The aims of the Conference were to:

• examine how different countries and cultures adapt the form of the café to local needs

• discuss whether new technologies could enable the content of cafes to be more widely spread

• find ways in which underdeveloped countries and rural communities could start cafes

• compare experiences of junior cafes in the countries where they are being developed

• engage in a critical debate on the relevance of the cafes to the community

Special events included a panel session - Will the public discussion of science change science itself? - with Lord Rees, Professor Mandy MacLean and Dr Daniel Glaser and a Cafe Scientifique - Quantum theory and free will - with Professor Vlatko Vedral

Sessions:

• Cultural differences

• What does it take to make a cafe

• Hosting a cafe

• Speakers and subjects

• New technologies

• Meeting audience needs

• Advertising

• New initiatives

• Junior cafes

• Evaluation

• Challenging locations

• Co-operation versus autonomy

• Controversy or curiosity?

• The place of art

• Long-term sustainability

• Financial support or independence?