Most people use to go to the theatre or to the cinema, and it is normal to talk about the last book you read. Literature and art are in the everyday discussions. What about science? Science cafes aim to introduce science into the cultural debate. Science café are public events where people discuss about science in a cafe. The junior Science Cafes is a science café organized by students, making them the protagonists in each step of the preparation and implementation of the event.
How it works
First, students must choose a scientific topic, starting from their interests. Students decide what are the interesting questions and possible subtopics to be developed in particular. At this stage, students have the opportunity to study and deepen the topic chosen, calling into question their more ore less naive ideas. Then they look for researchers to be invited: students are guided in reading and evaluating a scientific curriculum. After the identification of the two researchers, students organise a meeting with them in order to discuss the outline of the evening. Before and after the meeting, students deepen the topic of the science cafe. The group finally selects readings or film clips related somehow to the topic. Then they work on logistics, technical instruments (microphones, etc.), food and drinks.
In this last phase the students are divided into groups each with its own role. Some of these roles relate to the documentation: students collect all the resources on a website, take pictures, videos and audio recordings of the event. In the final evening the two scientists meet the public, the debate is coordinated by a conductor, who is also a student of course.
Main steps
1. Choice of theme
2. Choice of scientists
3. Preparation of meeting with scientists
4. Meeting with scientists
5. Preparation of the scheduling of the science cafe
6. Readings, video, final organization
If you want to Learn More on organizing a Junior SciCafe, visit the www.caffescienzajunior.org
