INTERFACES Beyond the Lab: The people and profession of materials. Café Scientifique: Nobel Laureate Communicates Science Across the World Carol Trager-Cowan On the evening of Monday the 3rd of August 2009, the Victorian Bar of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, filled to bursting point to hear Nobel laureate Sir Harry Kroto talk on “Global Educational Outreach in the GooYouWiki-World.” Sir Harry was talking at a joint event between Glasgow’s Café Scientifique and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Sir Harry chose the title of his presentation to highlight the recent revolutionary impact of Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia on our ability to obtain information and therefore expand our knowledge and understanding of the world. Sir Harry sees the internet as a fan- tastic resource with which we can capture and make available to everyone the best and the most innovative teaching of the Nobel laureate Harold Kroto holds wonders of science. children’s workshops on science. Now Francis Eppes Professor of Chem - istry and Biochemistry at Florida State University and Emeritus Professor at the University of Sussex, Professor Sir Harold nical issues, and so make science more Science” section (a collaboration with the Kroto was awarded the Nobel Prize for accessible and understandable to the U.K.’s Open University), viewers may Chemistry (together with Robert Curl and widest possible range of target audi- watch videos on the physical properties of Richard Smalley) in 1996 for the discovery ences” (http://www.vega.org.uk/). In gases and how x-rays cracked the structure of a new form of carbon, the C60, Buck - 2007, together with colleagues at Florida of DNA. In collaboration with the British min sterfullerene. He obtained a BSc State University, he founded GEOSET Broadcasting Corporation, there are degree in chemistry (1961) and a PhD (Global Educational Outreach for Science, “Science Career Videos” where young sci- degree in molecular spectroscopy (1964) at Engineering and Technology), which entists talk about their work from environ- the University of Sheffield, U.K. In 1990 he “uses new technology to provide out- mental science to molecular gastronomy. was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society standing Science, Engineering and Tech - The Vega Web site also has videos and and in 1996 he was knighted for his contri- nology (SET) teaching material. It is a downloadable presentations on simple butions to chemistry. He was elected to highly flexible medium enabling a wide yet inventive activities such as putting the National Academy of Sciences in 2007. range of different educational approaches together a Bucky world map where, in Sir Harry spends a considerable amount to be explored and it is particularly useful the process, the children learn the names of time contributing to numerous activities for SET teachers who will find valuable of the continents of the world. of benefit to science and society in general. downloadable teaching resource material Sir Harry was also enthusiastic about For example, he was president of the Royal created by the best science and technolo- the use of the video and the internet for Society of Chemistry from 2002 to 2004; he gy experts and educators. A key aim is to the assessment of students. He gave as an has served on the board of the Scripps catalyze the creation of a global network example the presentation produced by Institute Board of Scientific Governors of participating sites catering to the local Jennifer Goldsby on “recent research since 2004; and he has provided evidence and global need for much improved SET detailing the effects of inbreeding on ani- to policy bodies concerning the role and education” (http://www.geoset.info/ mal populations and its impact on development of nanotechnology (e.g., and also see http://geoset.fsu.edu/). domestic animals” (http://geoset.fsu. “Nanoscience and Nano tech nologies: During the evening at Café Scien ti fique, edu/ugradprojects.html). Jennifer sub- Opportunities and Uncer tain ties”). He Sir Harry provided the audience with a mitted her presentation for partial assess- devotes a substantial amount of time to number of innovative examples from Vega ment for a class on ecology. Sir Harry communicating science to children; he and GEOSET. For example, on the Vega was impressed by the quality of the work travels all over the world to deliver his Web site he has brought together a wide produced by the students and he also workshops to them. range of videos including interviews with found watching the videos to be a much With a strong belief in the power of the eminent scientists including a significant more enjoyable experience than marking internet, Sir Harry has put massive effort number of Nobel laureates. The Web site exam scripts. Sir Harry predicts that in into two global on-line initiatives. In 1994 also offers discussions of “Issues of the future such presentations will form he co-founded the Vega Science Trust to Concern,” with videos on climate change, on-line CVs for students. create “a broadcast platform for the sci- malaria, and politics. In the “Reflections on Unfortunately there was only time for ence, technology, engineering and mathe- Sir Harry to illustrate a small sample of the matics (STEM) communities, so enabling breadth of material made available by the them to communicate on all aspects of INTERFACES seeks articles featuring the Vega Science Trust and GEOSET. Sir their fields of expertise using exciting people and profession of materials. Harry spent the majority of his presenta- Internet opportunities.…The Trust aims Send proposals to [email protected]. tion justifying the need for high quality to provide well-informed views on tech- science resources to combat the zeal with 10 MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 35 • JANUARY 2010 • www.mrs.org/bulletin INTERFACES which creationist philosophies, for exam- continues with animated discussion ple, are expounded. Sir Harry passion - among the participants. ately made the case for global science Topics discussed at Glasgow’s Café education based on scientific evidence. Scientifique have included climate change; He abhors the creationist museums stem cells; the search for new worlds; which claim, for example, that dinosaurs superbugs, the quest for flight; heart dis- roamed the earth together with man and ease; and bird song. The organizers of maintain that dinosaurs no longer exist Glasgow’s Café Scientifique, Mandy because they died in Noah’s flood; he is McLean (a professor at Glasgow Uni - horrified that these museums are running versity) and the broadcaster Vanessa children’s education programs. Sir Harry Collingridge, actively encourage the audi- is evangelical with regard to the negative ence to suggest future topics for discussion. impact of the extremes of religion on There is also a Café Sci movement in today’s society. He sees the present level schools. A similar format is followed but, of ignorance about science, engineering, in this case, school pupils engage with and technology as a recipe for disaster. scientists during their lunch break or Sir Harry will hopefully be encouraged after school in the informal environment by initiatives such as Café Scientifique who of their school library or cafeteria. Topics was his host for his evening’s presentation. A hands-on activity devised by Sir Harry debated have included, “Will men ever The Café Scientifique is “a place where, for provides lessons about world geogra- have babies?” to “Do boys and girls have the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of phy in parallel with buckyballs! the same IQ?” to “Are genetically modi- wine, anyone can come to explore the latest fied crops doing more harm than good?” ideas in science and technology” (www. The school pupils provide their invited cafescientifique.org/). speakers with a considerable challenge, Hundreds of such cafés run all over the held in informal venues such as cafés or demanding answers to probing, insight- world; science is discussed in a friendly, bars. They start with a short 20-minute ful questions, which bodes well for the informal and open environment in Ar - presentation where (in general) no future of the inquiring mind and of the gentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, PowerPoint slides are allowed—though appreciation of evidence-based science. Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, an exception was made for Sir Harry due Let’s hope such activities will give Sir Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, to the subject matter of his talk. Pre sen - Harry hope for the future. Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, tations are followed by a break to allow Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, both the speaker and the audience to Carol Trager-Cowan is a Reader in the Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, The obtain refreshments. Once everyone’s Department of Physics at Strathclyde Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, glass or coffee cup is refilled, the evening University, Glasgow, UK. Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States. JANIS Café Scientifique events are usually GooYouWiki-World Online Key Cryogenic Systems Café Scientifique www.cafescientifique.org Glasgow’s Café Scientifique www.cafescientifique.org/glasgow.htm Café Sci movement in schools www.juniorcafesci.org.uk Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) www.rsc.org Vega Science Trust www.vega.org.uk Does your research require low temperatures? 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