Sharing knowledge with the public and experts: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Café Scientifique

Description

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research launched its Café Scientifique program to help experts share information related to health issues with the general public, and to promote questions and dialogue. Cafés focus on health issues that concern general audiences and are typically held in cafés, pubs or restaurants.

During a Café, an expert or a panel of experts present what they know regarding the subject, while a moderator facilitates discussion between the audience and speakers.

Steps for Using Method/Tool

A Café Scientifique includes the following general characteristics:

  • focused on health issues of interest to the general public
  • free of charge
  • designed for the general public
  • open to anyone
  • includes a moderator and experts giving short presentations on the health issue, followed by a question and answer period
  • held in various locations across Canada

CIHR organizes its own Café events, but also partners with non-profit organizations, universities, research centres, science centres and musuems across Canada to support them in hosting their own Cafés. Two resources are provided to support the planning and implementation of Cafés:

  • Guidelines for Organizers
  • Guidelines for Participants

The Guidelines for Organizers document provides tips to address five key aspects of a successful Café Scientifique:

  • the venue
  • the audience
  • the subject
  • the speaker(s)
  • the facilitator

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.

We have provided the resources and links as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by McMaster University of any of the products, services or opinions of the external organizations, nor have the external organizations endorsed their resources and links as provided by McMaster University. McMaster University bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites.

Have you used this resource? Share your story!