Bemidji’s First Science Café

Hello everyone I got this in an email and thought it might be interesting.
Bemidji’s First Science Café: Biological Controls for Animal and Plant Pests

Headwaters Science Center will host the public at its first Science Café at The Cabin Coffee House & Cafe on 4th Street at 7PM on Tuesday, June 30. Everyone is invited to attend. Several persons who are knowledgeable about insect, plant and aquatic organisms will be on hand to answer questions on such topics as the possibilities of using biological methods to control the Emerald Green Ash Beetle, Spotted Knapweed, Zebra mussels, and many other pests.

Three people who are engaged in methods of biological controls will be present to help guide discussion: Maryland resident Dale Meyerdirk, who has 30 years of experience as a research and economic entomologist with the U. S. Department of Agriculture; Paul Conklin, who teaches at BSU and raises organic fruits and vegetables; and Dann Siems; who has taught at BSU and is an aquatic biologist with Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District.

What is a Science Café?
Science Cafés are being held in many places across the United States. A science café takes place in a casual meeting place and uses plain language to invite inclusive conversation. People with no science background should feel welcome and comfortable.

Science Café meetings are organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation to kick off the discussion. You can leave a café meeting when you want, but you'll miss out if you show up late.
Science cafés are spreading as a grassroots movement. The casual, open format readily engages the public in conversations about science. Many science cafés in the United States draw inspiration from café Scientifique, based in the UK. There are Science Cafés in Moorhead, the Twin Cities, and other Minnesota communities.
No central organization controls all science cafés. As a result, each café has adapted to its own local culture and audience while focusing on open, public conversation.
Who runs sciencecafes.org?
Sciencecafes.org is produced by NOVA scienceNOW, in association with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. It was created with the help and input of many science café organizers, and is intended as a community resource that will support and encourage the growth of science cafés.
In 2006, NOVA scienceNOW and Sigma Xi brought together 40 science café organizers from all over the United States. For many, this meeting was the first opportunity to discuss experiences with other science café organizers. At that meeting it was agreed that one of the most needed science café resources was a single U.S. website, and the idea for sciencecafes.org was born.