technology, but they are asking for more pedagogical approaches to what they’re doing. Experts who analysed the results reminded us that we have a generation of students shaped by the pandemic, and we cannot go back to the way we used to be. We need new models of thinking. ‘It’s concerning that students are feeling worried for their teachers. This is not the way it’s supposed to be. We need to think about work wellbeing and student wellbeing at the same time. ‘Wellbeing is something we cannot forget. Things are still not right – and those who need support must be given access to this. If we don’t take wellbeing seriously, technology and pedagogy will not enough for our students to be successful.’ Are brain computer interfaces and neurotechnology going to change the world? What are brain computer interfaces and neurotechnology? How are they changing the world and what applications might they have for business and management education? For many years, the human brain has been largely unexplored, and only in the 21st century has science truly begun to progress far enough into the field of neuroscience for effective neurotechnologies to develop and take shape. In this session, María López Valdes, Co-Founder and CEO of Bitbrain, a company specialising in neurotechnology, showcased how her company is researching and developing state-of-the-art neurotech and brain-computer interfaces, and explained the risks and promises these advancements are bringing to our future, for society and business. Bitbrain counts L’Oréal, Disney, Nissan, and Telefónica among its clients, and its solutions have served as the basis for more than 1,500 neuroscientific studies in the past two years. Valdez said: ‘Neurotechnology is the development of advanced technological tools that interact with our nervous systems and brains. Normally, people think of sensors that measure brain activity, but it’s more than this. It translates brainwaves into information. We are talking a broad technological concept; deeptech. This has the potential to impact industries and lives.’ Valdez explained that neurotechnology’s applications can be simplified into three categories: understanding people better by monitoring their brains; improving human capabilities; and simplifying human/machine interaction allowing direct brain-to-computer communications. But she moved on to discuss the opportunities and ethical challenges of the applications. ‘Would you allow your Business School to use neurotechnology to monitor student engagement?’ she asked. ‘A challenge we have is defending the right to mental data privacy. This “mental data” has access to non-conscious reactions.’ Moving on to talk about another opportunity, Valdez added: ‘We can train our brains to improve our mental agility, changing the rhythms that affect cognitive ability. Cognitive enhancement could be achieved by augmenting the differences
KAREN SPENS Rector, Hanken School of Economics
MARÍA LÓPEZ VALDES Co-Founder and CEO, Bitbrain
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