LamprouMemo28

Memo 28 Describe a place The first Annual Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue Workshop took place at the Hotel Sofitel in Brussels on the 25th to 26th of February 2007. A hotel is a common place for conferences and workshops. The rooms that the sections of the workshop held are small with no windows. The most interesting thing although is the way the chairs are arraigned. When you enter the room there is a big table on the right were the speaker is sitting. A laptop some water and a projector. A few chairs, behind the big table, because some times the speakers are more than one. But the table is not the issue of concern. The chairs for the participants are arraigned in rows. I feel like I am in a school classroom. The teacher on the big table talking – teaching, and the students sitting down on the chairs in the rows listening. Imagine a small room without windows arraigned as a classroom. So the participants are sitting down and they participate. Do they? When you are in such a room with an expert talking to you, you are not participating; active at least, you are listening and learning. And if this description was about a conference this arraignment would be fine. But a workshop presupposes equality and a room arranged like a traditional class doesn’t assist that. On the contrary it makes sure that there will be a distinction in knowledge, participation, and importance.