A reception and science forum on communicating science to a non-technical audience was held on March 31, 2003 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Discovery Place Wachovia Science Theater. This forum, sponsored by Sigma Xi, the American Chemical Society, and the Charlotte Area Science Network, featured award winning scientist and author, Dr. Cathy Cobb, and a panel of scientists and communicators from the Charlotte area. Jim Hoffman, Director of Marketing and Public Relation for Discovery Place served as the MC for the event and commentary was provided by a the following panelists:

• Lee Kindberg, CMS School Board member, Sigma Xi member and chemist
• Jim Hovick, UNC Charlotte Chemistry Professor, and Sigma Xi member
• John Wendel, Meteorologist for NBC6
• Dan McDonald, American Chemical Society and Sigma Xi member

Copies of Dr. Cobb’s books Creations of Fire: The Lively History of Chemistry from Alchemy to the Atomic Age (Plenum, 1995) and Magick, Mayhem, and Mavericks: The Spirited History of Physical Chemistry, (Prometheus Books) can be obtained at your favorite local bookstore.

Future forums are being planned, and your input on your level of interest in the following topics and times would be valuable for planning purposes. Please provide your feedback on the following questions to Jack Sommer, jacksommer@aol.com, chair of the Charlotte Area Science Network’s task group focused on Educating the Public.

• What days of the week are best for a forum?
• What time of day is best?
• What topics are of interest?
• Nuclear Energy?
• Biotechnology?
• Human Genome Project?
• Environment/Energy?
• Public Health/Bioterrorism?
• Nanotechnology?
• Other?