[Linux-aus] Science Cafe

[David Lloyd]

Perhaps one of the scientific institutes in Australia might be a better fit? Or a University science department? Or the Prime Minister’s Office (ok that was a joke)…

DSL

> On 1 Jul 2015, at 4:17 pm, Russell Coker <russell at coker.com.au> wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 1 Jul 2015 08:02:55 AM James Polley wrote:
>> I like the Cafe Scientifique and Science Cafe concepts - I'm a fan of
>> anything that encourages science literacy or critical thinking.
>> 
>> But I'm having trouble seeing how this is "a good fit for the aims of Linux
>> Australia". http://linux.org.au/projects/grants has some details on some of
>> the criteria the request should meet to be considered, starting with being
>> "for the good of a project that relates to Linux or Open Source". I
> 
> I agree that a strict literal reading of the grants page would make this 
> project ineligible for a financial grant.
> 
> However at this time I'm not looking for money just for mailing list hosting.  
> So even if it's determined that the grants page should be interpreted strictly 
> I don't think this necessarily precludes mailing list hosting.
> 
> But I think that the grants page should be interpreted more liberally.  
> Computer Science is one branch of science and generally promoting science 
> education goes along with Open Source.
> 
> If it is determined that Linux Australia shouldn't offer mailing list hosting 
> for such a project does anyone know of a good service to use?  Don't say 
> Google Groups.
> 
>> certainly think that encouraging science literacy benefits every aspect of
>> life, but I'm having trouble making a direct connection to Linux or Open
>> Source.
>> 
>> I'd really like to see this sponsorship happen, but I'm having trouble
>> seeing how it fits within the usual scope of the grants program.
>> 
>> Would you be able to address some of the points from the Grants page to add
>> some more detail about how this fits?
>> 
>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 12:19 AM Russell Coker <russell at coker.com.au> wrote:
>>> I would like to start a Melbourne version of the "Science Cafe" project.
>>> That
>>> involves arranging meetings of scientists and people who are interested
>>> in science to chat informally at cafes etc.
>>> 
>>> I need a mailing list.  I think that as it's a non-free project based
>>> around
>>> science it's a good fit for the aims of Linux Australia and running
>>> another mailing list is a very easy form of sponsorship.  So I'd like to
>>> use a mailing
>>> list on the LA server.  A possible mailing list name would be
>>> science-cafe- melb.
>>> 
>>> Also if things go well in this regard I'll eventually setup a Meetup
>>> group. If that happens would LA be willing to sponsor the Meetup fees
>>> and have official
>>> ownership of the Meetup account?  I don't want this to be something that
>>> I personally do, I want it to be easily passed on to other people who
>>> have more
>>> time and energy when appropriate.
>>> 
>>> ======
>>> 
>>> Here's the background:
>>> 
>>> The Science Cafe idea has been implemented in different ways in various
>>> places.
>>> The people who started it favored a very decentralised model so there
>>> isn't even a clear definition of it apart from being generally involving
>>> people talking about science, usually scientists talking to random
>>> people who want to
>>> learn in a cafe or other similar public place.  I'm initially planning to
>>> talk
>>> to my contacts in medical research but it would be good if other people
>>> can find scientists willing to get involved.
>>> 
>>> If anyone from Melbourne wants to get involved then let me know by
>>> private mail and I'll put you in contact with the other people.  If
>>> anyone wants to do
>>> something in another region then I guess this list could be used to start
>>> the
>>> discussion.
>>> 
>>> http://www.inspiring-australia.com.au/category/cafe-scientifique/
>>> 
>>> The above URL has information on what they are doing in QLD.  Small
>>> amounts of
>>> money are available to help people who want to run similar events.
>>> 
>>> http://www.scitech.org.au/events/all/1740-science-cafe
>>> 
>>> The above URL has information about an event in Perth for year 9-11 kids.
>>> 
>>> I didn't put much effort into finding out what's going on in other
>>> states, the
>>> fact that nothing is happening in Melbourne is all that's really of
>>> interest
>>> to me.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> My Main Blog         http://etbe.coker.com.au/
>>> My Documents Blog    http://doc.coker.com.au/
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> linux-aus mailing list
>>> linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au
>>> http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/linux-aus
> 
> -- 
> My Main Blog         http://etbe.coker.com.au/
> My Documents Blog    http://doc.coker.com.au/
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