Tasting science in a cafe

"Music Girl" Cafe, drifting Island Bar, Zhengdao Performing Arts Bar.

What do these places remind you of?

Your answer must have nothing to do with science. But in the "Science and Technology Cafe" series of activities organized by the Culture and Education Office of the British Embassy, it is in these places that you have the opportunity to face to face with outstanding Chinese and British scientists and easily savor the mysteries of science.

-scene sketch

Dressed in a red shirt and sleeves rolled up, MarcusduSautoy, a professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford, looks energetic and moves around a small area of his own with a microphone in his hand. He is the keynote speaker today, explaining the prime numbers he is interested in to the 50 listeners in relaxed and vivid language.

On February 18, another "Science and Technology Cafe" event was held, which arranged an interactive exhibition area of the Beijing International Trade Center. Today's topic is "Prime numbers on notes".

At the scene of the event, everyone sat around a small table in twos and threes, with fruit juice drinks, raisins and nuts, which looked like a tea party.

At 2 ∶ 00, the event started on time, and a picture of Beckham smiling and taking over the No. 23 jersey appeared on the screen.

"everyone knows that Beckham moved to Real Madrid and he chose the No. 23 shirt. Why this number? There's a lot of speculation. Some people say that this number is auspicious, because Jordan is 23; others say that this number is not good, Julius Caesar died after being assassinated 23 times; Star Wars fans will immediately think that the cell in which the princess was locked up in Star Wars is the AA23. In my opinion, 23 is a prime number. "

Professor Marcus's opening was fascinating, the audience was obviously interested, put down their drinks, and the snacks on the table now lost their appeal.

The interesting questions that seem to have nothing to do with mathematics lead to the characteristics of prime numbers, the formulas of some prime number series, the prime number problems that have not been answered in the international mathematics circle, and so on.

When the event was coming to an end, several listeners continued to communicate around Marcus, and Professor Marcus was happy to exchange E-mail with Chinese listeners.

-the organizer said-

Came to China three years ago.

After the event, the reporter interviewed Mr. RobinRickard from the Culture and Education Section of the British Embassy, who is in charge of the Science and Technology Cafe project. Mr. RobinRickard said that the first technology cafe (cafe é coffee) was founded in Leeds, England, in 1998, advocating an easy way to bring science to the public. Since then, a network of technology cafes has been set up in Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford and other places. Now the network has expanded to many other cities in the UK.

In 2003, the British Council introduced the Science and Technology Cafe to China. Since that year, regular activities have been held to invite outstanding Chinese and British scientists to discuss scientific issues of concern to ordinary people while tasting coffee and tea, face-to-face with scientists with great interest. talk freely about the latest scientific and technological developments. Basically, there are 10 activities of 8MUR every year.

If you sign up, you can participate for free.

"the meeting place is specially chosen in cafes, bars, restaurants and even theatres, fitness rooms and other places far away from the traditional academic environment and atmosphere, in order to make the public willing to participate as much as possible and do not feel that science and technology are out of reach." Mr. RobinRickard said. The title and speaker of each event of the Science and Technology Cafe will be posted in advance on the website of the British Embassy. Interested people can sign up through the Internet. The organizer adopts the principle of priority. The general number of people is 100,120.

It is worth mentioning that the "Technology Cafe" activities are free, as long as you sign up online and get tickets, you can participate, and free drinks and snacks will be provided on the spot. Mr. RobinRickard told reporters that their activities are positioned as public welfare forums and do not make a profit from the activities.

The keynote speaker is not easy to find.

According to the person in charge of the event, after the topic of each discussion is determined, they will contact the Scientific Committee of the British Council in Manchester, England, and ask them to choose an expert in this field. The expert must have two conditions, do the best research, and have good communication skills. They also admit that such scientists are not easy to find.

-the feeling of the audience-

"more vivid than the math class at school."

Wang Shanning, a student in the second year of Beijing 55 Middle School, came to participate in the science and technology cafe with her mother. "this is my first time. My mother signed me up online.

Like other listeners who attended the event, Wang Shanning and her mother thought it was worth the trip. "the lecture here sounds more vivid than the math class at school." Wang Shanning told reporters. The little girl was excited to learn that today's speaker was a famous professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford in England. "I wish I could meet more famous scientists," she said. "

"Don't worry about not understanding."

Technology Cafe has no restrictions on its audience. You are welcome to come as long as you are interested in science. Activities begin with a short speech from a scientist or technologist, followed by a small question and discussion. Everyone will have the opportunity to ask questions, all kinds of questions can be asked.

Ms. Ailingwu, a regular visitor to the Technology Cafe, still records the activities of the day seriously and then asks the speaker questions. "I am interested in science. I will pay attention to their activities every time. I will come as long as the topic is what I like. I don't worry that I won't understand it. Most of them speak vividly.

According to Dong Jie, a science and technology project officer at the British Embassy, their audience survey showed that the participants were men and women, young and old. Most of them are science and technology majors in the university.

-the main speaker is his person.

One of the 100 most influential people under the age of 40 in Britain

MarcusduSautoy was selected as one of the top scientists in the UK by the Sunday Independent. In 2004, it was named as one of the "100 most influential people under the age of 40 in Britain" by Esquire magazine. His math book Prime in Music has been published in four editions, translated into nine languages and won the most popular science book of the year awards in Italy and Germany. On February 18, he explained his favorite prime numbers to the Chinese public for the first time.

"the Chinese audience also liked my speech."

After the event, Professor Marcus told reporters that he felt that the Chinese audience was no different from the British one. Everyone was interested in mathematics and would ask him all kinds of interesting questions. He was glad to see that the Chinese audience liked his speech. In his view, communication with the public does not affect his research work, and sometimes gives him some new inspiration.

Before coming here, Marcus did not worry about the communication problems with the Chinese audience. for the speaker, he did not require the audience to have scientific and technical knowledge. in the UK, he often participated in this kind of popular science activities, and his audience was varied, including the elderly and children, and everyone liked to listen to him speak math.

He told reporters that it is not easy to do this, which requires exercise in the ability to communicate with others. To this end, he will understand what is going on around him through television and radio between his research work, enrich the content of his speech, and make it closer to the lives of ordinary people.

The origin of ■ news

At two o'clock in the afternoon on February 18, the Beijing International Trade Center gathered a group of people who love science, and a science salon entitled "Prime numbers on notes" is about to begin. This is one of a series of "Science and Technology Cafe" activities organized by the Culture and Education Office of the British Embassy. In this event, young science enthusiasts have the opportunity to face to face with outstanding Chinese and British scientists and easily savor the mysteries of science.

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