About us
INTRODUCTION BY THE GROUP CO-ORGANISER, BOB
Café Science – Basingstoke is an independent, not‑for‑profit forum for curious minds. We bring together scientists, technologists, and interested members of the public to discuss the latest developments in science, technology, and climate change — in a relaxed, inclusive environment.
We welcome anyone with an interest in exploring big ideas — whether you're deeply knowledgeable or just curious. We hope you enjoy the talks and livestream events we publicise, and help us grow this community of science conversation.
ABOUT LOCAL IN-PERSON TALKS
We encourage our subscribers to attend in-person talks hosted by local science discussion groups that are within easy reach of Basingstoke. The groups we mostly publicise include Science in Reading, Henley Science Cafe, Romsey Science Cafe, Salisbury Science Cafe and Winchester Skeptics in the Pub.
The in-person events include a speaker plus a break with a follow-on Q&A discussion of the presentation topic. The speakers will often be researchers and experts in their field invited from local companies and academic centres and are specialists in the subjects under discussion.
IN-PERSON ADMISSION / DONATION FEES
You should be aware that groups running in-person talks will often request an admission fee or donation of up to £5 towards speakers and group expenses.
ONLINE LIVESTREAM TALKS
For those unable to attend the in-person talks, we also provide details of lectures and discussions delivered as on-line livestream talks that you can watch with your family, friends and neighbours. Why not make the most of this great social opportunity by inviting others to join you in a cafe or at home and then have your own discussion afterwards about the topic you watched. The livestream talks and discussions include those from The Royal Institution, The Royal Society, Gresham College and occasional University public lectures.
BOOKING LIVESTREAM EVENTS
Access and booking arrangements for online live stream talks are always handled by the talk organisers outside of this meetup site. Please ensure you take the time to read the booking instructions carefully.
GROUP ORGANISERS
Meetup requires an official group administrator, so Andrew C manages the Meetup account and related logistics. Bob Clifford continues to head up the event planning, coordination, and group leadership. Bob now works from Norwich and oversees the event calendar remotely, so while he may not attend many local meetups in person, he remains the primary contact via Meetup for all group queries and planning matters.
NOTIFICATIONS
Join this meetup group to receive email notifications via Meetup of any in-person and live stream science and technology talks, debates and lectures that we hear about.
Upcoming events
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Winchester Skeptics: Daily Life in Georgian England
Winchester Club, Highfield Lodge, Worthy Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7AB, Winchester, GBThis is an in-person talk hosted by the Winchester Skeptics in the Pub (SitP). Basingstoke Science Cafe members are invited to attend these regular monthly talks at the Winchester Club in Winchester. The Hampshire Skeptics Society is a non-profit organisation for the promotion of science, reason and critical thinking.
Winchester SitP meetings are open to all regardless of beliefs and each month’s talk will be followed up with a challenging Q&A session.
MORE DETAILS ABOUT WINCHESTER SKEPTICS CAN BE FOUND ON THEIR WEB SITE.
https://www.hampshireskeptics.org/
The doors open at 7.00pm, and the talk will begin at 7.30pm.
Talks are usually (December is always an exception) on the 4th Wednesday of every month, at 7:00 for 7:30, at The Winchester Club in Winchester. Please take a look at the FAQs for more info.
Admission is £5 which also gives you an entry in the book raffle. We take cash and major cards (cards preferred).
SUMMARY
TBASTANDARD STUFF
The event is in two parts – the talk and then a Q&A after the interval. We encourage you to support the venue by indulging in the available drinks before and during the event.You are also welcome to join us for a drink in the bar after the event.
SKEPTICS IN THE PUB ONLINE
SitP Online: Every 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm UK time on Twitch.
Basingstoke Anvil: Family Brainiac Live
The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke RG21 7QR, UK, Basingstoke, GBAnvil Arts in Basingstoke invite our subscribers to an upcoming show that may be of interest to everyone at Basingstoke Science Cafe.
More details and bookings can be seen at the following web address:
https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/events/brainiac-liveAnd here is a YouTube video intro to the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxceQjFwYqQ&t=23sSUMMARY:
Due to popular demand and following its 2025 Olivier Award for Best Family Show, science's greatest and most volatile live show is back!More mischievous than ever before, Brainiac Live*, *the UK’s original and favourite family science show explodes on stage and will take you on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful.
Watch from the safety of your seat as the Brainiacs delve fearlessly into the mysteries of science and do all those things on stage that you’re too scared to do at home.
With a great range of experiments this all-action live show is set to blow your minds!
Tickets:
£22.50. Under 16s £21.50Family tickets
£80 (4 tickets - 2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) (includes £4 booking fee)Lounge Experience
Treat yourself to our Virtuoso Lounge upgrade and enjoy reserved seating, personal table service, snacks and drinks, and more.1 attendee
Royal Institution "Discourse: How to get a molecule to obey you"
The Royal Institution, The Royal Institution 21 Albemarle Street London W1S 4BS,, United Kingdom, GBThis is a theatre and livestream talk from the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu brings together the everyday chemistry in our lives with the latest nanotechnology delivering drugs in our bodies.
ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.
More details and booking instructions on the RI web site:https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-how-get-molecule-obey-you
SUMMARY
You may not consider much beyond the medicine your prescribed, or purchase from the shelves, beyond the hope that it will make you feel better when you’re ill.But beneath the foil popper, or inside that bottle is a highly researched chemical compound cocktail. Chemical compounds and their chemical bonds lie at the heart of not just medicines but of everything that we can see, touch or smell, and some things that are odourless and invisible to the naked eye too. In this Discourse, chemist Ijeoma Uchegbu illuminates how chemistry touches every aspect of our world.
Making medicines is an expensive and risky endeavour with, on average, over 5,000 compounds needing to be tested in some form or other before a useable drug compound emerges. A lot of compounds with poor activity fall by the wayside costing about a billion pounds per medicine. A further challenge lies in ensuring that after a medicine is developed patients follow their prescription.
Together we’ll explore how the industry has tackled these issues, from poor activity and side effects to ensuring that drug compounds reach the diseased part of the body whilst lessening the impact on healthy areas and clinical testing. With decisions being made at a nanoparticle level you’ll come away with a better understanding of this highly complex field and its impact on our everyday lives – from medicines to vaccines.
Copies of Ijeoma's book "Chain Reaction: How Chemistry Shapes Our Lives and Why We Should Care" will be available to purchase after the talk.
This is a theatre and livestream event for an adult audience, where the speakers and audience in our Theatre are joined by our audience online.
The livestream will go live around 7.20pm, and the talk will begin at 7.30pm. If you register but miss the livestream, the video will be available to you via the same link for two weeks after the event date.
For more information on livestreams, see the information below, or visit our FAQs page. Please use the event link you have been provided with.
By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri's event terms and conditions. You also agree to abide by our code of conduct, and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants.
1 attendee
Royal Institution "Einstein Telescope: Discovery and diplomacy"
The Royal Institution, The Royal Institution 21 Albemarle Street London W1S 4BS,, United Kingdom, GBThis is a theatre and livestream talk from the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Theoretical physicist, and President-elect of the International Science Council, Robbert Dijkgraaf explores what makes the Einstein Telescope so important.
ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.
More details and booking instructions on the RI web site:https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/einstein-telescope-discovery-and-diplomacy
SUMMARY
The Einstein Telescope, currently planned for operation in 2035, will be one of the most powerful tools for detecting gravitational waves and testing the theory of General Relativity. Not only is it a wonder of scientific design, but it's also a platform for international cooperation and innovation.In this talk, theoretical physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf will delve into the details of what makes the Einstein Telescope so special. What does it do, what are we hoping to learn, and how can scientific collaboration between countries be a valuable source of soft power?
Once constructed, the telescope is expected to provide scientists with some of the most sensitive equipment ever for answering some of these fundamental questions. As well as testing Einstein's general theory of relativity, it will be able to search for dark matter, help unlock the secrets of the early universe, and teach us more about black holes and neutron stars.
This talk is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands.
This is a theatre and livestream event for an adult audience, where the speakers and audience in our Theatre are joined by our audience online.
The livestream will go live around 7.20pm, and the talk will begin at 7.30pm. If you register but miss the livestream, the video will be available to you via the same link for two weeks after the event date.
For more information on livestreams, see the information below, or visit our FAQs page. Please use the event link you have been provided with.
By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri's event terms and conditions. You also agree to abide by our code of conduct, and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants.
2 attendees
Past events
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