The Geneva session, 'HEP colliding with GDP' was a real
hit. It starred two Australian physicists working in CERN: Dr Leanne Guy and Dr
Emmanuel Tsesmelis, both originally from Melbourne, and a mad Irish science
journalist-cum-academic, Dr Brian Trench, who played the role of the 'bloke in
the pub'. He was brilliant. Alf Conlon did a sterling job on compering, dressed
in the appropriate and very colourful 'Australian beer tree shirt' and Michelle
Riedlinger (ASC Brisbane) stirred the audience into action. Foster's (Europe) provided free beef for all
- 40 slabs, in fact. This went down well with the 130 or so audience as they
worked out whether Switzerland and the rest of Europe could support such
expensive High Energy Particle research at a time when the introduction of the
Euro is unsettling the economy. There was some pretty well lubricated and
animated discussion. Meanwhile our Swiss colleagues who insisted they wouldn't
been seen dead drinking Aussie beer actually admitted to enjoying it. They
seemed to have enjoyed quite a volume!
You achieved something enormous at the PCST meeting with
your real live Science in the Pub - showing how science communication can break
out of conservative barriers and really come to life with a fantastic vibe and
super edutainment value. I'm really so sorry that I could not see the whole
event, but even the part that I could attend was fantastic. I have been telling
everyone here about it as the highlight of the conference. I really do hope
that we will be able to bring your production to the PCST 2002 in Cape Town. How did you go about getting the funding to take it to CERN???
Marina Joubert Corporate Communication Manager NATIONAL
RESEARCH FOUNDATION -, PRETORIA, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA
The outstanding event of the 2000 PCST conference at CERN
in Geneva was "Science in the
Pub" organised by Robyn Stutchbury and generously sponsored by Fosters
Lager. After 3 days of largely academic discussion on science communication it
was so refreshing to have a demonstration of how to do it! An Australian pub atmosphere was created in
CERN's main restaurant with singers, guitar players, an in-your-face
Aussie compere and plenty of Fosters to
facilitate intellectual exchange! In the centre two physicists who were
interviewed by an aggressive journalist who asked all the questions which scientists dread.
"How much does it cost? What! You could inoculate half of India with that
money." "So you produce nothing useful, why should our taxes be
wasted on this rubbish?" Ouch!
Science communicators do not ask each other these sorts of
questions.
"Science in the Pub" made such an impact on the
conference because it reminded delegates that out there are a lot of people who
do not support science, who have valid questions and worries. If we are unable
to answer such questions then our own credibility is in doubt.
So bravo Australia for bringing entertainment and a
slightly chilling breeze of reality to the conference. And thanks to Fosters
for all the beer!