November 2008 NUI Galway Hosts First Science Café – on Climate Change

"Are we too posh to push?" A 'science café' organised by NUI Galway's Environmental Change Institute, in association with the Galway One World Centre, will explore attitudes to the environment and climate change on Thursday, 20 November at 7.30pm. The discussion will be led by science writer and broadcaster Mary Mulvihill, whose new book on sustainable living, Drive like a Woman, Shop like a Man, will by published by New Island in early 2009. The public are invited to this free event which takes place in the King Head's Ruby Room on Quay Street, Galway. Transport will be one of the topics up for discussion at this unusual pub evening. How will people be travelling in 1,000 years time? Will there still be boats, cars, horses, trains and planes? Will we be using bicycles which offer cheap, efficient and time-saving transport, combined with healthy exercise? How can we persuade people to get on their bike and act more sustainably? Or are we too posh to push? Sarah Knight, Outreach Officer for the Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway says: "We are delighted to be hosting Mary Mulvihill at NUI Galway, and know that the people of Galway will welcome the opportunity to discuss, with Mary, environmental topics of real-life relevance in this slightly unconventional platform". 'Science cafés' are popular in cities around the world, providing an informal space where people without a specialist background can take part in scientific discussions, and this will be the first such event sponsored by NUI Galway. According to Mary Mulvihill, climate change can be an overwhelming topic: "My goal for the discussion will be to stimulate the flow of thoughts, ideas, and conversation, in a relaxed atmosphere. Questions that might be discussed include: How do we respond to the enormous scale of the climate change problem? What is the best way to motivate people?". Mary Mulvihill added: "When the subject first reached mainstream media 20 years ago, people in Ireland welcomed 'global warming' as something that might bring warm summers and a grape-growing climate! Does it matter what we call the problem: is climate change too benign a term?". Admission to the science café is free, but as space is limited attendees are advised to arrive on time. For further information please visit Mary's blog at http://thelitmuspaper.blogspot.com/ or contact Sarah Knight, Outreach Officer for the Environmental Change Institute, NUI Galway on 091 495061. -ends-