Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to have a conversation about the latest ideas in science & technology.
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The Minories
The Minories
74 High Street, Colchester, CO1UE
Admission: Free by ticket only
Doors Open: at 6:30pm for 7pm start
Capacity: is limited to 55
Contact: Bob Kemp or John Ratford
We monitor air quality in order to reduce the spread of flu and other airborne infections. The café doesn't have air conditioning, so some windows and doors may need to be kept partially open to ensure a sufficient supply of fresh air.
Polish Desert taken by Chris Stone Aug 25
Wednesday 11th February 2026
European Deserts:
Sandy Wilderness on a Green Continent
Based on his latest book environmentalist and author Chris Stone MIEnvSci will be talking about the untold story of the little-known deserts of Europe. These are sandy and infertile lowland wildernesses, where extreme environmental conditions are the norm. Remote and mostly uninhabited, Europe’s arid tracts present landscapes differing profoundly from their surroundings and offer refuge for scarce flora and fauna with nowhere else to go.
For long these wastelands were poverty-stricken and many had reputations as undesirable and even dangerous places. Unglamorous and frequently undervalued, the survival of the remaining fragments including several local examples is threatened despite their distinctive biodiversity, landscapes and fascinating human tales.
This talk will transform ideas about these extraordinary European landscapes.
Please Note:
In the event of unforeseen circumstances resulting with us having to cancel the meeting we will email the person who has booked the tickets(s). We will also put a notice on this website. Therefore please check before travelling to venue. Thank you.
How do we choose speakers?
We are always looking for people who can speak about their research, and we try to provide a wide range of subjects each season. If you are interested in giving a talk at Colchester Cafe Scientifique, or you know someone who would be willing, please contact John Ratford.
We have organised two ecology talks; two psychology; two sociology and a human biology talk to complete this current 2025/2026 season.
Details of each will be published a month before each presentation
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