The University of Antwerp joins forces in STROOM
This year, STROOM is expanding not only your musical horizons, but your scientific ones as well. Joining us on our festival journey this season is none other than the University of Antwerp! How about an exclusive glimpse into the invisible jungle living on your own hands, decoding the age-old secrets hidden within trees, or coming face to face with a mysterious invader from beneath the water’s surface?
Feel free to arrive at the concert venues a little earlier this summer. Be inspired by fascinating insights, live experiments, and passionate scientists exploring the natural world surrounding the festival. Discover where and how you can dive into science yourself!
Friday, June 19 | Water Ripples
What’s living on your hands? The University of Antwerp puts your microbiome to the test!
Did you know you carry an entire microscopic world with you wherever you go? At Water Ripples, you can discover it for yourself! Together with researchers from the University of Antwerp, you’ll explore the science hidden on your own hands. Stop by the stand, have a sample taken, and find out which millions of (helpful!) microbes are living on your skin. A few days after the concert, you’ll receive a colourful visual report straight to your inbox.
Practical information: Visit the stand from the moment the doors open until just before the concert starts.
Thursday, the 25th | Double Bill: WALD x Memories of Trees
Dendrochronology: The Wonderful World of Trees
Trees have breathtaking stories to tell, and their annual rings are the diary in which those stories are written. In the idyllic green surroundings of Roosenberg Abbey, researchers from the University of Antwerp will guide you into the fascinating world of dendrochronology—the science of dating and studying trees through their growth rings.
Watch live as they take a sample from a tree on site (don’t worry—no trees will be harmed!). You'll discover how scientists can read a tree’s life story, uncover clues about past climates, and reveal secrets that have been hidden for centuries. It’s the perfect green introduction to the architecture tour and the performance WALD.
Practical information: The tree sample will be taken live at 8:30 PM, just before the start of WALD and the guided tour by Herita.
Saturday, June 27 | The Penultimate Carnival of the Animals (Merelbeke- Melle)
Chinese Mitten Crabs vs. Native Species
Before we immerse ourselves in the musical story of our own threatened wildlife, the University of Antwerp invites you to meet a notorious underwater intruder: the Chinese mitten crab.
This invasive species is damaging the banks of the River Scheldt and disrupting local ecosystems. Come and see these remarkable creatures up close in specially installed aquariums at the concert site, and join a fascinating 15-minute mini-talk. You’ll learn all about their impact on local biodiversity and discover what we can do to help protect our native species and habitats.
Practical information: The aquariums can be viewed throughout the day at the concert site. Mini-talks start promptly at 3:00 PM and 3:15 PM. (No registration is required)
Arrive a little earlier, spark your curiosity, and enjoy a summer where culture and science come together.