We’ve just announced our first event, and one of the questions that keeps coming up is: What exactly is Collider Cafe? So, let’s talk about it - the idea, the purpose, and the story behind the name and logo.

A Long Time in the Making

This is not a new idea. In fact, I’ve owned the domain name for over a decade. Collider Cafe has been quietly bubbling away in the background while I focused on my career in the energy sector, a career deeply connected with the science and technology behind the energy transition from generation to retail.

Through that work, I’ve seen first-hand how vital STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) is in tackling the world’s biggest challenges: climate change, energy security, sustainability, and affordability. But it's not just about big problems. STEM underpins so much of our everyday lives; from smartphones to farming, from global logistics to artificial intelligence.

And yet, engaging with STEM can sometimes feel intimidating - that’s where Collider Cafe comes in.

Not a School. No Preaching. Something Different.

Collider Cafe isn’t here to teach STEM. We’re not a school, and we’re not an academy. Instead, we want to create spaces, real and virtual, where people and ideas can come together. Where curiosity is sparked and creativity is encouraged. Where children and adults alike feel confident to ask questions, explore concepts, and connect with the ideas that shape our world.

We want STEM to feel less like a subject, and more like an exciting spark, something alive, dynamic, and worth sharing over a coffee, a game, a story, or even a glass of wine.

What’s in a Name?

The word "Collider" comes from the particle supercolliders used in physics like the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, where particles are smashed together at incredible speeds to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe. For us, it’s a metaphor: we want to bring people and ideas together with energy and intention, to create moments of discovery and new ways of seeing the world.

The word "Cafe" speaks to community and conversation. Historically, cafes and coffee houses were known as “schools of wisdom”. These were spaces where people from different backgrounds came together to think, talk, and imagine. That’s exactly the kind of environment we want to build.

A Logo with Meaning

Our logo brings this philosophy to life:

  • The circle represents inclusion and equal access and also mirrors the structure of a particle collider.
  • The break in the circle reminds us that knowledge is never complete but we’re always learning, always closing the gap.
  • The spark at the centre symbolises what happens when people and ideas collide: insight, inspiration, understanding.
  • The change in colour from red to yellow reflects increasing energy of those colours (shorter wavelengths) moving toward the high-energy centre where all the action happens.

Everything we do at Collider Cafe is designed to carry that energy forward into games, gifts, and events that get people thinking, questioning, and connecting.

We’re just getting started. And we hope you’ll come along for the ride.