Additional Forum for Discussing Ideas  Battle of Ideas
- The weekend, initiated by the Institute of Ideas and organized and supported by a wide range of partners and sponsors, makes virtues of free-thinking and lively exchanges of views. Aims to:
- to showcase new arguments about the core issues of the day, while avoiding getting bogged down in the minutiae of everyday policy
- to initiate open-ended discussions regardless of the demands for immediate practical outcomes, which too frequently act as a brake on innovative thinking
Emulating the best of academia, the Battle of Ideas fosters an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and open-ended exploration of new ideas, research and trends. Additionally we challenge academics to distil their insights for a public intellectual gathering, creating a truly accessible university. The IoI seeks to identify a new generation of public intellectuals, and create a space where they can meet and have their ideas held to account.
Listen to discussions at the 2009 and 2010 festivals online in preparation for the 2011 Battle of Ideas which will be held on 29 and 30 October 2011, and is hosted by the Royal College of Art - click on Battle of Ideas website link.  Birmingham Salon
Birmingham Salon is a public forum for debate where ideas are vigorously scrutinised and no topic is off limits. The Salon is a fully participative group, not a series of pre-programmed lectures in which people sit passively and listen. Most months we host a debate on a controversial or topical issue. The meetings are open to all.  Brighton Salon
"The idea of a Salon was invented in 18th Century France, and were central to the intellectual ferment of the end of 18th Century. They hosted the great thinkers of the time; Diderot, Rousseau, Voltaire. They were the scenes of excitement, outrage, the shock of the new, in a time when ‘the new’ still seemed possible. They signalled a time when the future was still an unwritten book. The Brighton Salon is organised in homage to those days which only came to end with the eruption of the French Revolution and the arrival of a new constellation: the age of revolutions. Many historians think the Salons helped develop the ideas that ushered in that age. Here’s to that." Rob Clowes, Brighton Salon Chairman.  CafeScientifique Manchester
The first British café scientifique was set up in 1998 in a wine bar in Leeds, inspired by the Café Philosophic in France, a grassroots forum for philosophical discussion. Café scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a pint of beer, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science. Professional scientists from a wide range of disciplines are invited to talk briefly on their work in the cozy surrounds of a café or a bar. After everyone has a chance to get another drink, the topic is then thrown open to the audience to promote group discussion.
Penny Lewis and Deborah Talmi have re-started the Manchester Cafe Scientifique and everyone is welcome.
For more information, click on either the café scientifique section of the University of Manchester, School of of Psychological Sciences blog or the the café scientifique website Cafe Scientifique, Manchester.  Croydon Salon
The Croydon Salon was founded in early 2011 by a group of people living and working in Croydon who wanted the time and space to discuss and debate ideological issues of concern to us all. It’s focus is on exploring the relationship of the individual to society and the state and the many changes going on in both the private and public spheres of everyday life. It’s aim is open debate and experimentation and, if successful, to be an intellectual beacon in south London.  East MidlandsSalon
The idea of a Salon was developed in 17th and 18th Century France. Typically they were created and organised by the aristocratic ladies, to hear the ideas of the great thinkers of the time, to debate their meaning, for entertainment, because they believed ideas were important and because they wanted to know where the world was going, and of course to flirt. The Salon was central to the intellectual ferment of the end of 18th Century. They hosted the great thinkers of the time; Diderot, Rousseau, Voltaire. They were the scenes of excitement, outrage, and the shock of the new in a time when ‘the new’ still seemed possible. They signalled a time when the future was still an unwritten book. The East Midlands Salon is organised in homage to those days which only came to end with the eruption of the French Revolution and the arrival of a new constellation: the age of revolutions. Many historians think that Salons helped develop the ideas that ushered in that age.  Oxford Salon
 Leeds Salon
Leeds Salon is a recent initiative that has grown out of a book club held regularly in Leeds since early 2008. The Salon aims to provide a public forum for lively and enlightening debate around contemporary political and cultural issues.
If you want to know more about our discussions, please ask to be added to the Leeds Salon Email list.  Sheffield Salon
Inspired by the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment salon and the rather more robust coffee house movement of that age, the Sheffield Salon is part of a small, but growing, nationwide movement of individuals and groups who wish to re-foster spirited debate and rational enquiry. The Salon aims to develop an intellectual environment where ideas are welcomed. However, although we believe our contributors have a right to hold an opinion, they also have a duty to express and defend it against challenge. We believe it is only through open and uncensored debate that we come to know and develop our own opinions and become able to draw conclusions about the pressing issues of our time. 
Spiked
spiked is an independent online phenomenon dedicated to raising the horizons of humanity by waging a culture war of words against misanthropy, priggishness, prejudice, luddism, illiberalism and irrationalism in all their ancient and modern forms. spiked is endorsed by free-thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx, and hated by the narrow-minded such as Torquemada and Stalin.
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