Just to clear up things from the BA. sciBArs and Cafe Scientifique are
different initiatives that along with the Science Museum's Naked Science at
the RCA etc all share the same aims of changing the culture so that
science-related issues can be discussed in an informed way in places where
people meet and talk, eg in pubs and cafes.
As you will have seen from previous messages the BA are regionalising our
sciBAr initiative so that soon you'll be spoilt for choice when and where to
engage in dialogue about science. Anyone running similar events I'm sure
will welcome all efforts in this direction, recognising that much
experimentation is needed with the exact format of the events and where and
when they are run.
The fact that similar events are starting up, not just in London but around
the UK is a good sign that there are people who want to engage in discussion
about science, what the events are called and who run them is less
important.
When the sciBArs were first started they mainly attracted people from the
science communication community but now along with our regulars each sciBAr
always attracts new people who have no specialist knowledge in the science
but come because they are interested to know more and debate the
implications of scientific issues. Those that initially attend because they
are interested in a specific area of scientific discussion often sign up to
our mailing list to find out about other events to engage in debatein all
areas of science and technology.
Numbers for each sciBAr can vary from 20 odd to over 50. The Halloween
sciBAr was attended by over 100 people and the discussion had to be shown on
the TV screens in the other part of the bar (there's your connection to the
football match!). I think the question that arises from this is how many
people can you really 'do dialogue' with. The most successful sciBAr
discussions are normally the ones that are attended by less people. There's
a limit to how many people can join in and really feel involved in a
discussion. So the fact that more and more events are being run is a good
thing.
Nicholas Hillier
Science Communication Officer
The BA
23 Savile Row
London W1S 2EZ
Tel: 020 7973 3064 Fax: 020 7973 3063
www.the-ba.net <http://www.the-ba.net>
-----Original Message-----
From: Yvonne Fullwood [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 13 March 2002 13:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cafe Scientifique
Hi,
I am the London ICA-Café Scientifique organiser, working with the ICA and
National Development Co-ordinator for Cafe Scientifique, Teresa Anderson.
Like all the organisers of other Café Scientifiques across the UK, my
involvement in the project is voluntary and fits around my "day job" as a
research scientist at the Centre for Molecular cell Biology, Royal Free and
UCl Medical school.
Just in case anyone would like to know, my reasons for approaching the ICA
to be the host venue for Café Scientifique are as follows:
The ICA is a major cultural venue, with a reputation as a leading forum
within which innovative ways of thinking about wider culture are forged. As
Café Scientifique is concerned with situating scientific discourses within
wider discursive contexts, the ICA seemed an appropriate venue. The ICA's
support for our events is not in any sense opportunistic, the institution
has a long-standing commitment to building bridges between the so-called
"two cultures" of the arts and sciences. Science events have been held
regularly at the ICA for years and the seriousness of their engagement with
science is indicated by the Institute's appointment of a scientist in
residence (Dr Daniel Glaser). Of course, the venue has other practical
advantages: it is comfortable, large, accessible, well known and
controversial.
The format of the Café Scientifique is as follows:
Our guest speaker will talk for 20-30 minutes; we then break to refill our
glasses/coffee cups. Then begins an hour or so of open discussion on the
topic of the day. Questions and answers go around the room, and everyone
has the chance to contribute or just to listen.
Café Scientifique does share the same format as Scibar and Naked science.
However, regardless of who organises the event (Café Scientific/BA/Science
Museum or anyone else) and regardless of which 20-minute talk starts the
ball rolling, the unique combination of people in the audience will always
generate an original and fresh discussion, making each event unique. I am
sure that we will not all get identical audiences. Encouraging public
engagement with science is a big job (especially in a city with almost 12
million inhabitants), the more events that are being organised, the better.
Café Scientifique, Scibar and Naked Science compliment each other.
Yvonne Fullwood
--------------------------------
Dr Yvonne Fullwood
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