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Cafés « juniors ». Pablo Jensen ( CNRS) café « Sciences et Citoyens » (Lyon, F) (pablo.jensen@wanadoo.fr). Newcastle, May 22, 2004. From delegative to dialogical democracy. delegative democracy : trust elections, experts danger : technocracy, lobbies, opinions ?
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Cafés « juniors » Pablo Jensen (CNRS) café « Sciences et Citoyens » (Lyon, F) (pablo.jensen@wanadoo.fr) Newcastle, May 22, 2004
From delegative to dialogical democracy • delegative democracy :trust • elections, experts • danger : technocracy, lobbies, opinions ? • dialogical democracy : negotiation • opens research of a 'common world' • danger : representation ?
After years of trust in confined science (in labs)… Global impact of science (techno-nature) Criticalattitude of citizens Participative research Active education Scientific cafés
Participative research • Science shops (NL, UK) • National Breast Cancer Coalition (USA) • Öko-Institut e.V. (Germany) • ARUC (Canada) • Consensus Conferences • France ??
Community-University Research Alliances (Canada) • promote sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise between universities and the community; • enrich research and teaching methods in universities; • Example : « Partnering for sustainable resource management ». Collaboration between Cities of British Columbia, Chuzghun Resources Corporation, University of Northern British Columbia...
Spirit of philo cafés (conviviality, openness, debate between equals…) Global impact of science (curiosity, concerns…) cafés « Sciences et Citoyens » (Lyon, October 1997)
What is a (Lyon’s) café des sciences? • Appetizer time (6:45 pm) • A given topic (pain, vaccines, madness…) • Guests : experts • scientists (human and unhuman sciences) • business, citizen organizations, religious • concerned public (NGO)wiser discussion
Junior cafés Supported by Government, Rhône-Alps region, Lyon University and (symbolically) CNRS
PEDAGOGICAL AIM : A REASONABLE SKEPTICISM • Change perception of science : science in action • Learn to argue using information, develop autonomy • Meet the people who are shaping our world : scientists, businessmen, politicians, NGOs • Information about scientific issues in a convivial way • Exchange views on environment, health, new technologies issues...
METHODOLOGY (1) • Pupils prepare their Café : with teachers and our advice, they • choose a topic, • define the important issues • define three profiles of complementaryguests • NB : For us, a junior café is not « a single speaker giving a short talk + discussion » • They advertise the café within their school • We find appropriate guests
METHODOLOGY (2) • The cafeteria is transformed in a « school-free » place
METHODOLOGY (3) • The discussion is lead by a teacher, or better by one or two pupils • From 50 to 100 pupils, debate for ~ 2 hours • Schools are free to adapt this scheme to their specific organization
Junior cafés in France • 1999 : 3 cafés in Lyon (55 by now) • 2001 : Rhône-Alpes : Chambéry (~ 20), Valence, Grenoble, Saint-Etienne (~7 each) • 2002 : Dijon (4), Paris (> 3), Strasbourg • « Health » cafés by INSERM (physicians) • Certainly many others…
Reasons for success • Conviviality • Students choose the subject ! (laundry-free clothes) • multidisciplinary approach • Sciences uncertain : disagreements, possible to argue (Rhône pollution) • BUT : • Time consuming to find 3 « good » guests • Real cost : ~ 400 euros each
Active education • SCOPE Project (http://scope.educ.washington.edu/gmfood/) Science Controversies On-line Partnerships in Education • Follow a controversy through Internet • Argue for one choice with scientific facts
Going further... • Forums Etudiants Citoyens • Involve future experts : university students • Deeper preparation • Mediators between experts and public during the café • Three such forums so far, mainly on sustainable development