Café Scientifique is a forum for debating science issues and promoting public engagement with science. Audiences consist of people who are interested in science but generally never have the opportunity to discuss their views with, and ask questions of, someone "in the know".

Meetings generally start with a short talk from the speaker, who is usually a scientist or a writer on science, followed by a short break for drinks. This is followed by a session of about an hour for questions and answers and general discussion. Cafés are free although a voluntary contribution may be asked for to cover any expenses. (It does not pay fees to a speaker).

Meetings take place once a month on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 7.30pm.

Venue for Café Scientifique is the Conference Room at Hope Street Hotel.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 14th May 2013, 7.30pm 

Place: The Conference Room, Hope Street Hotel

Title: : Physics: The hidden symmetry

Speaker: Dr. Peter Rowlands, Physics Department, University of Liverpool

Why is space three-dimensional? Why does time have one direction yet is mathematically symmetrical? Why are mass and charge conserved? What is the origin of the conservation laws? Why does charge always come in fixed units? Why is energy quantized? Why does anti-matter exist as well as matter? Why are there four and only four, fundamental forces?

These are some of the most important and profound questions which confront the physicist today. In answering these questions must we assume that the answers will be impenetrably difficult? Will the answers require very sophisticated mathematical analysis? Dr. Peter Rowlands (Physics Dept., Liverpool University) argues that the answers to these questions may be simple and may be discovered without mathematical reasoning by using the powerful unifying idea of symmetry. In this talk, Dr. Peter Rowlands shows how a series of symmetrical relationships may be discovered between the four parameters space, time, mass and charge which gives a method of directly addressing the fundamental questions which lie at the heart of physics.

Click here to go to the Cafe Scientifique website.

Please contact Michael Jackman, michaeljackman@liverpoolcafescientifique.org, if intending to attend as places may be limited.