We talk about the Science Cafés project, ways to popularise science and its social responsibility with dr hab. Beata Grobelna, prof. UG, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Gdańsk and head of the project 'Science Clubs at the University of Gdańsk - known and unknown faces of science' - a project under the programme Social Responsibility of Science / Excellent Science, module Social Responsibility of Science - Popularisation of Science and Promotion of Sport.

Madam Dean, where did the idea come from to organise such an event as science cafés?

The idea was born a year ago, when, together with dr Magdalena Markiewicz and prof. Barbara Pawłowska from the Faculty of Economics, we worked on preparing a project within the framework of social responsibility of science. The project aimed to strengthen the dialogue between society and scientists by transferring knowledge based on scientific evidence. We wanted to bring sometimes very difficult subjects closer to a wider audience in a very simple and attractive way. We planned 16 meetings, which will take place once a month at different faculties of the University of Gdańsk. One scientist from each faculty will be able to present a lecture on a topic of their choice. The topics will be chosen to present the broadest possible face of science, touching on the most relevant problems. We are also planning meetings in English for participants in the Erasmus Programme. So far, four meetings have been held. A lecture during the inaugural café, representing the Faculty of Chemistry, was given by prof. Ewa Siedlecka. Subsequently, the cafés hosted prof. Monika Bąk from the Faculty of Economics, dr Anna Synak from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technology, prof. Marcin Szulc from the Faculty of Social Sciences and dr Wojciech Glac from the Faculty of Biology.

The idea behind science cafés is to arouse interest in science and bring the scientific activities of UG employees closer to people who are not necessarily involved in science on a daily basis. Do you think that this format of meetings will meet expectations? Or is it already successful?

In fact, if it were not for the presence of the pandemic in our lives, these meetings would have taken place in a completely different way. The individual café meetings were to take place at successive faculties, which was also to give the local community an opportunity to get to know the faculty infrastructure. The meetings were to be quite relaxed and friendly, with the opportunity to have a coffee and eat a delicious cake. The lectures were to last about 30-40 minutes and then guests were to be given the opportunity to ask questions. Due to the current epidemic situation, the meetings so far have been held remotely on the MS Teams platform. However, I must admit that the interest is very high. There were 160 people at the first lecture, and the subsequent lectures were also well attended. Everything, of course, depends on the subject matter, but the lectures within the science cafés are highly popular.

Who is the audience for this lecture formula?

We try to choose the topics of the meetings so that they are interesting for a wide range of people. The cafés are attended by people of all ages, from schoolchildren and youths to students from the University of the Third Age. When presenting science in an open and attractive way, it is important to remember that the information provided should be true and based on scientific evidence. Very often, in the age of television and the internet, we come across so-called celebrities who present their own opinions without any scientific basis. We show science in a true mirror, promoting both the University of Gdańsk and individual scientists.

How do you assess the awareness of the academic community and beyond in the area of the issues raised at the meetings?

One of the tasks of scientists is to shape the proper public perception of scientific achievements, to share knowledge with society both locally, regionally and internationally. When inviting our scientists to give lectures within the framework of the cafés, I saw great understanding on their part. The speakers themselves have chosen topics so that they are attractive to both the student and their parent or grandparent.

We, for our part, give participants the opportunity to send questions via e-mail to our mailbox, the address is always given in each announcement. During the lecture, we also give the opportunity to ask questions.

Feedback from the audience came after the lecture of prof. Szulc, which was attended by many teachers. They highly praised the fact that the University came up with such a proposal because, in the era of the pandemic, they do not hide that they are a bit lost. After the lecture, prof. Szulc answered the participants' questions for over an hour. However, during the first lecture in the café, when the topic related to microplastics was discussed, there was a lot of interest among young people. The young generation is much more aware of repairing the world, repairing the environment, they want to fight for it to be safer, better, to fight for their ideals. Long after the lecture, I received e-mails with questions for prof. Siedlecka.

Which has been the most popular meeting so far? Or was there one where the discussion was heated?

Each meeting is different. Taking into account the promotion of lectures within the cafés, information always appears on the websites of our two faculties - chemistry and economics, on the UG homepage, we also send announcements to schools that we have in our database, to the University of the Third Age, information is also on Facebook. As you can see, the way of spreading information is very wide. Each topic is adapted to a slightly different spectrum of recipients. As I said earlier - prof. Szulc's lecture was very popular with teachers, the lecture on microplastics was dominated by the "students" category, prof. Bąk's and dr Synak's lectures were listened to by many of our staff and students from the University of the Third Age. It is really difficult for me to answer this question, I would not like to single out any lecture. Certainly, each one is very interesting, and I am glad that we can present such a wide spectrum of research that takes place at our University.

I cannot but ask about the current situation, namely the pandemic. Is the current format - I mean remote meetings - doing its job? And do you plan to return to the original stationary format after all this time?

I must admit that online meetings have their advantages and disadvantages. The undoubted advantage is that people who live further away can log on and listen to a lecture without having to come to Gdańsk. For example, the meeting with prof. Szulc was attended by many people from small towns, from small schools from the entire voivodeship. These people were very happy to participate in such an event. The disadvantage is that the person giving the lecture does not have direct contact with the participants, does not see their reactions, whether the message is satisfactory. But this is a disadvantage of all online presentations. I would like to organize meetings in a stationary form as soon as possible, have closer contact, sit longer over coffee and cake. Such meetings could also give rise to new acquaintances and friendships, so apart from the strictly scientific content, it seems to me that their added value could be the strengthening of interpersonal contacts.

I am not a UG student and I would like to take part in such a meeting. How and where can I do this?

A week before each science café we send an announcement about the meeting - on the UG homepage, on the pages of the Faculty of Economics and Chemistry, and we create a Facebook event. Information with a link to the meeting is also sent to schools and the University of the Third Age. Anyone who has a computer with internet access can click on the link and join the meeting. In the announcement, we also include a link to the website of our project, where you can find information not only about the lectures within the scientific cafés but also about other tasks. In the project, we offer, among others, the contest for students " You too can become a lecturer", in March we organise the Congress of Ecological and Economic Circles, in June there will be a conference "Chemistry, business, environment", and in October a city game on campus related to science and the Day of Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk. Lectures in the Science Cafés, meanwhile, take place once a month throughout the period. It is worth mentioning that each lecture is available later as a video, so even if someone could not attend the lecture, they can watch it on the project website at a later date.

All right, I already know how to enter a science café. And now, Ms Dean, please invite our readers to this unusual, because scientific, café and tell us why it is worth taking part in this project.

Science plays a very important role in socio-economic life, allows us to determine the directions of development of societies, and indicates the opportunities and threats to the functioning of man in his ecosystem. It often goes unnoticed in everyday life until it appears in the media in an exaggerated form. During the Science Café lectures, we want to offer you meetings with scientists who will show you their work, encourage you to ask questions and, together with you, think about how to shape the given problem.

The topics of the lectures we will offer you will certainly be varied so that each of you will find something for yourself.

You are cordially invited.

The Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, dr hab. Beata Grobelna, prof. UG was interviewed by Julia Bereszczyńska.