At Senate House, home to the ‘Ministry of Information’ during WWII and inspiration for Orwell’s 1984, we launch the Being Human festival with a day of activities that will inspire debate over our shared future as ‘digital humans’. Based at the Being Human festival hub at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, this day of activities explores the contemporary phenomenon of ‘data overload’ and its impact on human consciousness.

What does it mean to be human in a digital age? When information is ever more readily available, how do we assess what is valuable? How does the constant barrage of information affect and shape human consciousness? Who are the gatekeepers and custodians of the information flow, and can they be trusted?

The programme of events will include a Ministry of Information exhibition, guided tours of Senate House, digital art displays, visualisations  and ‘hacks’ of the Mass Observation and Senate House archives, talks, performances and workshops, a research ‘Ignite’ event, and a keynote debate featuring Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Professor Heather Brooke and internet technologist, journalist and broadcaster Ben Hammersley.

Venue: School of Advanced Study, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7H

Date and time: 15 November 2014 10am–8.30pm

Attendance is free, but please register here

Stay up to date with all Being Human festival events through Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. The festival hashtag is #BeingHuman14.