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Spraffing About Science* By Richard Gallagher Three recent conversations: 1. While in a bookstore perusing the bicycling magazines at length (with only the vaguest intention to buy), a disheveled man beside me starts making loud pronouncements on the nature of time, triggered by the cover art on a popular science magazine. He catches my eye, and partly out of my British obligation to "good manners" and partly because I'll talk with anyone who has an opinion about science, we engage in a shouted exchange about how time is measured, and just how off-base science is, according to him. Fairly interesting, I think, but we effectively clear the magazine section of other browsers. 2. At lunch, a three-way conversation with colleagues becomes far too serious as we discuss the merits of science versus other value systems, such as religions or philosophies. Of course, one of us is playing devil's advocate, forcing the other two to debate that perennial American favorite: Can a scientist also be a creationist? 3. A pub conversation on the nature of love gets sidetracked into the workings of the brain. We agree about the euphoria felt and obsessiveness involved while under the influence, but to what extent is love's neurochemical basis understood? Would it be dangerous or thrilling, or dangerously thrilling, to be able to replicate it at will? An unlimited number of topics have scientific angles. We tend to focus on the more prosaic ones, such as the use of stem cells or whether genetically modified organisms net good or net harm. But the real pleasure is when you get a chance to spraff about science in everyday life, as in my three examples. And it crops up all the time; just watch a big sporting event with a group of fans and there'll be observations on psychology, physiology, and technology - among the meatier topics! Various venues exist for such conversation. The Scientist takes its role of providing useful, I-didn't-know-that information very seriously, and it shows: 60% of the 500,000 monthly visits to our website come from nonresearchers. There are, of course, other ways. Science museums are the most formal; science festivals, which are springing up everywhere, are the most concentrated. But the development that appeals most to me is the science café. Science cafés, a true grass-roots movement, have popped up independently in a number of cities worldwide. Typically held in a popular bar or café, each meeting focuses on a different theme. An invited speaker introduces the topic and provides a personal viewpoint, sans PowerPoint. The floor is then thrown open to contributions and discussion, and spraffing ensues. Each location has its own style, which is certainly an attraction, but they share a common theme of informality, friendliness, and group interactivity. If you have an inclination to start your own science café, check out the Web sites of ongoing successful ventures¹ and watch for The Scientist's "how to" guide in a forthcoming issue. In the meantime, enjoy the discussion in this issue about neuroscience. As Ann Graybiel points out in the First Person interview, neuroscience encapsulates many of the questions that the interested layperson would naturally ask. The selection of stories include the shaping of the brain (Cutting Neurons Down to Size), the causes of schizophrenia (The Infection Connection in Schizophrenia), measuring time (It's Neuron Time), and addiction in adolescents (Young Minds Adulterated). Ideal material for your next spraff. *To spraff: Scottish equivalent of "chew the fat" or "shoot the breeze" 1. Science Café, Copenhagen (www.videnskabscafeen.dk); Café Scientifique, Europe (www.cafescientifique.org); Bar de Science, Canada (www.cybersciences.com) · The Scientist Volume 17, Issue 21, Page 8, Nov. 3, 2003. Copyright 2003, The Scientist LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. |
