[Linux-aus] Science Cafe

Thu Jul 2 11:31:06 AEST 2015

On Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 4:47 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.
>

You've won me over with this reasoning.

Science requires lots of openness: the methods used in an experiment need
to be open, so that the experiment can be reproduced and verified. The data
collected from the experiment needs to be open so that the conclusions can
be verified. The knowledge gained from the experiment needs to be open so
that later experiments are able to adapt and build on the results of
earlier work.

Computing is just one offshoot of the results of the open scientific
process. The Open Source movement wouldn't have been possible without the
fruits of centuries of Open Science that preceded it (not that it ever went
by that name - but that's how it operated).

Long term I think it might be a good branding exercise for LA to look into
a broader offering of mailing list services for groups like this - possibly
sponsored by one of the commercial mass mailing providers, if LA wants to
go down the path of corporate sponsorship.

Short term, I'm happy to support this request. It's true that scientific
literacy isn't directly related to open source, but I think that promoting
greater science literacy does have enough benefits to justify the small
cost of hosting the list.

> 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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