Like Magic? Don't Miss Our Q&A With Dr Gustav Kuhn, A Leading Figure In "The Science Of Magic"

Do you remember the first time you saw a magic trick? Maybe it was a rabbit pulled from an empty hat, or you were asked to pick a card, any card. On the surface, magic can look like nothing more than clever props, hidden compartments, and theatrical flair – but many of the manipulations you perfect as a magician touch on profound questions in psychology.

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Science can help us explain what makes a good magic trick, but the principles behind magic can also serve as powerful tools for science. That’s exactly what’s happening at the UK’s only MAGIC Lab at Plymouth University, established by magician and psychologist Dr Gustav Kuhn.

The MAGIC Lab has become a hub for exploring human behavior and cognition, revealing how and why magic can be so effective in defying expectations. Now you can take a peek behind the curtain at CURIOUS Live, IFLScience’s next virtual event.

For our Christmas special, writer Rachael Funnell joins Dr Gustav Kuhn at the MAGIC Lab to explore everything from the art of misdirection to cybercrime and misinformation on December 11 at 3 PM GMT / 10 AM ET. Plus, you’ll meet Pepper, the “mind-reading” robot.

Dr Kuhn will be available in the chat room during the watch party event, so don’t miss it if you have any burning questions about the Science of Magic. The event will be hosted on YouTube, so you’ll need to be logged in to either a YouTube or Google account in order to submit your questions. Can’t make it? You can watch it back via our YouTube channel once the event is over.

The Science Of Magic – CURIOUS Live Christmas Special

What?

• Meet magician and psychologist Dr Gustav Kuhn, founder of the UK’s only MAGIC Lab.
• Explore the Science of Magic, including misdirection, sleight of hand, the placebo effect, misinformation, and mind-reading robots.
• Put your questions to Dr Gustav Kuhn during the live watch party.

When?

December 11 at 3 PM GMT (UTC) / 10 AM ET

Where?

The link to join our YouTube watch party will be available here on the day. Please note: You'll need a YouTube or Google account in order to ask questions.

Who?

Dr Gustav Kuhn is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Plymouth and Director of the MAGIC Lab. He has held academic positions at Brunel University, Goldsmiths, University of London, and Harvard Medical School, and he is also the founding member and president of the Science of Magic Association.  

A leading figure in the Science of Magic, he discovered his love for magic at the age of 13. At 19, he moved to London to pursue his dream of becoming a professional magician, but then his journey took an unexpected turn.

“I realised that a lot of the questions that psychologists are interested in, questions about perception or attention, are actually very closely related to the kind of things that you learn to manipulate as a magician,” he told IFLScience. “So, for the last 26 years, I’ve been trying to bring together magicians and scientists to create what is now known as The Science Of Magic.”

• MAGIC Lab
• Dr Gustav Kuhn University of Plymouth academic profile
• Gustav Kuhn LinkedIn
• GustavKuhn X.com

Can’t wait? You can read a teaser in the December issue of our digital magazine CURIOUS.