Café Scientifique is a global product under the Council’s ‘Understanding Science in Society’ programme area. It aims to encourage a forum atmosphere for debating science issues by promoting public engagement with science and the impact of science on people’s lives, as a driver of social and cultural change.

We adapted the Café Scientifique concept into a video conference format. Six successful series of video conference-based multilateral events have been run until now. Each event involved the UK linking simultaneously with audiences in two British Council offices overseas.

Within the framework of ZeroCarbonCity campaign there will be more of Café Scientifique events through video conference. By linking to two separate non-UK audiences, the participants are able to debate and exchange ideas on science and society with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Below are some examples from our previous Cafe Scentifique events:

“Global Warming”
Associate professor Mark Maslin from University College London gave a warm and informative talk on “Global Warming” , followed by a question and answer session with the audience in BC Ankara and BC Istanbul where Quentin Cooper acted as the UK facilitator. To have more info about Mark Maslin’s book please click here.
When : 18 April 2005 at 18:30-20:30
Where: British Council, Ankara.

“A Study of Climate Change from a Business Perspective”  
The audience at British Council Ankara and at British Council Baku were connected to UK to hear Francis Sullivan , HSBC’s Advisor on the Environment, talking on  A Study of Climate Change from a Business Perspective. While Dr.Melaine Quin acted as the UK facilitator, Yunus Arıkan, REC Turkey Climate Change Project Manager acted as Turkey facilitator.
When : 16 December 2005 at 13:30-16:00
Where: British Council, Ankara

“What needs to happen to cope with increased flood risk?”
The audience at British Council Ankara and at British Council Romania were connected to UK to hear Dr.Merylyn McKenzie Hedger, Climate Change Project Manager of Environment Agency , talking on “What needs to happen to cope with increased flood risk?”(Please download the PPP from here) While Dr. David BOOTH , Queen’s University of Belfast acted as the UK facilitator, Yunus Arıkan, REC Turkey Climate Change Project Manager acted as Turkey facilitator.
Before the video conference connection started at 18:30, Prof.Dr.Mikdat Kadıoğlu from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronauctics, Meteorological Engineering Department – ITU Disaster Management Centre gave a presentation on “Climate Change and Increased Flood Risk”
PPP (Part 1)
PPP (Part 2)
PPP (Part 3)
PPP (Part 4)
PPP (Part 5)
PPP (Part 6)
PPP (Part 7)
PPP (Part 8)
PPP (Part 9)
PPP (Part 10)
When : 17 February 2006 at 17:00-20:30
Where: British Council, Ankara

“Climate Change and Wind Energy”
The audience at British Council Ankara and at British Council Greece were connected to UK to hear Dr. Andrew Garrad Director of Garrad Hassan and Partners Ltd on "Wind Energy"
(PPP presentation Part 1)
(PPP presentation Part 2)
(PPP presentation Part 3)
While Ben JOHNSON University of West of England acted as the UK facilitator, Yunus Arıkan, REC Turkey Climate Change Project Manager acted as Turkey facilitator.
Before the video conference connection started at 14:30, Associate Professor Tanay Sıtkı Uyar from Eurosolar Turkey and Marmara University - Engineering Faculty Mechanical Engineering Dept. Head of Energy Department, gave a presentation on wind energy.
When : 14 March 2006 at 13:30-16:00
Where: British Council, Ankara