Café Scientifique - Quench your interest!

How does CIHR ensure that the research it funds reaches the public domain? One way is through its Café Scientifique program, which was launched in 2007 with the objective of "democratizing science." The Cafés aim to take health research "out of the domain of the expert" and put it into that of the public, opening it up for public debate and allowing everyone to voice an opinion, ask a question, and engage in discussion around some of the hottest (and sometimes most contentious!) topics in health research today. Rather then being held in a stuffy lecture room, the Cafés are held in relaxed and accessible environments like pubs and coffee shops. They attract a great audience, and are a lot of fun!

IHSPR's Involvement in the Café Scientifiques

IHSPR is very pleased to have been involved in six Café Scientifiques between February and October 2008. These Cafés - which covered a great diversity of interesting and controversial topics ranging from assisted suicide, to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, to private health care finance - took place from coast to coast across the country.

To learn more about these Cafés and to see pictures, please check out the links below:

• Whose Life is it Anyway? Assisted Suicide in Canada
• All I Ever Do is Wait! Putting an End to Health Care Wait Times (Note: Live taping available)
• Private Finance and Canadian Medicare: Kill or Cure?
• As Seen on TV: The Risks and Benefits of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription-only Drugs
• Penny Wise, Pound Foolish: Costing the Cure for Obesity
• Progress vs. Privacy – Who should have access to my medical data?

To learn more about CIHR's Café Scientifiques and to see if one is coming to a city near you, please visit CIHR's Café Scientific webpage.