[Extension 'scheme-3' (56364) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable strScheme
 
[Extension 'outputScheme' (56370) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 50: ReferenceError: strScheme is not defined
 
[Extension 'Show Slot 1' (8800) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot1
 
[Extension 'Show Slot 2' (8802) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot2
 
[Extension 'Show Slot 3' (9109) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showSlot3
 
[Extension 'Show Nav' (8929) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable showNav
 
[Extension 'Show 1 Link' (8804) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable noOfLinks
 
[Extension 'white' (8824) on page 'science-society-cafesci-duncan.htm'] Line 1: TypeError: assignment to undeclared variable bgColor
LearnEnglish Science

Double-click on any word on this page for a dictionary definition, then practice your understanding on LearnEnglish Science with activities based on the text on this page.
What has Duncan Dallas done?
Duncan Dallas

Duncan gained a degree Chemistry from Oxford University before joining the BBC in 1964. He then moved over to Yorkshire Television (YTV) in 1968, and became the Head of Science and Features, where he was responsible for a wide range of science and medical programming, ranging from peak-time magazine shows to hour-long documentaries.

In 1992, he left YTV and started an independent production company, XYTV, which produced science programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, and ZDF in Germany, as well as contributing science news and features to Channel 5 News for three years. Two of these documentaries have won international awards.

The start of Café Scientifique

In 1998, Duncan Dallas created the concept of Café Scientifique with an event in Leeds, UK advertising it as:

'a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, people can meet to discuss the latest ideas of science and technology which are changing our lives'..

In 2001, he won an Impact Award from The Wellcome Trust to set up Café Scientifiques in cities throughout the UK, and there are currently 20 'Cafés' across the UK. As part of this development, a Café Scientifique website has been created to link the various UK and International Cafés, and provide information on forthcoming events and practical advice on setting up new Café Scientifiques.

Duncan believes that, "The audience does not come for self-improvement or to be lectured to. It comes to participate.............The public wants to be informed, but also want to discuss the consequences, and very often the Cafés provide the most interesting and agreeable opportunity for this."

Junior Café Scientifique

Recently, Duncan has started working with the Café Scientifique concept in UK schools, taking it to a younger audience. This further development of Café Scientifique has great possibilities for engaging a wider audience with science. The children are empowered to organise the event for themselves. It is held in a location within school but outside of the classroom and typically a young lecturer is invited to speak and to stimulate interest and debate.