There’s more than one group organizing Café Scientifique meetings in the Vancouver region. Simon Fraser University (SFU) has one organized for tonight, Nov. 19, 2014. Unfortunately, I got the notice at approximately 1120 hours on Nov. 19, 2014. If I had to hazard a couple of guesses as to the lack of notice, nobody told the communications team this event was occurring until this morning (Nov. 19, 2014) or someone on the team forgot to sent out the notice until the last minute. In either case, my sympathies are with them as sometimes I’ve gotten information late and had to scramble or despite my best efforts to remind myself, I forgot.
On to the talk, from the Nov. 19, 2014 SFU announcement,
Café Scientifique focuses on “materials” world
SFU scientist is all about “small talk” as the next series speaker tonight Simon Fraser University chemistry professor Neil Branda will zero in on the small world of nanotechnology and how materials have evolved, as the next speaker in SFU’s popular Café Scientifique series, tonight at 7 p.m. at the Boston Pizza in New Westminster. The event is free and the public is welcome. “Since the beginning, understanding how materials can be used for specific tasks has resulted in some of the biggest changes to civilizations,” says Branda, who will explore how modern society is becoming increasingly dependent on the development and use of advanced materials, from the basics to the controversial, affecting how we live and play. A Canada Research Chair at SFU and the executive director of 4D LABS, a research centre for advanced materials and nano-scale devices, Branda is also CTO of SWITCH Materials Inc., a company he founded to commercialize his molecular switching technology. He is also founder and director of the NanoCommunity Canada Research Network, a community of nanotechnology researchers committed to sharing knowledge and working collaboratively to advance applications in medical diagnostics, therapeutics, renewable energy and advanced materials. SFU’s café series features speakers from the Faculty of Science who discuss health or popular-science related topics without the use of audio-visual materials or handouts, for approximately 30 minutes. A discussion with the audience follows while participants enjoy appetizers and beverages. To reserve your free seat, email cafe_scientifique@sfu.ca
What: Café Scientifique, on the topic: It’s a Materials World – from Sticks and Stones to nanotechnology, how materials have changed our world.
When: Tonight (Nov. 19) at 7 p.m.
Where: Boston Pizza (private room) 1045 Columbia St., two blocks from the New West Skytrain station
Have a good time!
ETA Nov. 19, 2014 at 1220 hours PDT: I have spoken to Neil Branda who will be adapting his talk to his audience. In short, if a majority of scientists show up, it will be more technical and if an audience with more generalized interests show up, there will be more focus on how materials have affected society.