Science cafés emphasize audience participation in the discussion of a topic. Anyone who values the give and take of conversation will enjoy presenting at a science café.
If you're wondering whether the format will suit you, contact a café organizer to discuss the café's audience and expectations. Ask what the goals are for the evening beyond the obvious learning opportunity for the audience. For example, many cafés consider an energetic, all-inclusive dialogue to be more important than a comprehensive overview of a topic.
Why present at a science café
In a recent survey almost every scientist that has presented at a café was interested in repeating the experience. More than a third believed that their experience changed how they think about talking to a general audience about their work. The unique café format offers many benefits to presenters.
- Educate the public about the scientific research you are involved in.
- Enjoy thought-provoking discussion in a casual venue.
- Find out what public reaction is to your research.
- Share your enthusiasm for science.
- Represent your institution and help achieve its outreach goals.
- Practice your communication skills in a relaxed setting.
- Fulfill 'Broader Impact' and 'Outreach' requirements for research grants.
How to get involved
Many science cafés will welcome being contacted by you as a prospective presenter.
- Find an active café near you.
- Most café events are organized around a particular topic. Before contacting the café organizer, frame your proposed presentation so that it makes a good discussion topic. If it seems like a good fit, the organizer will work with you to finalize the topic and promotional text for the café meeting.
- Some science cafés have specific goals or themes that may prevent them from accepting the topic you propose.
- If you cannot find a science café near you, look for one elsewhere that coincides with your travel schedule, or consider starting a café of your own.
- Most science cafés run on an extremely small budget. Do not expect an honorarium for your presentation.
- NOVA scienceNOW outreach staff are in touch with café organizers around the country. We may be able to help you with any questions you have about science cafés. Contact us.
The flow of a science café meeting
Two main phases characterize a typical science café event: the initial presentation followed by group discussion.
- A good presentation introduces a topic, provides just enough background information, and raises compelling questions that launch the whole room into discussion.
- The initial presentation should be kept under the time limit suggested by the café organizer. The longer that one voice dominates a café, the harder it is to get everyone else involved.
- Lively conversations are unscripted and can be far ranging. Group discussion lets the audience's natural curiosity and interest play a role in deciding what aspects of a topic are discussed.
- Decide with the organizer how to moderate the flow of conversation. It's easier for the presenter if someone else acts as a moderator or host for the event. A moderator can make sure everyone has a chance to participate, and prevents one person or idea from dominating the conversation.
Preparing a presentation
There is no way to research every aspect of a topic that may arise at a science café. Still, there are some ways you can prepare for the event.
- Go to a café meeting beforehand and note what worked well and what didn't.
- Introduce your topic with a clear, straightforward story that includes personal details. If you are personally involved in the presentation, the audience will be too.
- If you practice your presentation beforehand, don't do it alone at your desk. Science cafés are social events, so try bringing up the topic with people unfamiliar with your work and see which points make for interesting conversation.
- Come prepared with questions for the audience. This will help you approach the café as an opportunity to hear public reaction to your work.
- Use plain language. There is no need to "dumb down" your presentation, but you will want to avoid jargon and technical expressions.
- Most important is to go with the flow of the evening, relax, be yourself, and have fun.
Moving beyond question and answer
The conventional question and answer format maintains a one-way flow of information (from expert to audience), and rarely engages everyone present (even if each gets a 'turn' to ask a question). Use the science café as an opportunity to foster a group discussion that involves everyone.
- Most cafés have a moderator or host that will help you maintain a group conversation after your initial presentation. Show up early to the café meeting to establish a rapport and general plan of action with the moderator.
- Pay attention to the entire audience. You'll probably sense when an idea has grabbed everyone's interest, or when only a handful of people are engaged.
- Keep your participation in conversation succinct. The length of your answers to questions will determine how many other people have a chance to contribute to the discussion.
- People often feel compelled to put a statement of belief into the form of a question. Let the audience know that you want to hear what they have to say, even if it isn't a question.
- You don't have to always answer hands in the order they go up. When an interesting point comes up stay on subject by asking the audience if they have more thoughts on the issue.
- Encourage audience members to talk among themselves. For example, when a particularly good question comes up, try having the audience answer it. This approach involves everyone in the thought process behind the answer.
- Be comfortable admitting if you have an ethical concern about an issue, are uncertain about a question, or have not thought of a point before.
- A sure sign of an engaging science café? Audience members start interrupting you!
Using audio-visual
A science café emphasizes human interaction. Incorporate audio-visual aids into a presentation only if they help stimulate dialogue.
- Some cafés like to start with a short (less than five minutes) video clip, such as from NOVA scienceNOW. Video can quickly grab everyone's attention and provide background information on a topic, allowing you to focus on the specific questions that interest you most. If you are interested in using video to complement your presentation, see this section on using video.
- Some cafés ban the use of PowerPoint because it makes the presentation too formal and comes between the presenter and the audience. If you use slides, do not rely on them for your whole presentation, and use them only for photographs and images that convey something that cannot be put into words.