Cafés
Café Sci - what's it all about?
Keeping science real!
Café Sci took its inspiration from the Café Scientifique movement - informal evening meetings between scientists and members of the public, which take place in bars, cafes, theatres and pubs. We didn't think it was fair that the adults had all the fun, so Café Sci in schools was born.
Café Sci offers a unique opportunity for students to meet working scientists in an informal, relaxed, 'café' atmosphere and together explore contemporary issues in science and technology. Cafés are open to all secondary school students and teachers, regardless of their age and interests - there's science in every subject!
We leave it up to each group to decide how work is shared between students and teachers. In some schools, student teams will do the bulk of the work, supported and encouraged by teachers; in others, teachers will take on the organisation while students choose topics, and host the cafés.
Cafés are held outside lesson time, usually during lunch or directly after school. Although they are held in school, the last place we want them to be is in a classroom. Speakers aren't bogged down with technology (no microphones or slide-shows allowed), so cafés can be held anywhere: the common room, the library, the cafeteria, maybe even outside, anywhere that feels relaxed and informal.
Taking part in Café Sci is completely free.
The format is simple. The scientist speaks for about 10-15 minutes - plenty of time. Speakers are volunteers, they come from local universities and industry, and range from professors to young PhD students, depending on the topic and their expertise. The one thing that they have in common is that they are passionate about their subject and excited about sharing it with students.
