.
5.c. Elvira Angyal, Luana Ivošević, Petra Borovac and Valentina Dukić: Erasmus+
In the premises of the Cultural Front in Opatija, within the project direction “Cultural Forum” on May 14th was held Presentation of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, with a special focus on the experiences of young people who have participated in Erasmus+ projects, but also with valuable insights from those who have implemented these projects. The panel was opened by assistant professor dr.sc. Ivan Cerovac from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, moderated by a teacher Ivan Cherneh, mag.edu, from Eugen Kumičić Gymnasium Opatija. They are on the panel participated young people who were involved in various Erasmus+ projects, as organisers or participants. The panelists who shared their experiences were Elvira Angyal, Luana Ivošević, Petra Borovac and Valentina Dukić.
5.d. Ana Smokrović: What are you eating? Myths, truths and reality on the plate
On Thursday, November 14th, the Cultural Front Association in Opatija were filled with visitors who participated with great interest in the promotion of the book by dr. sc. Ana Smokrović, entitled ’What are you eating? Myths, truths and reality on the plate’ This promotion, held as part of the Opatija Coffeehouse Debates project and its direction Cultural Forum, gave the audience the opportunity to explore Deeper layers of our relationship to food, eating habits and sustainable lifestyles. Dr. sc. Ana Smokrović, author of the book, culturologist and owner of the “Anino Vegetables” brand, explained that the book is the result of her long-standing love for epistemology and food philosophy, as well as her experience in growing organic food.
