Turku Science Café Discusses Science with a Smile

28.10.2014

Science in ordinary language. That is the dream and goal of Sabrina Maniscalco, Professor of Physics. The idea that had been germinating for a couple of years became reality this autumn when Maniscalco and a few others established a Science Café in Turku. The number of people who came to the Café proved that there was a demand for it.

Professor Sabrina Maniscalco confesses that the feedback from the Science Café participants encourages her to continue. For example, one person who participated in the discussion about wormholes stated that Maniscalco is surrounded by a wondrous gas that might create a wormhole.

The first time, the topic was quantum technology, the second time wormholes and teleportation, and next Saturday it is brain plasticity. No easy topics, but Maniscalco knows that, when presented in the right way, they capture the audience.

– We organise the Science Cafés for ordinary people. The scientist talks about a phenomenon, the subject of his or her research as popularly as possible and afterwards the topic is discussed. It is not a lecture, the discussion has a very important part, says Sabrina Maniscalco.

The roots of the Science Café go back to the Turku 2011 – European Capital of Culture year when Sabrina Maniscalco organised the International Science Day. After the event, Tuula Ruskeeniemi, a person outside of the scientific world and unknown to Maniscalco, sent a thank you message and said that more of these kinds of events should be organised.

– I was instantly excited about the idea, but I was just moving to Scotland to work. However, we kept in contact with Tuula and when I came back to Turku this summer, the Science Café idea was revived, says Maniscalco.

A Great Hobby

The Café is run with a flexible and light organisation, without costs. Maniscalco has had help from Mikko Tukiainen, Antti Karlsson, Teiko Heinosaari and Iiro Vilja, among others.

–The Café is held on Saturdays, which is not a work day. This is a great hobby, says Maniscalco and laughs joyfully.

Laughter is a central part of the event. Even though the discussion concerns science, Maniscalco takes care that the Café does not become too rhetoric and difficult to understand. If it looks like that it is about to happen, Maniscalco plays “ignorant” and asks humorous questions.

– It is not a lecture – the presenter first introduces the topic which is then discussed with the whole group and after that in smaller ones. Initially, the idea was that the Café would last an hour but people were so enthusiastic that when I left after two hours they still remained and kept the discussion going, says Maniscalco

Maniscalco has organised several events that popularise science and she confesses her surprise about how well ordinary people get engrossed into the world of science.

– The Science Café is for everyone who loves science, says Maniscalco.

Café Every Other Saturday

The information about the Science Café has travelled as a word of mouth. The first Café was organised in Tiirikkala but the participants ran out room immediately. Now the place has changed to Panimoravintola Koulu’s Historia room. It gets a little cramped as well but extra room is found by sitting on the floor if necessary.

The discussion can be continued on the event’s Facebook pages, where you can also suggest topics.

– We strive to be as open as possible to new thoughts and ideas. Even though the first two Science Cafés handled physics, in the future we will include all the disciplines, says Maniscalco.

On Facebook, you can also find the date and time for the next Science Café. The goal is to meet every second Saturday at 5pm. The Science Café is bilingual – English is used side by side with Finnish.

The next Science Café in Panimoravintola Koulu’s Historia room on Saturday 1 November at 5pm. Professor Heikki Hämäläinen introduces the topic: Brain Plasticity.

>> Science Café Facebook pages
>> Facebook Event page of the first Science Café
>> Facebook Event page of the second Science Café

Text: Erja Hyytiäinen
Illustration: Mikko Tukiainen
Photo: Erja Hyytiäinen
Translation: Mari Ratia

Created 28.10.2014 | Updated 28.10.2014