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
4
Royal Institution "Alive: what life is, how it works, and why it matters"
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. Melanie Challenger is joined by a panel of guests to discuss the science behind one of the most fundamental questions in the world; What does it mean to be alive?
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/alive-what-life-how-it-works-and-why-it-matters
SUMMARY
Living beings are not machines, but embodied, self-organising entities whose activity is directed towards staying alive. In this thought-provoking conversation, author Melanie Challenger is joined by biochemist Nick Lane and science writer Philip Ball to explore some of the most fundamental questions in science and philosophy.Drawing on Melanie’s new book ‘Alive’, alongside Nick and Philip’s own research, the discussion ranges from the origins of life and the energetic principles that sustain it to emerging ideas about agency, individuality and what distinguishes living beings from inert matter.
Together, they will consider whether recent advances in biology are changing our understanding of life, undermining older ideas of life-forms either gene-driven machines or something more. Join Melanie, Nick and Philip as they approach these questions from different perspectives, and ask what it means to think of living beings as embodied and purposive in their own right.
Copies of Melanie's book "Alive: what life is, how it works, and why it matters" will be available for 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 6.55pm, and the talk will begin at 7.00pm. 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
Winchester Skeptics: What Database of 290,000 English Medieval soldiers reveals
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
The Soldier in Later Medieval England (www.medievalsoldier.org) is a pioneering project to create an online database of soldiers serving the English crown in its late medieval wars, involving close collaboration between historians and computer scientists.It is the largest medieval database online and has had millions of hits since its launch back in 2011.
How did historians find all those soldier names? And how easy was it to create the online interface?
What can the database it tell us about our ancestors and what it was like to be a soldier 600 years ago?
STANDARD 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.
Royal Institution "Discourse: Discoveries at the moons of Jupiter and Saturn"
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. Astronomer Royal Michele Dougherty asks whether other bodies in the solar system could support life.
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-discoveries-icy-moons-jupiter-and-saturn
SUMMARY
One of the most important realisations that planetary scientists have come to in the last 30 years is that in the search for potential habitability in our solar system, the focus need not only be on planets close to the Sun, where water on the surface is in liquid form. Based on observations from instruments on the GALILEO spacecraft at Jupiter and the CASSINI spacecraft at Saturn, there are many potential places in our solar system where liquid water oceans may exist below the surface.In this Discourse, Michele Dougherty, the first female Astronomer Royal, will describe the discoveries made by CASSINI scientists, as well as exploring the future discoveries waiting to be made at Jupiter’s moons with the European Space Agency mission JUICE.
The JUICE mission was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana in April 2023, and the spacecraft will spend at least three years making detailed observations of the giant planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, which all show hints of hosting liquid water oceans beneath their crusts. On Earth, life thrives in the deepest, darkest parts of our oceans near hydrothermal vents. Ultimately leading to the big question: could life similarly evolve or survive in the ocean floors of these moons?
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 attendeeWinchester Skeptics: What is it like to be a crow?
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
Further details to followSTANDARD 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.
SPEAKER
TBASKEPTICS IN THE PUB ONLINE
SitP Online: Every 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm UK time on Twitch.1 attendee
Past events
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Group links
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