On 12 February 2025, the first event of MIND-Talks took place at ORTA Community — a new initiative launched to promote research and academic discourse beyond the university setting. MIND-Talks aims to make knowledge accessible to a wider audience and embed academic thought into the urban culture of Astana.
The opening lecture, titled “Logic of the Observer: Exploring Security Regimes Through the Infrastructures of European Cities”, was delivered by Dmitry Serebrennikov, Co-Head of the Social Research Programme at the MIND Research and Analytical Centre.
The lecture explored key questions such as:
- How do surveillance cameras “see” the city, and why is this important for understanding public safety?
- How are monitoring technologies applied across different countries, and what security models do they create?
- How can we balance effective surveillance with the protection of human rights?
The event featured an active and engaged audience, contributing to a dynamic discussion session that made the meeting both informative and interactive.
