Dine out on food for thought with Cafe Culture

by The Journal

EVER fancied a chance to ponder the deeper questions of life in the company of equally thoughtful and inquisitive people?

Then you will probably welcome the Café Culture 2009-10 programme.

You don’t need a PhD or even a GCSE to join in the discussion and debate at the regular fortnightly get-togethers in the Urban Café at Dance City on Temple Street, Newcastle.

Café Culture discussions on culture, politics, philosophy and science are open to anyone.

“Our talks involve a range of interesting speakers, sometimes but not always high profile, who introduce their talk in an accessible and challenging way,” states the new brochure.

“We then open to the floor for comment and debate. We want to go beyond a question and answer format to allow broad participation.

“Our overall aim is to create an atmosphere where people can talk about the issues they feel passionately about and to open our minds to new ideas.”

The new season begins on Monday when Rebecca Roache, a philosopher from Oxford University, will address the question: Can Technology Make Us Better Humans?

Next up, on September 21, is Darwin: Beyond the Origin of the Species. Phil Gates, a biologist from Durham University, will consider how Alfred Russell Wallace, who was not as well-connected as Charles Darwin, came to the same conclusions.

The real question being asked here is: What would Darwin have achieved if he had been born into humbler circumstances?

October’s first session, on the 5th, has Daniel Dorling, a geographer at the University of Sheffield, asking if the North-South divide is still growing.

From October 23-25, Café Culture will be at this year’s BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival being held for the first time at The Sage Gateshead.

Billed as a weekend festival of ideas, it will feature artists, writers, scientists and thinkers.

Hugh Pym, BBC chief economics correspondent, will address the question: The Economic Downturn: Green Shoots or Gloom?

Drawing on his book What Happened, he will give his views on what our economic future holds.

There will also be a Theory Slam where people will have three minutes to expound a pet theory.

For regular Café Culture updates, send your details to info@cafeculturenortheast.org.uk or sign up via the website www.cafeculturenortheast.org.uk

All the Monday evening sessions start at 7pm and finish at 9pm and meals and snacks are available throughout.