What is the Denver Café Scientifique? And what's Café Sci2?
The Denver Café began in November 2003, making in now the oldest in the Americas, one of the largest in the world, and, we modestly believe, the best.
And now, we have started Café Sci2! It's very much like Café Sci (the original) but will be on variable days of the week, at the sports restaurant Brooklyn's on Auraria Parkway just across from the Auraria Campus downtown. The organizer is Eric Meer, who is a science buff but not a scientist, so the original Café will offer a lot of help and encouragement. The first meeting of Café Sci2 was on 28 October 2010, and Timberley Roane of UCD spoke on microbes in the environment and in our bodies, and how delicate the balance is for their survival and well-being, and how we may be messing that up. And guess what: there were close to 150 people who showed up! Read more about Café Sci2.
Grady Booch, Chief Scientist at IBM, who spoke at the Café in 2004, wrote: "While I typically speak only to fellow geeks, this was absolutely the most refreshing encounter I've had in a very long time. It's wonderful to be among a group of such intelligent and diverse people who are passionate about pursuing knowledge and understanding." Dennis Van Gerven said of his talk: "I can honestly say I haven't had that much fun without losing consciousness in years!" Gene Abrams, who had to be convinced that Security would protect him from the angry mob if he tried to talk about mathematics, wrote: " In what ranks as one of the most satisfying and rewarding opportunities of my career, I had the privilege to share what I do with a group of tavern-goers who were thirsting for more than just the local microbrew." Dr. Connie Price described her talk about antibiotic-resistant MRSA as "Probably one of the most fun things I've done in my career."
Everyone is welcome!
Because we get a large crowd (you may have to stand), it isn't practical to serve meals at the tables. We invite you to come early and get dinner in the regular restaurant, or wait until we're through (about 8 PM) and eat then. The Wynkoop's food is great! There is bar service throughout the session, and the Wynkoop people have generously offered to provide snacks for our guests.
Café Scientifique meetings are FREE. The Wynkoop is generously providing the facility; we buy our own food and drinks. Seating is limited, and the event is popular, so you may want to arrive around 6 PM to be sure of getting a seat. PLEASE don't bring in chairs from the restaurant! It deprives the Wynkoop of its profits, and we don't want them to be unhappy with us!
News 19 March 2013: Some of you may know of the movement down in Colorado Springs to create a regional Science Center. Now they are ready to go to the next level, developing the funding for construction. To kick it off, they will be celebrating Yuri's Day—a world-wide event on Friday evening, 12 April—that commemorates Yuri Gagarin's first space flight. Join them at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center for an evening of fun, interactive science activities, rocket science demonstrations, stargazing, food, drink, and their first fundraiser to bring a state-of-the-art Science Center to the Pikes Peak Region. Tickets($49) and information.
News 19 March 2013: On Monday 15 April 2013, feisty Café Sci former speaker Robert Zubrin will debate CSU philosophy Prof. Philip Cafaro on the topic: "Are people the problem?" Prof. Carfaro has been quoted as saying immigrants to the US use too much energy/carbon and so immigration should be limited; Zubrin has other views. This should be interesting. It will be at CCU's Beckman Center. You need to register for this free event, on line or at 303-963-3424. Use Google Maps to find the Center, it's a bit secluded.
News 11 February 2013: Landsat 8 was successfully launched today. "Landsat is a centerpiece of NASA's Earth Science program, and today's successful launch will extend the longest continuous data record of Earth's surface as seen from space," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "This data is a key tool for monitoring climate change and has led to the improvement of human and biodiversity health, energy and water management, urban planning, disaster recovery and agriculture monitoring -- all resulting in incalculable benefits to the U.S. and world economy." The Operantional Land Imager aboard was built by Ball Aerospace in Boulder, CO.
Older news items...
The Colorado Café Scientifique is organized by an informal group of
President's Teaching Scholars and other faculty from CU and other institutions up and down the Front Range, as well as students, science types from industry and government, and science buffs. We welcome your input, including ideas
for speakers and topics. Bring them with you to the next Café, or e-mail
them and any questions to the organizer, John Cohen.
This site was developed by Cheri Milliron. Colorado Café Sci logo © 2006 by Helen Macfarlane.
