Communication to EDEN 2020, 22-24 June 2020, Timisoara, online

1. Science education and Artificial
Intelligence. A Chatbot on Magic and
Quantum Computing as an
educational tool
Miquel Duran,1 Sílvia Simon,1 and Fernando Blasco2
1University of Girona, and 2Polytechnics Univ. Madrid
@miquelduran @silviasimonr @fblascoxyz
EDEN Meeting, 22-24/6/2020, Timisoara, online

2. Currently...
 Machine learning, chatbots, learning personalization, and other
artificial intelligence (AI)-related concepts have entered the realm of
higher education.
 The #covid19 pandemic has enhanced this process
 More than ever educational systems must and can tackle learning
experience improvement, and indeed introduction of AI-related
techniques – and attitudes
 Science Communication is also starting to evolve

3. On Magic and Science
 Magic, the Science of Deception and Illusion, is
very related to Psychology and Behavioural
Sciences, and is actually a field of interest for
consciousness studies
 Artificial Intelligence may be a useful tool to build up
new magic tricks
 And the opposite too: magic may be used to create
artificial intelligence agents

4. Our group's interests
 This is a science group involving mathemanticians
and theoretical chemists, e.g.
 https://magsci.eu with main project "From the Magic
of Science to the Science of Magic"
 Some experience with online learning:
 MOOC on Science Communication 2.0
 MOOC (soon :-) ) on Magic and Science

5. The Magic of the Periodic Table
Here we review the elements of periodic table of
elements with simple but intriguing and seductive
magic tricks, which they are completed with
spectacular and quick chemistry experiments. Using
the historical relationship between magic and
science, we mix enjoyment with increasing the
scientific culture of the viewer. We take advantage
that the periodic table is an example place where
natural numbers appear, so we can
translate classical mathematical tricks to a
chemistry framework.

6. Science and magic performances on
a stage
Currently we have stage performances for 'The
Magic of the Periodic Table' and 'Science Based
Magic'. They have been represented in different
places, changing the contents and the show
extension (usually 1 hour) depending on the people
attending the show. They are magic shows with
participation of people.

7. Scientific-magic itinerary
We have developed a collection of tricks that can
be adapted to common places in a city. The length
is variable and allows to walk around the city, stop
in certain places and make a science based
magic trick related with the the things
that can be observed in that area. Is a funny and
different way for showing science in the city

8. Magic and Science, online with
AI
 A recent paper by Zaghi-Lara et al., a team of neuroscientists and
a magician, showed how magic tricks, played to deep neural
networks, untangles human deception
 A few years ago, a leading Science of Magic research group
(McOwan et al.) developed new magic tricks using AI techniques,
thus creating new card magic apps for smartphones that are
slightly different, more “intelligent”, that commonplace tricks
performed by conjurors.
 The same group published another paper involving intelligent
search of the Internet to create new magic tricks.

9. Magic, Science and AI
 A paper by Primlani has commented on blurring the
line between human tasks and automation.
 Another paper by Sharkey et al. deals with
deception as an integral part of AI and robotics (on
automata and their relationship with conjuring).
 AI may be used to enhance the experience of
magic, i.e., impossibility (Messina)

10. Magic, Science and Robots
 One must not forget magic performed by robots (an
updated version of automata playing magic tricks in
the XIXth century) (see Rosenbluth)

11. Quantum Mechanics and
Quantum Computing
 State-of the-art Science and Technology: for
instance, progress in Quantum Cryptography by
European and Chinese teams
 Satellite-based secure communication using two
land telescopes.
 Quantum Computers: great progress ahead!

12. Quantum Mechanics and
Quantum Computing
 Quantum Mechanics is based on a set of principles
that are difficult to understand by the general
population.
 Several games based on mathematical tricks have
been created to pinpoint the key aspects of
Quantum Science.
 Currently, their online versions are being created -
that result into a scripted chatbot, later to become
an intelligent one.

13. On Magic and (Higher) Education
 Magic has been successfully used in Higher Education,
especially to enhance experiments related to key areas of
chemistry, but also in physics and biomedicine.
 Not only does Magic provide the illusion of impossibility, but
it does also enhance the reality of teaching and learning.

14. Science Communication and AI
 Experience with workshops and shows at schools,
universities, street level, and stage theaters has led
to consider magic as a very relevant tool to
cohesionate communities, especially suitable for
underprivileged environments.
 Moreover, the public is far more engaged with
science if it is presented in an attractive way.

15. Science Communication and AI
 Magic is also used in mentally handicapped people
through a terapeutic activity. Moreover, magic is
currently used with hospital patients along with
other entertainer volunteers.
 Finally, there is another social impact of magic: as a
very relevant tool for communication skills and for
personal development – namely that of
shy/introspect individuals.

16. Science Communication and AI
 A recent paper by Zandan has tackled the way
people will communicate in the future, by
considering “hybrid thinking” and an interplay
beween human and cyber intelligence.
 AI writing bots have been proposed to revolutionize
science journalism, even substituting the very
journalists, and AI may lead to bots writing real
news stories about science discoveries.

17. Science Communication and AI
 Actually, AI algorithms are already summarizing
scientific research papers and automatically turning
them into simple press releases and news stories.
Indeed, one the main drawbacks (or adavantages)
of AI is that it will have no emotional or heated
responses.

18. Our idea
 Mystery brings about a strong impact on participants, while
causing them to know about awesome science and difficult
concepts.
 Indeed, secrecy provides a continued anchor with Science –
and a extrapolation of the learning process.
 Artificial Intelligence fosters interaction and impact with
students and citizens.
 Thus, a Chatbot is very convenient and justified - thus being
developed to further enhance the user experience towards
Science.

19. Chatbot
 We are developing a chatbot on Magic and
Science, especially suited to explain the delicate
and intrincate basics of Quantum Computing
 We are using the Telegram app, which allows easy
integration with Google Scripts and all Google
applications
 Ease of use for desktop and mobile devices

20. Chatbot: @prmagsci at Telegram
 Connect to Bot @PrMagSci using the telegram app
 Several options: online magic games to learn
 Complex Science Concepts like
 Entropy
 Aromaticity
 Quantum Mechanics key concepts
 Quantum Gates
 Superposition Principle
 Entanglement

21. Currently working on...
 Automated Chatbot using Telegram
 AI-enhanced chatbot using
 IBM Watson technology
 DialogFlow by Google
 Others: Manybot
 Utimate goal: deploying automated games with
transparent interaction useable for entertaining and for
teaching
 Of course: increasing Public Awareness of Science

22. Post-#covid19 Pandemics...
 The current pandemic means this initiative is quite
timely
 May be extented to hybrid environments, enhancing
instructor-student communication
 Fosters interest of students in complex Science
areas, like Quantum Science – and in general
Chemistry or Applied Mathematics

23. Take home message
 Chatbots are useful to teach online
 Magic and Science may be used for science
communication
 Experience very useful toward "new normality" in
post-COVID-19 era
 Contacts: miquel.duran@udg.edu
silvia.simon@udg.edu fernando.blasco@upm.es
 Twitter: @miquelduran @silviasimonr @fblascoxyz