Join us for an online discussion event—everyone’s welcome to help us explore the latest ideas in science and technology.
What is Café Scientifique?
Café Scientifique is a friendly and collaborative exploration of the latest breakthroughs in science. You’ll hear about, discuss and debate some of the most recent advances and discoveries in science and healthcare, and their importance to society.
Each event has a theme—they’ve included everything from the latest in physics to the science of music, from nanotechnology to biology.
Café Scientifique is a great way to meet new people and exercise your mind. Discuss the discoveries you’ve seen in the headlines, or learn something completely new.
Next event
The next event will take place on Thursday 11 June from 18.30. Café Scientifique is going online—this discussion will be hosted on GoTo Webinar. Book your free place and we’ll email you a link the day before the event.
Virtual Morality: Life and Death Decision-Making
With Kathryn Francis
A runaway train car is heading down some tracks towards five construction workers. You have a decision to make: are you going to push another person onto the tracks to stop the train car? This person will be killed—but the five construction workers will be saved.
Moral philosophers and psychologists have long explored people’s moral decision-making using cases like the one above. But does saying that you would do something mean that you would actually do it if the situation arose?
Kathryn Francis is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Bradford whose research has investigated what people say on paper versus what they do in simulations of moral dilemmas. She uses virtual reality, haptic technologies and interactive sculpture to explore the nature of moral action: how people behave in demanding situations where lives are at stake.
The talk will encompass moral philosophy, psychology, robotics, computer science and the arts, building a picture of how people make moral decisions.
What you need to know
- Café Scientifique is a free event; booking is required
- Donations are welcome! You can donate online
- Café Scientifique is suitable for all ages and abilities, but we’re not pulling any scientific punches: some events may have adult themes or content
- Keep up to date—follow Café Scientifique on Facebook and Twitter
