Program
Program
Doors open at 9:30.
This is prior to the opening of the library, please use the entrance located at Schildknaapstraat 26/Rue de l'Écuyer 26 (at the right side of the Muntpunt building).
Room: Literair Salon
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LAST TICKETS: 27 October 2026, Serendipity Engine in Brussels
9:30 - 10:00 | Registration and coffee
10:00 - 12:30 | Morning program
Welcome by Pieter Ballon, vice-rector Research VUB,
Keynote by Marjan Doom,
Talks by Annelien Smets, Brett Binst, Lien Michiels and Sílvia C. Silva.
Break included around 11:10.
12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch (included in registration)
13:30 - 16:15 | Afternoon program
Talks by Pieter Colpaert, Julián Rojas, Dino Steenbeek, Wies Callens, Jeroen Roelandt & Adriaan De Bolle, followed by a conversation with Alessandro Piscopo.
Break included around 15:00.
16:15 - 16:30 | Closing
16:30 | Reception
Meet the speakers
Meet the speakers
Museum of doubt
Marjan Doom, Managing and Artistic Director at the Ghent University Museum and Botanical Garden
As director of Ghent University Museum (GUM), Marjan Doom explores what a science museum can be when it doesn’t just present conclusions, but creates space for doubt, dialogue and changing perspectives. At GUM, science and art meet as different ways of questioning the world. Marjan will share why doubt is not a weakness, but a way to stay curious, challenge what we think we know and make room for new insights.
The recommendations we didn't control
Sílvia C. Silva, Senior Data Scientist at Storytel
In a practical, industrial context, recommendation models that are based on historical signals are reliable and predictable. But what happens when you let go of those signals altogether? In this talk, Sílvia shares a case where customer responses were surprisingly positive when they let that happen. The talk explores what we can learn from these moments and questions what mechanisms we have that could allow us to "stray from the profile" reliably.
Dwaalcast
Dino Steenbeek, Concept Developer at VPRO Medialab
Dino shares the story behind Dwaalcast, VPRO Medialab’s podcast for every square metre of the Netherlands. The story isn’t fixed beforehand: you walk it together yourself. Your location and route shape what you hear, bringing stories to the surface that would otherwise remain invisible. Dino will share how they built this new way of storytelling, and what they learned from combining place, data, AI and human creativity.
Serendipity on wheels
Wies Callens, Policy Lead and Spokesperson at Fietsersbond vzw
Wies shares the story behind an app designed to make room for discovery while cycling. Instead of always taking the fastest or most efficient route, the app invites riders to explore, take detours, and come across places they might otherwise miss. What happens when navigation is not just about getting from A to B, but also about what you discover along the way?
Beyond the usual match
Adriaan De Bolle, Founder and Software Architect, and Jeroen Roelandt, Managing Partner at UNBLND/Ubigreat
The team behind UNBLND and ubigreat shares their entrepreneurial journey of building products that help people discover new people and connections. From early ideas and product choices to matchmaking, growth and changing direction along the way: what does it take to build a business around discovery? And how do you know when those unexpected connections are actually creating value?
Location
Location
Muntpunt is a public library in the heart of Brussels, offering books, digital resources, events, study, and co-working spaces. With its open and diverse atmosphere, Muntpunt is the perfect place to gather and reflect on serendipity. And don’t forget to look around. Muntpunt is located right next to De Munt, Brussels’ historic opera house. Perhaps a touch of theatrical illusion might spark an unexpected insight.
Accessibility
Muntpunt (Munt 6, 1000 Brussels) is easily accessible by public transport. It is located close to Brussels Central Station, and several tram, bus, and metro lines stop nearby at Brouckère and Bourse/Beurs, all within a 5 to 10-minute walk. The nearest parking is Monnaie/Munt. The entire building is fully wheelchair accessible.
"Muntpunt is the largest salon in Brussels. It is a building with many rooms and corners, 8900 square meters of books, experiences and connections. Each floor has its own colour, so the visitors can easily find their way." (B-architecten)
Pictures by Ilse Liekens
This project has received funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) under grant number S006323N.
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