Congratulations to Pam Ash, one of the founders and driving force behind the Isle of Wight Cafe Scientifique movement.
The British Science Association revealed last week that Pam had been awarded the Sir Walter Bodmer Award for Volunteering. Pam received the award in recognition of her outstanding dedication to science communication, and her work as an integral member of the Branch, since its inception.
A dedicated volunteer
Pam, and her husband John, founded the Isle of Wight Café Scientifique five years ago. ‘Café Scientifique’ is an event which explores the latest ideas in science and technology, typically taking place in cafes and bars.
Imran Khan, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, said,
“Pam is extremely worthy of the Sir Walter Bodmer Award, and we would like to thank her for her dedication as a volunteer for our Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch, and co-founder of the Isle of Wight Café Scientifique.
“Pam’s work is a brilliant example of how our network of volunteers around the country helps us to develop links with local communities and reach a wide range of audiences. Volunteers help us to reach people and communities in ways that we would otherwise be unable to.”
Creative background
Pam originally trained in the creative arts, and previously worked as a drama teacher at a secondary school. She also ran youth drama and adult experimental drama groups in Malta, where she lived in the late 1960s with her husband.
Pam first became interested in science through listening to radio programmes, and went on to complete an Open University science course. In 1994, she discovered the British Science Festival, and has been a regular attendee ever since.
Pam said,
“We knew nothing about the Café Scientifique movement, but with the help of Maricar Jagger (Portsmouth University) and Dr Lucy Rogers (the then chairman of the Vectis Astronomical Society) we organised our first meeting in October 2010 at The Fighting Cocks roadhouse near Arreton. We had booked a room there for twenty people, but were amazed when 47 people turned up.
“John and I were founder members of the Friends of Dinosaur Isle some seven years ago, and we have been very involved with Dinosaur Isle Museum of geology and palaeontology ever since, so through this Dr David Martill, the charismatic palaeontologist from Portsmouth University, asked if he could inaugurate the Café by being our first speaker. He gave a very spell-binding and dramatic account of pterosaurs – his speciality.”
Grown in strength
Those who follow our coverage here will know that the Cafe Sci monthly events are very popular.
Pam added,
“Since then, the Café has grown in strength, particularly with the help of Simon and Sally Perry who run OnTheWight, where they have provided us with a dedicated Cafe Scientifique Website on which people can hear and look at recordings of past talks.
“After two years we became too big for the “Fighting Cocks” where the Vectis Astronomical Society kindly lent us their projector and screen for our meetings. We then moved to the Regency Suite above the Conservative Club, Palmerston Road, Shanklin which could provide us with the equipment we needed and a private bar.
“We now have over 300 hundred members and are an established part of the Island’s cultural scene. What I really enjoy is thinking up a programme for the year and finding appropriate speakers, and then meeting the speakers and hearing their talks.”
The Award will be presented by Sir Walter Bodmer, at the Volunteers’ Reception at the 2015 British Science Festival, held in Bradford in September this year.
