LANSING, MI – Lansing Community College is hosting a chat with a scientist about an interesting and/or controversial science topic. Patterned after the international Café Scientifique, the LCC Science Department has initiated a new outreach program to promote public interest in science. The goal is simply to have regularly scheduled sessions at local bookstores, eateries and other locations for informal discussions of scientific topics.

The next event will be Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Claddagh Irish Pub in Eastwood Towne Center. The topic of conversation will be Stem Cells.

The first conversation was “Nanotechnology - the Promise and the Peril.” Nanotechnology is so new that even the definition of the field is a subject of debate. Regardless, the Federal government predicts that millions will be employed in the industry in the next decade.

The following is the schedule of future conversation topics, dates, times and locations.

Alternative Energy
Friday, December 1, 2006
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Claddagh Irish Pub, Eastwood Towne Center

Bio Basis of Sexual Orientation
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Schuler Books, Eastwood Towne Center

Genetically Modified Foods
Friday, January 12, 2007
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Claddagh Irish Pub, Eastwood Towne Center

Global Warming
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Schuler Books, Eastwood Towne Center

Big Bang
Friday, February 2, 2007
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Claddagh Irish Pub, Eastwood Towne Center
Details of the conversation topic will be posted prior to each event on www.lcc.edu/science/cafe_scientifique.htm
The purpose of the conversations are to engage people in conversations that they may not normally have. The professional are there to discuss and answer questions that the community may have.