The Science Café is dedicated to inspiring a deeper interest in science, especially among those who do not think of themselves as science enthusiasts.



At a time when so many international decisions are being made based on science, it is becoming increasingly important to inform the public about the issues at stake.


Based on RASIT’s Executive Director, HRH Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite, collective data on science, education, research, and public knowledge, the Science Café was signed into being in 2005 as an international Program of RASIT for the Popularization of Science and Innovation.


The main objective of the Science Café Program is to generate scientific temper among the masses and make the people think, scientifically at every stage and happening in their day-to-day life to make their lives easy and simple. This can be achieved by encouraging the spirit of inquiry among the younger generation, creating awareness about new scientific approaches and technologies, fostering creativeness, and many more methods by organizing carefully drawn activities and events.



FOCUS AREAS



To define and broaden the sustainability science approach in support of the United Nations 2030 Development Agenda and its 17 Global Goals.



Commitment



Knowledge Societies




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What We Do



Our Work




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Inspiration



Our Impact




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ANNOUNCEMENT



Competition




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You don’t have to be a scientist to think like one.



HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite​

RASIT's Executive Director



POPULARIZATION OF SCIENCE: TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE SOCIETIES



by HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite



The popularization of science is an endeavor to image scientific concepts in such a way that every person (especially non-scientists) can understand the fundamental objectives and have an idea of what science, in essence, is.


Although many scientists are renowned and their fingerprints are so clear in scientific research that led to industrial development worldwide, unfortunately, a great number of the public cannot tell exactly what 'science' is all about. In fact, the gap between scientists and Societies seems to be huge.


Science Knowledge and Culture to every common person were and remain to be narrowed to those only studying at universities and to graduates from academic institutions. Further, the academic tutors in scientific subjects kept their communication with a very minimal slice of the communities within campuses of universities. And the share of scientific knowledge between the academic tutors and every person outside the academic campuses remains to be so limited.


Is it possible to popularize scientific subjects at various levels? And if it is possible to popularize science within societies, to what extent will the public accept knowledge of science? And how will the knowledge of science play a role in human beings' day-to-day living and culture?

To answer these questions knowingly the modest knowledge of the majority of the public in science due to the lack of interest in reading scientific publications and books, and due to the unfamiliarity of non-English languages that most of the scientific publications, journals, and books written with and due to the lack of community educational programs.
Yes, it is possible to popularize science to a great extent, by means of raising awareness of how it touches our everyday life. How...? This depends on choosing subjects, fields of public interest, speakers, presenters, places, the form of delivering it, and the form of delivering the seminar/talk in the national language by way of defining the scientific terms too.


Yes, it is possible to popularize all specific scientific ideas and concepts from mathematics, chemistry, biology, and medicine to geology and nanotechnology, as long as it can be effectively explained one at a time in a very simple language that every person can understand.


Therefore, RASIT introduced “Science Café” in order to interact with the relationship between academic tutors and the public.


Through “Science Café’, RASIT managed to break the academic campus boundaries that encouraged the public interest in learning more about science. It is important that the public have a basic understanding of science and an appreciation of its impact on their lives. Only “Science Café” can popularize science.


RASIT’s “Science Café” has proven to be a platform for scientists to share their knowledge with the public as a social educational forum.
The key to Popularize Science worldwide should be through the spreading of “Science Café” programs via local social clubs.
RASIT has designed a special module for such local clubs that will encourage professionals in science to interact with members of the public who shall attend the local social club titled “Science Café”.


Almost 20 years in the RASIT Science Café program. We have been serving our audience and scientists in an excellent way.
We are grateful to every scientist (Popularizer) who took efforts to present science objectively to the public via “Science Café”.



OUR IMPACT



Action is Our Success



Since 1968, RASIT has been implementing socio-economic development and global initiatives. And with science and technology's central place in modern life, we need to think about scientific knowledge and its applications in a systematic, critical way.


RASIT designed the Science Café to connect the science community with the public, policymakers, and multi-stakeholders to understand 'where science is coming from' and what it means for us and our needs.



12,528



Monthly Seminars conducted since 2005



58



Cities with Science Cafe



43



Your Subitle Here



International Institutions Implemented RASIT's Module



9840



School's Science Cafe Conducted since 2010



492



Scientists involved in organizing School's Science Cafe



WHAT WE DO...?





Throughout the years, RASIT has been able to promote scientific knowledge and culture, encourage investing in Scientific Research, and invigorate Science Education and Knowledge, especially among young people.



The Science Café is an influential platform bringing together and enhancing the interaction of scientists with the public and policymakers, to improve the understanding of science, and empowering scientists to catalyze the innovation and creativity we need for sustainable development.



THE MONTHLY SCIENCE CAFÉ SEMINARS



Since 2005, our international impact can be simplified as: 216 monthly seminars in 58 cities, with a total of 12,528 and 43 international institutions and foundations implemented RASIT’s Science Café module.

THE MONTHLY SEMINARS:

Building knowledgeable communities in science by creating ties among diverse groups of scientists and the public lay at the heart of RASIT’s mission, and the Science Café Program is a significant stride in this vital area. In an Era of change where modern societies are gradually moving from Information to knowledge-based societies, RASIT is working to enhance the social capital of communities.

In the Science Café seminars, the public meets people who played an important part in developing and improving their lives, both behind the scenes and in the spotlight. The “Science Café” is a human endeavor - with a heart, a rhythm, moods, personality, language, and, yes, failures, but so often when telling the story of science, we frame it as a straightforward march to discovery. The details and the context, the circuitous path of research, the process, and sometimes the people themselves are neglected.

In our Café, we develop a menu for your mind. From natural and social sciences to arts and global issues, we invite the public to enjoy a cup of coffee while engaging with the invited speaker.

RASIT Science Café has no specific place or country, you can Find us in any existing café in any city and in any spoken language around the world.

The Science Café seminars were started by HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite in 1995 as a personal initiative, and since it became a program of RASIT in 2005, the Science Café now a global platform and movement towards knowledge societies for equitable and inclusive socio-economic sustainable development.



Science Café MAGAZINE



The Science Café digital magazine tells stories from all over the world: about Science, Technology, and innovation about people in the spotlight and people in the shadows about policymaking and social-economic development about the people and the planet, and more.



THE SCHOOL'S SCIENCE CAFÉ



492 of RASIT's fellow scientists have been organizing the School's Science Café worldwide since 2010.














While science and technology heroes such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg make the headlines, the excitement generated still is not filtering through to the younger generation, in particular girls and children. Studies conducted by members of RASIT Sustainable Development Center show that children and young people are more likely to be motivated to take up science as a career by family, teachers, and role models.

Connecting with scienceTraditionally, the idea was that all you needed to do was inspire kids just make science interesting, and they would take it up. However, based on RASIT’s studies, the real key to turning a young person into any field of science, such as engineering or natural and applied sciences, is how much science-based information, activity, and involvement a child experiences. It’s grounded in their family and upbringing, and includes:

  • knowing people who work in science, engineering, or technology-related roles,
  • talking with family and friends about science doing science-based activities out of school,
  • developing science-related knowledge, and
  • understanding having a positive attitude to science.


The more young people have science capital and knowledge, the more they see themselves in science.


RASIT School’s Science Café aims to bring together scientists from all over the world to share their knowledge, and to inspire students to explore different fields of sciences and their connection to solving the world’s challenges such as climate change, health, food, and agriculture, among others.


The School’s Science Café seminar series is committed to involving school students in learning more about and debating science. The seminars can be either at a school, at the scientist's area of work: laboratories, universities, or online.



THE ART OF SCIENCE



IN FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION



Nature has always astounded those who study it scientifically, with the complex yet elegantly simple beauty of its designs. The image that one sees—whether looking through a microscope into a single cell or peering through a telescope at a vast galaxy— is sometimes as aesthetically pleasing as a Monet or a Rembrandt.


The Royal Academy of Science International Trust “In Focus” Contest celebrates the power of photography in capturing scientific phenomena happening all around us, and the role great images play in making science accessible to a wide audience.


The goal of the Art of Science “In Focus” Contest is to explore and illuminate the aesthetic beauty that results when science, art, and technology intersect.


We are excited to announce that the 2024 Contest is now open for entries. We invite scientists from across the world to send in their images.


The Contest is giving consideration to the artistic representation of science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainable themes. Entries with a focus on creativity, the uniqueness of science, and its connection to Sustainable Development will be favorably considered.


The winners will receive especially designed Awards and the Art of Science images will be exhibited Internationally.


Submit your entry

Royal Academy of Science International Trust



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