What to expect at a science café.
A science café's casual meeting place, plain language, and inclusive conversation create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for people with no science background.
Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation and sometimes shows a short video clip to kick off the discussion. You can leave a café meeting when you want, but you'll miss out if you show up late.
There are many variations on the basic science café. One café might have a trivia quiz. Another might include a panel of scientists. Topics range across all sciences, and some cafés even explore connections between science and other disciplines, like the arts.
- For an idea of what different science cafés look like, check out these descriptions of current cafés.
- See what's going on in your area by checking out the "Find a café" page.
- Get involved and learn more about current science on the NOVA scienceNOW Web site.
Who organizes science cafés?
Science cafés are spreading as a grassroots movement. The casual, open format readily engages the public in conversations about science. Many science cafés in the United States draw inspiration from café Scientifique, based in the UK.
No central organization controls all science cafés. As a result, each café has adapted to its own local culture and audience while keeping a focus on open, public conversation. Even the names of science cafés vary, including Science on Tap, Science Pub, Ask a Scientist, and café Sci.
Who runs sciencecafes.org?
Sciencecafes.org is produced by NOVA scienceNOW, in association with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. It was created with the help and input of many science café organizers, and is intended as a community resource that will support and encourage the growth of science cafés.
In 2006, NOVA scienceNOW and Sigma Xi brought together 40 science café organizers from all over the United States. For many, this meeting was the first opportunity to discuss experiences with other science café organizers. At that meeting it was agreed that one of the most needed science café resources was a single U.S. website, and the idea for sciencecafes.org was born.
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