When University of Victoria astronomy and physics professor Chris Pritchet held a talk about dark energy and cosmology at a Calgary pub, he knew he had to bring the initiative back to Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚 was just blown away. The level of questions was really high, the enthusiasm of the audience was really high,B次元官网网址� Pritchet said.

B次元官网网址淭here is a feeling among scientists that we donB次元官网网址檛 do enough to communicate what we do to the public. And when we do, we use media such as Powerpoint (that) create some distance between the speaker and the audience.B次元官网网址�

When Pritchet began organizing the events in 2009 B次元官网网址� independently held discussions, in a casual setting, on popular topics between scientists and the public B次元官网网址� he found he wasnB次元官网网址檛 the first to conceive of the plan.

The Centre for Biomedical Research, led by Paul Zehr, had already hopped onto the worldwide trend in 2008 and has been hosting open discussions on medical issues at casual downtown Victoria locales ever since.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a real first-person narrative,B次元官网网址� Zehr said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really talking to the people who are doing those things, in many cases who are world leaders in what theyB次元官网网址檙e discussing.B次元官网网址�

Last year Zehr welcomed Pritchet and the UVic Faculty of Science onto their slate of presenters. With growing demand, the two groups have split to double their public outreach.

B次元官网网址淭he Victoria community has really bought into UVic researchers coming out and working with them in an informal way,B次元官网网址� Zehr said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been keen to encourage more colleagues to do these kinds of events because there is a real appetite for them.B次元官网网址�

Colin Goldblatt, professor in the Earth and ocean sciences department, discussed the evolution of the universe in laymanB次元官网网址檚 terms on Jan. 10 when he presented the Physics and Chemistry of the Apocalypse: Runaway Greenhouses, Earth's Future and VenusB次元官网网址� Past B次元官网网址� a challenge he puts into perspective with a quote from famed chemist Ernest Rutherford.

B次元官网网址淏ack in the day, when you could say politically incorrect things like this, heB次元官网网址檇 say B次元官网网址榠f you canB次元官网网址檛 explain your physics to a barmaid, your physics probably arenB次元官网网址檛 very good,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Goldblatt said.

B次元官网网址淚f we canB次元官网网址檛 explain what weB次元官网网址檙e doing to everybody whoB次元官网网址檚 intelligent and interested, but not trained, then I donB次元官网网址檛 think it necessarily helps us to learn anything. IB次元官网网址檓 a public servant and itB次元官网网址檚 my job to go tell people what IB次元官网网址檓 doing with their money.B次元官网网址�

The Centre for Biomedical Research has held 30 talks and continues to fill the Maple Room at the Strathcona Hotel to capacity each month. Zehr hopes the success will inspire more of his colleagues to get involved, as UVicB次元官网网址檚 Centre on Aging has recently.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 really important to have this informal exchange between the university and the communities who are hosting these universities,B次元官网网址� Zehr said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really nice interplay between the theory and the practical applications,B次元官网网址� Pritchet added.

Next open discussion

B次元官网网址� All Caf茅 Scientifique events for the Centre for Biomedical Research will be held in the Maple Room of the Strathcona Hotel, 919 Douglas St. at 6:30 p.m. Events are free, but seating is limited. Reserve at cfbr@uvic.ca or 250-472-4067.

B次元官网网址� Up next: Dr. Alexandra Branzan Albu will lead Artificial intelligence: Friend or Foe, on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

This season features an all-female line-up of neuroscientists in honour of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 new neuroscience biomedical grad program.

For an updated list of all Caf茅 Scientifique events, visit events.uvic.ca.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com