Cafe Scientifique

I have just completed two speaking gigs at particularly keen and flourishing UK branches of the Cafe Scientifique organisation - at Cockermouth in Cumbria, and, last night, in Reading. In both talks I castigated scientists like Jane Goodall and Frans de Waal, and their fellow travellers, for over-egging the genetic and cognitive proximity of chimpanzees to humans - the better to goad us into action to grant them watered-down versions of human rights as a prelude to conservation efforts. Both Cafes produced a wealth of good questions and, interestingly, no-one stood up and defended the "human rights for chimps" idea, whether argued on scientific or cultural grounds. In the weeks before this I gave talks to a similar UK debating organisation - Salon - at Leeds and Manchester. I have come away greatly impressed by the commitment, keenness and aura of friendly enquiry that pervades these branches and urge all my readers to join a Cafe Science or Salon if you can find one in your town or city. And if you can't - start one!