Sam Van Gele, an exchange student from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, has become the first Swiss KAIST student to present at Watering Ghost’s “Science on Tap” event. Van Gele presented on the topic of “Music and the Brain”, an area of research he was first exposed to at KAIST. When interviewed by The KAIST Herald, Van Gele said that he really enjoyed the event and the support that the Watering Ghost’s had offered him.

Science on Tap is inspired by the “Pint of Science” festivals that emerged out of the UK in 2012. These festivals attempt to present sophisticated scientific topics in a palatable, public format, with researchers leading informal discussions around their specialization. Unlike “Pint of Science”, which is a singular festival with invited guest speakers, “Science on Tap” is a series of monthly events with volunteer speakers from around Daejeon.

Generally, events involve a short display by the lead speaker at the bar top followed by question and answer sessions for the rest of the night. The idea is to recreate the conversational setting in a bar, except that discussions are based on a patron’s shared scientific interest. The structure of events is very informal, with previous events including a movie night where patrons were asked to discuss the validity of science in a science fiction movie.

To apply for his presentation, Van Gele contacted Sushant Raut, one of the event coordinators at the Watering Ghost. Van Gele was then granted access to the bar’s multimedia system, which he used to display the slideshow that he referred to during his presentation. In accordance with the event’s remit, patrons often interrupted Van Gele’s speech to ask questions and clarify his points. Van Gele did a superb job answering all questions asked of him, and he cleverly played short movies and audio clips to pick conversation back up whenever it lulled.

The “Science on Tap” events fit nicely within the Watering Ghost’s aim to be “THE foreign bar in Daejeon”, with all speakers and patrons required to speak English for the duration of the event. The focus on English and international involvement is reminiscent of KAIST’s globalist approach to education, making the “Science on Tap” events a potential must-see for all students. Events are held on the first Tuesday of every month, and more information can be found from the Watering Ghost’s Facebook page. For those not specifically interested in the science and just looking to socialize, the Watering Ghost hosts several events each month, such as quiz nights, pride nights, and live bands.