Teen Science Café out-of-school programs are a free, fun way for teens to explore the big advances in science and technology affecting their lives. Teens and STEM experts engage in lively conversations and activities to explore a topic deeply.
The TSCN can help you get started now.
What is the Teen Science Café Network?
We are a community of practice providing the highest quality resources and support to organizations who implement a teen science café. Our members are committed to help one another and continually improve the teen science café experiences and their impacts.
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Network Map
Explore our growing network and the activities at each site! If you can’t find a teen café close to you, join now and start your own.
The Teen Astronomy Café program is an out-of-school program that offers high school students opportunities to interact with scientists who work at the forefront of astronomy.
Description: Students explore the birth and death of stars, killer asteroids, the structure of the universe, gravitational waves, dark energy, dark matter, colliding galaxies and more. A hands-on activity related to the short presentation will follow as part of the Teen Astronomy Cafés experience — either a state-of-the-art computer lab activity, a movie, a deeper discussion, or an exploration of the topic with a 3-D printer or an Oculus Rift™. The students will use the actual computer programs and data that the scientists use!
The Teen Astronomy Cafés are open to all high school students at no cost. They are hosted by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.
Dates and Topics: The first Saturday mornings of the month through May (except for January):
Nov. 4, 2017Life and Death of Stars
Dec. 2, 2017Our Vast Universe
Feb. 3, 2018Killer Asteroids
Mar. 3, 2018Island Universes
Apr. 7, 2018Galactic Archaeology: From Little to Big
May 5, 2018Our Galactic Neighborhood
Times:9:30am until noon (maybe 12:15pm)
Location: In room 27 of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) at 950 N. Cherry Ave in Tucson on the University of Arizona campus.
The Aquarium of the Pacific Teen Science Café is an informal learning program promoting exploration, stewardship, and scientific inquiry.
The Science Café team develops and facilitates an informal learning program with scientists twice a semester. The events are designed to help scientists connect with local teens about the science and technology changing their world and discover new opportunities for ocean stewardship.
Teen Science Café programs engage scientists and the public in conversation on interesting science topics in a highly social setting. By specifically connecting teens to scientists, students will work with scientists to help create an interactive and highly engaging conversation about various scientific topics.
The EYH Teen STEM Café is a program under the umbrella of Expanding Your Horizons, San Diego, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and excitement among young women about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). As it grows, the program will consist of regional “hubs,” starting first with a hub in Central San Diego and North County San Diego.
The program for young women in grades 10 – 12 is organized by teens, for teens, and capitalizes upon the rich EYH network of STEM working professionals. During the school year, students meet monthly at the Linda Vista YMCA where a female STEM professional discusses her background, education and career, and leads participants through a hands-on STEM activity. Our EYH Teen STEM Café is part of a proven network of programs funded by a National Science Foundation grant to engage students in STEM topics prior to their start in college.
Science Discovery’s Teen Science Café offers Boulder area teens opportunities to meet and interact with scientists in a fun and informal setting designed to inspire conversation and interaction. The Teen Science Café is always free and meets monthly during the academic year at the BioLounge at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History from 5:30-7PM on a Wednesday. See our website to RSVP. See our archive of Past Scientist-presenters. The Science Discovery Teen Café is a founding member of the Teen Science Café Network.
Café topics span a wide range of STEM fields – from ecology to medicine to astrophysics! Topics and presenters are identified by our Youth Leadership Team, who help us guide the program and run the café events. Have questions about cafés or our Youth Leadership Team? Would you like to be on our Teen Café mailing list to be the first to know about upcoming cafés? Please contact Alexandra Rose via email.
Date first café held: 2013 Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Front Range Teen Science Cafés use the depths of resources available at Colorado State University and the NSF Science and Technology Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes, to engage the local high school population in science that matters to them. Cafés highlight interesting science related to climate and engage students about the incredible world that surrounds them!
Students interact with a severe weather drone as graduate students answer questions.
Belmar Teen Science Café offers Jeffco area teens opportunities to meet & interact with scientists in a fun, informal setting designed to inspire conversation & interaction. Teen Science Café is free & meets once a month at the Belmar Library. Café topics span a wide range of STEM themes from ecology, medicine and astrophysics to design! Topics and presenters are identified by our Youth Leadership Team, who run Café events. Questions? Want to get involved? Email lisa.dibbern@jeffcolibrary.org
The Greater Hartford Teen Science Café will provide area teens with the opportunity to explore hands-on science and research with local STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professionals. Please contact us for more information, or to get involved! Follow us on our website at https://ctsciencecenter.org/teens/cafe/
The Delaware Museum of Natural History is launching a new experience for teens this year! We’ve joined the National Network of Teen Science Cafes, a science presentation series for teens. Held throughout the country, our program is the first program of its kind in Delaware!
Each cafe is designed and run by a group of local teens, the Teen Leadership Team, and includes a pizza party followed by experts in STEAM fields leading informal presentations, engaging activities, and ending with questions & answers sessions. Events are free and only for teens grades 7 – 12.
In its inaugural year, this Teen Science Café program will be held at the Freer Sackler Gallery of Art. The Café is projected to open in December 2018 and will encompass all topics in the field of STEAM. The café is organized and led by teen leaders. The founder and leader of this program is teen leader Neha Pavuluru and the adult sponsor is Matthew Lasnoski. The DC- NOVA Teen Science Cafe is a branch of the larger Teen Science Cafe Network. The cafe brings together high schools students and professionals in the STEAM fields to engage in discussions and hands on learning while enjoying snacks and refreshments. Cafes are held once a month at the Freer Sackler Center in Washington DC. Please get in touch if you are a teen in the DC area who would like to get involved–either as an organizer or just to attend–, a parent who would like more information, or a STEM professional! The contact information for this Café is novateencafe@gmail.com.
All are welcome for this fun filled event!
Cafe Info
DC – NOVA Teen Science Cafe
1050 Independence Ave SW Washington, District of Columbia 20560
A partnership among three aquaria. The Florida Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE-FL), the St. Petersburg Ocean Team, and the Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Sarasota counties school districts implements the Teen Café model with a marine science theme.
At Mote Marine Lab, our high school interns present this Florida Teen Science Café. Florida Teen Science Cafés are free, informal events for teens focusing on marine science. Each meeting welcomes a local scientist to share their work with students. Subject matter is geared for 9th–12th grade students. Cafés are often held at the Selby Public Library. Events Calendar:details of MOTE’s upcoming cafés.
Date first café held: 2013 (St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota sites)
Students articulating a dolphin skeleton. Scientist Gretchen Lovewell is on the left in Mote shirt.
Lead Institution2:
Berkeley Preparatory School, Tampa, Florida
Hands-on cutting edge science learning. Our café will be held at the Berkeley campus café or library. We plan to draw engaging science presenters from our school’s alumni as well as from local universities and scientific communities. If you are a scientist or engineer who would like to get involved, or a teen from our school or the local community who would like to attend upcoming cafés, please get in touch!
Our Café’s contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Lead Institution2:
Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link Inc, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Teen Science Café is a program of SEM Link’s Math and Science Career Academy. We hosts our cafes at the sites of our community partners; which include the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.
Date first café held: November 2017 in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta
Hands-on making bath bombs at Bath Bomb Science (chemistry of soap making) cafe Nov 2017
Enjoy science in a casual setting! Caldwell Public Library will host monthly Science Cafes. The library is part of the Treasure Valley Teen Engineering and Science Cafe Network.
Imagine you could have a soda and chat with a scientist, a professor, or engineer. Ask them questions about their work, enjoy some food and relax. Now add your friends, who are all in this conversation too. Then toss in a hands-on activity to help you understand better. That’s a teen science cafe! If you’re in grade 6-12, you’re curious about the world, and you like free food (provided by the Caldwell Optimists), come join us.
Science cafes: want to help? Join the Teen Advisory Board and help improve YOUR teen programming! Check with Fiona (fmay@cityofcaldwell.org or 459-3242) to join. Must be in grade 6-12.
Thank you to our community supporters!
Cafe Info
ID – Caldwell Library Engineering and Science Café
Café Website:
http://www.niu.edu/stem/ Lead Institution2:
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
Northern Illinois University and the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) are partnering to formulate Teen STEM Cafés. The Teen Café Advisory group will draw on the vast resources of the university and the expanding network of IMSA to find speakers and facilitators for the purpose of increasing STEM literacy for a teen audience in the area surrounding NIU and IMSA.
Lead Institution2:
Naperville North High School District 203 , Naperville, Illinois
Our school has a somewhat unique (yet growing) trend of having a coffee-house-like area, an area which is utilized by 100’s of students each day for lunch and study areas – The area looks similar to a college campus area. This area is also utilized in the evenings for community events; college education courses; and school-sponsored events. This area will serve well as a friendly and easy to get to area for our community as the location is central and safe and there is parking aplenty (free).
Located in a small town setting surrounded by multiple economically challenged, rural communities. Agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and river industries finance most of these communities. This area, however, is located within the Shawnee National Forest which provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and the study of nature. Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is a research university that is active in outreach, community support and promotes the importance of STEM.
Cafe Info
IL – Saluki STEM Teen Café (Cartersville/Carbondale)
KS – Teen Steam (712 Innovations & Topeka / Shawnee County Library)
KS – Teen Steam (712 Innovations & Topeka / Shawnee County Library)
Café Website:
http://tscpl.org Facebook Page:
in process Lead Institution2:
712 Innovations - Topeka and Shawnee County Library, Topeka, Kansas
Teen Steam is a collaboration between 712 Innovations (712i) and the Topeka and Shawnee County Library with either organization taking the lead where and when it makes sense. As a makerspace, 712i has technical expertise and resources, and TSCPL has educational expertise and marketing resources.
Date first Teen Science Café held: coming soon!
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
KS – 712 Innovations (COWORK | MAKERSPACE small business INCUBATOR)
Café Website:
https://kysteminar.org/ Lead Institution2:
Kentucky Science Center, Louisville, KY, Kentucky
A science presentation series lead in equal parts by teen leaders at DuPont Manual High School and the Kentucky Science Center (KSC). Hosted once a month at Ekstrom Library at the University of Louisville, this series offers high-level scientific presentations and interactive discussion from STEM leaders in the community. STEMinar is marketed at present time to both middle and high school students and open to the entire community.
Come and check out STEMinar in the Chao Auditorium at the Ekstrom Library at The University of Louisville, KY
The Health Science Cafe at Northern Kentucky University focuses on health science and health careers. Offered through the Institute for Health Innovation, the cafe will support its goals to improve population health in Kentucky and connect students to health career opportunities.
We have two cafés operating under the umbrella of the NKU Health Science Café:
1. Gallatin County High School Café, 70 Wildcat Circle, Warsaw, KY
2. Newport Café,Newport High School & Mentoring Plus,900 E 6th St, Newport, KY
Please get in touch if you or a high school-aged teen you know would like to get involved!
Date first café held: March 5, 2019
Upcoming cafes:
Nursing
October 15, Gallatin County High School
October 23, Newport High School
Effects of Alcohol and Marijuana Use on Development
November 20, Newport High School
November 21, Gallatin County High School
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: stay tuned!
Cafe Info
KY – Northern Kentucky University Health Science Café
Lead Institution2:
River Parishes Community College, Gonzales, Louisiana
STEM Café au Lait is dedicated to offering hands-on and mind-on STEM opportunities for girls in grades 7-10. The Café meets once a month at River Parishes Community College, and features a STEM professional who shares information about her background, education, and experience, while engaging the girls in STEM activities that they have expressed an interest in knowing more about.
Cafe Info
LA – STEM Café au Lait
925 West Edenborne Parkway | Gonzales, LA 70737 Gonzales, Louisiana 70737
The T.E.A.M. Science Café is incorporated into the national award-winning EnvironMentors program at LSU (EM). Our EM students serve as the core leadership team for our Teen Science Café. Our goal is to showcase STEM professionals in the Baton Rouge community who work on local and statewide environmental issues.
Date first café held: Our first student-led café will be later in fall 2018. Since joining the TSCN in early 2018 we have had several events with local scientists and other professionals who dialogued with our students about their career path and how they use STEM in their work.
ME – First Responder Teen Cafés (South Paris and Harrington)
ME – First Responder Teen Cafés (South Paris and Harrington)
Lead Institution2:
Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, Augusta, Maine
First Responder Teen Cafés, begun in 2017, are a new version of the historical Teen Science Café for ME! cafés that started Spring 2014 and that, over the years, have served teens in Dexter/Dover, Machias, Central Lincoln County, & Oxford Hills. Current cafés are in South Paris and in Harrington. These teen science cafés are the first of its kind in the state of Maine. We work in rural areas where distances to science centers, museums, and universities are often very great. Our youth have limited access and exposure to out of school STEM opportunities and we aim to change that! At The Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, we bring STEM opportunities TO the youth we hope to inspire.
First Responder Teen Science Cafes are supported by MMSA’s STEM Guide’s project. One is at Oxford Hills Highschool in South Paris, ME and is being run by 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond with help from two STEM Guides there. The other is in Harrington, Maine at Narraguagus High School. That is also being organized by 4-H – but through the Washington County Cooperative Extension office in Machias – again with help from local MMSA STEM Guide in that county.
Disasters and emergencies are intriguing to youth, including those interested in helping others or in developing new technologies. Many teens want to know how they can help now, particularly when an event hits close to home. Others wonder whether their interests could lead to a career in the future, unaware of the adults in their community who are part of this field. That’s why Teen Science Cafes [TSCs] in Maine are currently honing in on the STEM in emergency management and response.
Rural students learn that a variety of pathways and opportunities exist for them to pursue their interests. Although many emergency management and response jobs require two- or four-year degrees, entry into the field can also begin with a high school diploma and specialized training and certification. Plus, opportunities to be part of this profession are present in most rural communities as well as beyond them.
Today, the field of emergency management is undergoing rapid change. Although it remains physically demanding, mentally challenging, and unpredictably paced, it is now adopting 21st century mobile device and broadband technologies that are revolutionizing its impact. It’s experiencing an information revolution that is rewriting how we find, diagnose, and treat people in need. Already, for example, EKGs can be recorded on a smartphone anywhere and transmitted to an Emergency Room physician; cheap ultrasound devices can detect internal bleeding right at the scene of an accident; and infrared detectors can amplify the search and rescue capabilities of dogs, drones, and wardens.
Check us out!
First Responder Teen Science Cafe in Machias – Facebook
MA – Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster Teen Science Café
MA – Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster Teen Science Café
Lead Institution2:
Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, Leominster, Massachusetts
Mission Statement
“To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.”
Location
Our Club is conveniently placed between the hearts of Fitchburg and Leominster, MA, and is surrounded by the Doyle Conservation Area. Plans for our Teen Science Café: coming soon!
Cafe Info
MA – Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster Teen Science Café
The MIT Museum’s Teen Science Cafes are planned and enacted by the MIT Museum Teen Programming Council. The cafes feature two key components: an opportunity for the high school age attendees and council members to connect with active researchers about their work through short
talks and long conversations, and a teen “takeover” of the MIT Museum, where council members lead hands-on activities and gallery tours of the Museum. Cafés are free, and dinner is included!
Date of first café series launch: 2017
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
MI – X-Small Tech Café (Ypsilanti District Library)
MI – X-Small Tech Café (Ypsilanti District Library)
Lead Institution2:
Ypsilanti District Library, Ypsilanti, Michigan
The cafe is being organized as a collaborative effort between the Ypsilanti District Library and a local alternative high school, Work Skills Corps (WSC). As the teen librarian and one of two facilitators, I serve as the outreach person to the alternative high school by offering X-Small STEAM Café as something they may get involved in after school. We offer exploratory science cafés like Forensic and Physical Science where speakers come in; we hope to offer field trip opportunities as well. Ypsilanti District Library supports the idea of teens leading teens in science.
MI – STEM@SVSU Teen Science Café (Great Lakes Bay region)
MI – STEM@SVSU Teen Science Café (Great Lakes Bay region)
Lead Institution2:
Saginaw Valley State University (STEM @ SVSU), University Center, Michigan
This Cafe is a collaboration between STEM@SVSU and the Chief Science Officers of the Great Lakes Bay Region in Michigan. It will provide students throughout the region with opportunities to interact with local STEM professionals in a relaxed and informal setting.
Please contact Adrianne Cole, SVSU STEM Program Manager, at acole@svsu.edu if you are a CSO, teenager, or STEM professional interested in leading or participating in this Teen Science Cafe.
Member Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
The Bakken Museum’s Teen Science Cafe invites teenagers to engage with real STEM professionals to discuss current topics and questions in the world. In 2018 we will be exploring cutting edge science through the lens of Frankenstein as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein discussing the ethics and impact of science on today’s society.
Date first café held: 10/28/18
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Cafe Info
MN – Bakken Museum Teen Science Cafe
3537 Zenith Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416
Plan to identify youth leaders to develop an in person cafe (with youth around the Duluth, Minnesota area) and virtual cafe (with youth in the rural Minnesota Arrowhead region)
MS – OS Library Teen Science Café (Ocean Springs Library)
MS – OS Library Teen Science Café (Ocean Springs Library)
Lead Institution2:
Jackson-George Regional Library - Ocean Springs Branch, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Our Teen Science Café will begin within the 2017-2018 year through the Ocean Springs Library. We have a large science community along the Gulf Coast that we plan to draw upon for our events. Because of our locale we will have a number of Teen Science Cafés relating to marine and estuarine ecosystems.
Please get in touch if you would like to get involved, either as a part of our youth leadership team (teenage), or as a STEM professional.
First café to be held: December 7, 2017
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
MS – OS Library Teen Science Café (@ Ocean Springs Library)
The Gateway Teen Science Café is a free, fun way for teens to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Stimulating conversations with scientists, engineers, and inventors take place in an informal and relaxed setting. Free food is served!
The program is run by teens for teens at central locations in Cahokia and St. Louis. It was inspired by the adult Café Scientifique programs that have become popular throughout the world. All teens are welcome at any Café, and we are always looking for energetic Youth Leaders to help guide and organize the Café meetings.
Where Do Gateway Teen Science Cafes Take Place?
We have a new cafe lined up for each month. Each cafe theme is hosted at three different locations:
The Academy of Science – St. Louis
Location varies by month
Registration Required
St. Louis Science Center (Taylor Center)
4900 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Registration may be required, depending on the topic.
SIUE at Cahokia High School
800 Range Ln Cahokia, IL 62206
Youth Leadership Team
Teens own this cafe. They don’t only attend it – they run it. By joining the Youth Leadership Team (YLT), you get to voice your opinion about what the cafe looks like, sounds like, feels like, and even what food is served. The YLT is a great place to find friends while developing leadership skills that look nice on a resume. Find out more about the YLT here.
Check us out on Facebook to see what we are up to!
We launched our Teen Science Cafe in 2016 with talks at Bozeman Library on What Makes Bees Sick? and Weed Species Richness, Density and Diversity Sampling. Partnering with the Montana Institute on Ecosystems and Montana NSF EPSCOR, our featured speakers were graduate students from Montana State University – Bozeman. We are interested in continuing to partner with other researchers and teen groups in Montana. Please get in touch if you are interested in partnering with us.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln State Museum of Natural History will develop a teen science café focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics with a focus on how these disciplines deepen our understanding of the natural world.
Café events will be held once a month in the museum’s new Discovery Zone-a science exploration center within the museum specifically designed with a teen audience in mind.
The program will be free to area high school students to attend.
If are a high school-aged teen who would like info about joining the teen leadership team, a STEM professional who might like to present, or a community member who would like to support this outreach effort, please get in touch!
Date first café held: coming soon!
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
NE – Café Discovery (University of Nebraska-Lincoln State Museum of Natural History)
645 North 14th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0338
LMK Cafe will connect Lincoln teens, scientists, researchers. professionals and entrepreneurs to learn and innovate together. Lincoln, NE is a center of innovation and creativity. LNK will help grow our culture of innovation.
Community Partner:
Date first café held: coming soon!
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: stay tuned!
Cafe Info
NE – LNK Cafe (Nebraska 4-H and Lincoln Lighthouse Afterschool Program)
114 Agricultural Hall Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0700
Lead Institution2:
Concord High School 21C (afterschool program), Concord, New Hampshire
Coming in 2017!
We are working to have the design of the group to be student driven.
Adult facilitators will be holding several teen meetings culminating in our first cafe. The purpose of the pre-cafes is to explain the concept, get teens on board and begin seeing which teens will emerge as our teen leaders. During the initial meetings students may break into small groups and brainstorm issues close to them, issues they are curious about, and issues they hear in the media, etc. They will be asked to break into leadership groups: marketing, community speaker outreach, facilitating, etc. Our program will be open to all teens that we serve.
Cafe Info
NH – 21C Teen Café
Concord High School 21C Center Concord, New Hampshire 03301
We believe that the Teen Science Café is the best way to connect students with the leaders of today in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These STEM professionals will inspire students to become the leaders of tomorrow, and the café provides them with the opportunity to do so.
The students are given the chance to learn about a variety of STEM careers, from cardiology to the fundamentals of robotics. A teen café allows us to have science and engineering professionals working with our teens in more extensive hands-on than is possible in a classroom visit. What’s interesting about the Teen Science Café events is that not only have the participants learned about STEM in the real world, they have learned to become leaders themselves. Our Teen Science Café leaders have been instrumental in making our café events a success!
Science Education Solutions, through its Café Scientifique New Mexico program, pioneered and refined over several years a model for teen science cafés that incorporates hands-on learning with the traditional science café. The model is being applied in novel ways throughout the Teen Science Cafe Network. Science Education Solutions operates the Resource Center for the Teen Science Café Network, and is the primary point of contact for the Network. It conducts the Café Scientifique New Mexico program in four communities with local partners. Member Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Explora’s Teen STEM Café is a teen-led project—led by Explora’s youth interns—that engages Albuquerque-area scientists and engineers with teens during informal science presentations at venues teens enjoy. Based upon the TSCN model, Explora’s cafés include three components—presentation, conversation, and hands-on engagement. Each café connects scientists and engineers with ~75 teens to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts and engage in stimulating dialogue together.
Date first café held: 12/2015 Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Las Cruces Teen Science Café is a free, fun way for teens to explore the latest and greatest ideas in science and technology. Meet professional scientists, engineers, and explorers in an informal environment. Plus, free food!
The cafes are run by teens for teens at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science and NMSU’s Gardiner Hall. Inspired by the adult Science Café programs that are popular all over the world, Teen Science Café gives students an opportunity to explore their interests and careers in the sciences.
Students in grades 6-12 are welcome at any Café, and we are always looking for high school students to join the Teen Leadership Team to help plan and run the Cafés.
Café Locations
Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science (MoNaS)
411 N. Main Street
NMSU Gardiner Hall, NMSU (NMSU)
1186 E. University Avenue
Upcoming Café Topics
Geography and GIS with BLM Geographer Ray Hewitt @ MoNaS
Thursday, November 15, 2018
5:30pm
Wildland Firefighting with BLM firefighters Mark Bernal and Teresa Rigby @ MoNaS Thursday, February 21, 2019
5:30pm
Astronomy with Solar System Ambassador and NASA IT specialist Richard Pacheco @ MoNaS
Thursday, March 21, 2019
5:30pm
Volcanos with NMSU Geology Professor Emily Johnson @ NMSU
Thursday, April 18, 2019
5:30pm
Our café has an enthusiastic group of adults and teenagers who meet once a month during the school year, to participate in interactive presentations that highlight our region’s strength’s, industry, and place-based resources, in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math, emphasizing the scientific basis of each. Student leaders will plan, implement, and lead evening programs which will include discussion, activities, food, and an expert presentation.
We are using the Remind.com app to help communicate about Atomic Teen Café. If you’d like to get reminders, please message us with your cell number or email, and let me know if you are interested in either:
Teen Leadership meetings, twice a month, or
Regular Cafe meetings, which will hopefully be starting in late Feb. 2017.
NM – SFIS Café Scientifique (Santa Fe Indian School)
NM – SFIS Café Scientifique (Santa Fe Indian School)
Café Website:
http://cafenm.org/ Lead Institution2:
Café Scientifique New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
SFIS Café Scientifique will be held at the Santa Fe Indian School (Humanities commons room-116) and will provide students with an array of presenters from our rich state of NM and several who specifically focus on indigenous concepts. Students will explore topics in science and technology and engage with the presenters in hands-on activities.
Please get in touch if you are a local STEM professional, teen, parent of teens, or local business or organization interested in getting involved with this new branch of the Café Scientifique program.
Location:
Santa Fe Indian School-Humanities common room 116
Please refer to our school map to locate the Humanities building. You will also need to pass through our security check point and obtain a printed badge to come onto the campus. Simply show the security guard your driver’s license and they will issue you a pass. Save the printed pass for future cafes.
NM – Socorro County Teen Science Cafe Network – Socorro, Magdalena, & Alamo (New Mexico Tech)
NM – Socorro County Teen Science Cafe Network – Socorro, Magdalena, & Alamo (New Mexico Tech)
Café Website:
none yet Facebook Page:
none yet Lead Institution2:
New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico
We plan to start 3 individual Teen Science Cafes to serve the Socorro, Magdalena, and Alamo communities. All three will initially be coordinated through NMT, to better coordinate resources (including guest scientists, a college student mentor to teen leadership groups, and logistics coordination). NMT is a great resource for scientists, and the Teen Science Cafes would be an excellent opportunity for NMT to reach students in our rural county.
Cafe Info
NM – Socorro County Teen Science Cafe Network – Socorro, Magdalena, & Alamo (New Mexico Tech)
Science Education Solutions, through its Café Scientifique New Mexico program, pioneered and refined over several years a model for teen science cafés that incorporates hands-on learning with the traditional science café. The model is being applied in novel ways throughout the Teen Science Cafe Network. Science Education Solutions operates the Resource Center for the Teen Science Café Network, and is the primary point of contact for the Network. It conducts the Café Scientifique New Mexico program in four communities with local partners. One of them, being Taos.
Science Education Solutions, through its Café Scientifique New Mexico program, pioneered and refined over several years a model for teen science cafés that incorporates hands-on learning with the traditional science café. The model is being applied in novel ways throughout the Teen Science Cafe Network. Science Education Solutions operates the Resource Center for the Teen Science Café Network, and is the primary point of contact for the Network. It conducts the Café Scientifique New Mexico program in four communities with local partners.
Science Education Solutions, through its Café Scientifique New Mexico program, pioneered and refined over several years a model for teen science cafés that incorporates hands-on learning with the traditional science café. The model is being applied in novel ways throughout the Teen Science Cafe Network. Science Education Solutions operates the Resource Center for the Teen Science Café Network, and is the primary point of contact for the Network. It conducts the Café Scientifique New Mexico program in four communities with local partners. Member Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
The Socorro County Teen Science Cafe Network – Socorro looks to coordinate with local scientists to collaborate with area teens to encourage STEM activities.
We run our Teen Sci Cafés in conjunction with our adult version which we call Sci Café. This gives us the opportunity to tap some impressive scientists who are already traveling to our institution and it allows the students to feel more a part of the community at the museum.
The Harlem Teen STEAM Club will provide an atmosphere for exploring concepts related to youth engagement in the STEAM fields and will offer a series of forums and programs that will not only expose teens between the ages of 13-17 to professionals, gurus, and mentors in the STEAM fields, but also enable the participants to develop leadership, technical, job readiness, and critical thinking skills using a format that has been developed by a group of teen leaders and the Teen Advisor.
Member contributions toTeenScienceCafe.org:
Resources for session given at 2016 TSCN Members’ Workshop:
Generating Cultural Compatibilities Through Amended Pedagogy & Curriculum: An Excerpt The word culture is not simply relegated to the ethnic class of an individual; rather, culture also encompasses the societal aspects of a community. Cultural relevance becomes more than simply about race or class, but about an all encompassing community relevance that supports the growth and progress of those who are a part of that community and its culture. Cultural relevance, when steeped in a STEM program located in an urban setting that is inhabited by those who are of the marginalized class will promote interest in STEM fields and activities, as well as help to generate within participants a STEM identity that enables them to know that they can.
Emergency Weather Messaging Cafe, October 11th 2018
David Zaff has 20 years of experience working for the National Weather Service and is the Science Operations Officer at the Buffalo Weather Forecast Office. He didn’t really know about the National Weather Service until college. David wanted the teens at the October Buffalo Niagara Teen Science Café to know they don’t have to worry about the direction of their career path. David started in physics, before transferring schools and studying atmospheric science, the physics theories behind meteorology. He lived in Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, and Massachusetts before settling in Buffalo and emphasized that careers in science can create opportunities for paid graduate school training, exploring academic institutions of different sizes, and living in different parts of the country.
David wanted the teens’ opinions on a problem the National Weather Service (NWS) is facing. NWS is a government agency that provides weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy. Their problem is creating the most effective warnings and messaging to facilitate protection of life and property within communities on the most effective platforms.
David gave a few examples. Hurricane categories one through five are based on wind levels. Hurricane Florence, in the first two weeks of September, was a category four, but then the wind threat changed to a rain threat and the category was changed to two. Individuals on the ground in the Carolinas changed their evacuation plans because the danger was perceived to be lower.
The storm dumped three feet of water in a limited geographic area over a few short days. Teens were asked to guess the deadliest weather event in the U.S. Some guessed extreme temperatures, which is a close second to flooding. Teens agreed that separate warnings for rain and wind would be more effective to communicate the level and type of danger created by a hurricane. The NWS circulates the motto, “turn around, don’t drown,” due to the number of driving related deaths in flooded areas. Teens were asked to brainstorm mottos for other weather events.
David presented the teens with another science communication conundrum. Too many warnings. Will communities and individuals react differently to a flash flood versus a river flood warning? What about lake effect snow versus a winter storm? Each of these weather events have a meteorological definition, but how the public reacts to each is the difference between life and death.
David illustrated how communities react to blizzards versus other types of weather events where snow accumulates on the ground. Blizzards are also defined by winds: thirty-five miles per hour for at least three hours, effecting visibility at one fourth mile or less due to snow. Communities brace for blizzards that may or may not result in much snow on the ground due to high winds. Snow on the ground, like flooded roads, is dangerous, and can happen without high winds or much community preparation.
Buffalo area teens discussed how they get information about weather, what weather event warnings they react to, and how they could spread the word about what they’d learned. David left Buffalo Niagara Teen Science Café with recommendations for weather warning phone apps and his number one piece of advice: explore open doors while you’re young.
Call to artists:Buffalo Niagara Teen Science Café is looking for a logo. Submit your artwork for a chance to win fossils from Hamburg, NY and Morocco as well as a tee-shirt! Send your submissions to elizabeth@penndixie.org . Images should be 400×400 pixels, 2 MB, and JPG or PNG.
We’ve got cool fossil prizes for the winner of our logo design contest!
Cafe Info
NY – Buffalo Niagara Teen Science Café
3556 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. 230 Blasdell, New York 14219
A monthly TEEN Science Cafe geared for ages 13-18 to expand interest in science and STEM. Topics focus on cutting edge science developments and their impacts on society.
Cafe Info
NY – Teen Scene Science Cafe at Greenburgh Nature Center (Scarsdale)
The Rochester Teen Science Cafe’s goal is to engage high school students in current research and development occurring at local universities and research institutions in our community. We hope to further student passion and interest for STEM. We also hope to increase student awareness on the diversity of pathways into STEM careers.
NC – Open Minds Teen Science Cafés (Raleigh, Morehead, & Whiteville)
NC – Open Minds Teen Science Cafés (Raleigh, Morehead, & Whiteville)
Café Website:
http://naturalsciences.org/teenscience Lead Institution2:
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina
Open Minds Teen Science Cafés bring teens together in an informal setting to learn about science and technology. Each café will include a scientist presentation, an interactive activity relating to the discussion, and time to meet other teens that enjoy science. The cafés are led by Café Coordinator groups, so they are truly teen events.
These cafés are funded by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. The North Carolina network partners include the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Morehead Planetarium and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Whiteville.
All teens are welcome to join us for our FREE Teen Science Cafés. No registration needed!
Teen Science Café Raleigh@ the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Cafés at Raleigh are held on first Fridays of the month.
Teen Science Café Morehead@ Morehead Planetarium and Science Center meets on the second Fridays of the month while school is in session. Guest speakers include University of North Carolina scientists, NASA Solar System Ambassadors, and community educators. Food is available at 5:30, with the Cafe running from 6:00-7:00.
Teen Science Café Whiteville@ the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville has café listings on its café Facebook page.
The café is run by the The Science House at the NCSU Center of Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) located in Morehead City. The cafés are planned and facilitated by the Sea Wolves which is a 4H youth program for high school students interested in careers in Marine Sciences and Technology which is chartered to CMAST. The programs will feature the science of the coast and will draw from member institutions of NCMSEP.
Lead Institution2:
Catawba Science Center, Hickory, North Carolina
Led by volunteers from Catawba Science Center, Hickory Youth Advisory Council and Catawba County Youth Advisory Council, Teen Science Café – Catawba will serve our diverse community through partnerships with multiple school systems, regional universities, and industries.
First Teen Science Café held: coming soon! Contact us to be a part of it!
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
A group of teens getting together to talk with local scientists/presenters about, learn about, and share their love of science. Please get in touch if you are a teen interested in joining the teen organizing committee!
Date first café held: Interest meeting was Wednesday November 14th, 2018.
Cafe Info
NC – Sturgeon City Teen Science Café (Jacksonville)
50 Court Street Sturgeon City, North Carolina 28540
The Asheville Teen Science Café is run by the Asheville Museum of Science in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Asheville. This café aims to meet quarterly, focusing on informing and utilizing experts to bring teens into a conversation about STEM opportunities in Western North Carolina.
Lead Institution2:
Gateway to Science, Bismarck, North Dakota
A place for teens to meet for snacks and conversations with science professionals.
Please get in touch with us if you are a teen who might be interested in being a part of this new teen-led program, or if you are a professional working in STEM who might like to be a future guest presenter!
First café held: coming soon!
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
SC – South Carolina Aquarium Teen Science Café
100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston, South Carolina 29401
OH – Freshmen Teen Science Café (The University of Akron)
OH – Freshmen Teen Science Café (The University of Akron)
Lead Institution2:
The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
Our Teen Science Cafe program targets freshmen college students who are undecided in their major. Our hope is to encourage these students to think about science careers that they may not have considered due to lack of knowledge or exposure.
Date first café held: 6/2016 Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
OH – Southeast Ohio Teen Science Café (Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery / Athens)
OH – Southeast Ohio Teen Science Café (Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery / Athens)
Lead Institution2:
Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery, Athens, Ohio
The Southeast Ohio Teen Science Café is supported by the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery.
We invite you to explore STEAM in the world around us!
Please get in touch if you are a local STEM/STEAM professional, teen, parent of teens, or local business or organization interested in getting involved with this new program.
Date first café held: January 2018 Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
We opened with our first café with a discussion led by Dr. Amr Al-Azm, a scientist and faculty member at Shawnee State University who has a background in both medicine and forensic anthropology. We learned how the science of bone identification can be used to help solve crimes and missing persons cases. We even got an opportunity to hypothesize about the crimes themselves. Dr. Al-Azm shared a little about his involvement with recovering and preserving items of interest in countries experiencing war and other trauma. This café was a great reminder to all of us that our future careers in science may require us to be flexible and willing to try new areas of study.
“Science”: Measuring a bone for the forensic anthropology TSC
February 2018 Café:
The February Southeast Ohio Teen Science Café showcased research by Dr. Sarah Wyatt of Wyatt Labs at Ohio University. She and her assistant demonstrated some of the studies that took place on the International Space Station! We thought about how much we know about gravity’s effects on plant growth (it turns out, not much!) Dr. Wyatt encouraged us to explore some of the equipment that she uses and even brought some of the samples that were rejected from the space flight. We had a great discussion about girls and women who want to get involved in science and considered steps we could take to become involved in space study.
March 2018 Café:
In March we tackled an issue that is sure to be more present in the public discussion in the future: “smart” contracts. We learned that the concept behind this mode of contract is like blockchain (ex: Bitcoin) and considered where we placed our trust when we sign on the dotted line. We even got an opportunity to make some ‘kind of smart’ contracts with our fellow classmates (in exchange for some chocolate, of course!)
May 2018 Events:
In May, we were fortunate to have two Teen Science Café events. The first was held at Glidden Hall on the campus of Ohio University and explored the physics behind musical composition with OU professor and composer, Dr. McClure. We chatted about what type of words we use to describe different sounds (musical timbre) and how to change that (filters, physical characteristics of instruments, etc.) Once the balloon demonstration was out, it didn’t take long for the room to get noisy! Dr. McClure shared some of his compositions with us and explained the connection to his inspiration for one piece – the spectral analysis of stars. This café reminded us how integral the “A” (arts) are to “STEAM” learning.
The second Teen Science Café event that we held in May was a unique experience to host a PBS documentary screening and panel discussion about the film, Bill Nye: Science Guy. Held at our local independent theater, the Athena Cinema, the teen leaders facilitated a discussion following the film that centered around the role of science in our rapidly changing world. We examined the impact of climate change, including changes in our own region, and the public perception of ‘hot button’ subjects like evolution. We found that there is a real desire for these discussions and that the role of communication can be particularly important for young scientists to learn.
Bill Nye: Science Guy PBS POV Documentary screening
We seek to provide exposure to STEM fields among high school students with a particular interest to increase diversity in STEM through involvement of underrepresented groups in both presenters and students from the Cleveland area.
Teens at ScienceWorks will benefit from the network of science leaders and enthusiasts built by our organization over the last 15 years in Southern Oregon. Using the museum as a home base, Teens will also have the opportunity to extend their cafe meetings to other locations throughout the Rogue Valley. Teen Leaders will be a vital part of the ScienceWorks community, and invited to participate in planning and execution of other programming and events at the museum.
Date first café held:
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
OR – ScienceWorks Hands On Teen Science Cafe (Ashland)
Oregon Teen Science Cafe gives young people the opportunity to learn first hand how local scientists and technology experts are making discoveries and solving our world’s problems. Cafes are an hour and half long and held once a month at the last Sunday of the month. The Youth Leadership Team designs and plans each cafe in support of adult mentors. OSU 4-H is the leading organization of OR Teen Science Cafe which allows for a connection to scientists and career exploration.
PA – Penn Teen Science Café (University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia)
PA – Penn Teen Science Café (University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia)
Café Website:
http://www.pennubms.org Lead Institution2:
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Penn Teen Science Café is anchored in questions that are meaningful in the lives of students that are traditionally under-represented in STEM related fields. The cafés will incorporate elements reflective of the students own experiences at home and within the Philadelphia Community.
We hope to begin with two library sites, and partner with the Franklin Institute and University of Pennsylvania to bring unique programming to library sites.
Date first café held:
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
PA – Free Library of Philadelphia Teen Science Café
The Penn Museum Teen Science Cafés meet monthly during the school year to connect local Philadelphia youth to museum staff, faculty, and graduate students through interactive workshops. Speakers are selected and coached by our Teen Ambassadors. Our Teen Science Cafes try to be directly related to the Penn Museum’s scope and mission, showing how the humanistic science of anthropology helps us make sense of ourselves and our world.
Date first café held: March 2018 and many, many more…
Lead Institution2:
URI 4-H Programs, Kingston, Rhode Island
URI 4-H offers series of free, fun Teen Science Café events where teens get to socialize over food and refreshments and have the opportunity to talk with local scientists and engineers about current cutting-edge ideas in science and technology. Cafés are structured to promote lively conversation and interaction among teens and the presenter; a Café is not a lecture. The scientist presenters share their experiences by interacting with the teens. Often there is an overview of the scientist’s career path and introduction to the science and technology ideas faced in the field. This is typically followed by Q&A with the teens and frequently there is some hands-on way for the teens to engage in the science/technology being discussed.
Teen Science Cafés are for teens, by teens. A core group of Teen Leaders, with the committed mentorship of an
adult, plan and run the café themselves. Teen Science Cafés are not just for science buffs; they are for all
curious teens. Along the way, teen organizers gain a host of leadership skills.
Our Teen Science Café meets 4-5 times per year for 1.5 hours. The presentation is typically 30-45 minutes.
Refreshments are served for about 15 minutes before or after the presentation. During the last half hour of the
meeting, teens are free to socialize. Most adults typically sit in another room. If they are in the
presentation room, they are asked to observe only.
Cafe Info
RI – RI 4-H Teen Science Café
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
*Due to the current ongoing pandemic we have not been able to update our photo. This is a photo of the 2018-2019 Advisory.
Fall 2021 ~ Zoom with SC Teen Science Cafes! Sept. 23 @6 pm (Hybrid) “Forensic Science – Up Close!” Guest: Sabrina Gast, YC Coroner
Oct. 21 @6 pm (Zoom only) “Radon Gas: Find It, Fix It, Save a Life!”
National Chemistry Week–Radon featured! Guest: Leslie Coolidge, SC DHEC Radon Program Coordinator
Nov. 18 @6 pm (Zoom Only) “Poetic Photosynthesis” Guest: Angelo ‘Eyeambic’ Geter, Poet Laureate of Rock Hill, SC
Dec. 16 @6 pm (Zoom Only) “What Fuels Wildland Fires?” Guest: Dr. Jennifer Schafer, Asst. Professor Winthrop University
Zoom Teen Science Cafés!
Third Thursdays @ 6 pm -7:45 pm Pre-registration is required!
For Zoom Link fill out the Google Doc and a Zoom link will be emailed to you!
https://bit.ly/tsc_OCT2021
or email: yocoteensciencecafe@yahoo.com
Zoom is limited to first 100 registered!
Community Partners: SC Million Women Mentors
What to Expect at a LIVE /Virtual Teen Science Café ? A little fun and social time, a reminder about expectations and courtesy, then we will roll into the introduction of the speaker by a teen advisor. This will be a LIVE event and we do not record. Please come on time and stay until the end for a chance to ask questions and the opportunity to win a prize!
Summaries of past Teen Science Cool Cafés can be found right below this section towards the bottom of the page and on our Facebook and Instagram @YCTeenScienceCafe .
Why offer a Science Café? (from a teen’s perspective)
We are curious and want to explore relevant, exciting advances in science, technology, engineering, art and math affecting our daily lives, and we like to socialize. Plus, we are thinking about careers and this is a way to ask questions about a career that the speaker is invested in. This STEAM outreach to teens is important because it is not “school” and totally voluntary! Although some teachers do give extra credit if we attend and write up a summary of what we learned.
Who can come?
We voted to include middle to high school teens (8th -12th grades). Public, private and homeschool students are welcome to attend! Virtual Cafes are open to all STEAM interested teens. Educators are also welcome to attend! Parents can check it out, but we ask them not to hang out, because it is our space.
How can I get involved? Become a Teen Advisor!
You can choose to lead alongside an adult mentor in all aspects of running this event, such as choosing topics, greeting participants, enabling set-up, previewing the presenter, introducing the presenter, asking thoughtful questions to lead the conversation, to role model and encourage respectful/courteous behavior, help market the event, remember to send a thank you to those that volunteer to present, and always give your input to make future cafes even better!
Monthly Teen Science Café Advisory meetings are held on one Sunday afternoon each month, 3-4 pm
Come check us out! Contact us if you would like to become a YoCo Teen Science Café Advisor!
Contact email: yocoteensciencecafe@yahoo.com
Teen member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org
(We have much more to upload! Check back soon for more Cool Cafes!)
We offer at least 4 Teen Science Cafes a year. Our cafes are free, fun, social events for teens interested in science! Each cafe will feature a different scientist from the community. They will speak about their career, the topic of interest, and will lead a hands on activity. We have been doing the cafes since December of 2018. Any teen, ages 13-17, is welcome and pizza is normally provided. It’s a great way to meet other teens interested in science as well as hear about other teen programs that the South Carolina Aquarium offers!
*Right now, due to Covid-19, our Teen Science Cafes are virtual. We are working in partnership with the Museum of York County to put these together. You can find the calendar of cafes scheduled for Spring 2021 on our website!
Cafe Info
SC – South Carolina Aquarium Teen Science Café
100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston, South Carolina 29401
We bring science and research to teens in Central South Dakota!
Check out our website – www.sd-discovery.org/TSC,
or follow us on Facebook – @stemsavvypierre or Instagram – @stem.savvy
Date first café held:
Pole to Pole – December 9, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
SD Discovery Center (805 W Sioux Ave, Pierre)
The Sanford PROMISE Teen Science Café’s mission is to expose teens in southeastern South Dakota to the latest and greatest innovations in science and technology. Organized by high school students, our group is for students in the Sioux Falls area who share an interest in science. Contact us at SanfordOutreach@sanfordhealth.org or 605.312.6031 for information or to join us at our next café!
This Teen Science Café will focus on the interest of the teens themselves and guide them toward potential careers or hobbies as adults. It will be a chance for the students without a ton of social experiences to get a close-up hands-on view of science and scientists. Professionals from a wide array of STEM fields (science, technology, education and math)–especially those who work for our local companies–will be invited to share what they do and why they love it with the teens.
Date first café held: coming soon! Fall 2017.
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Making Waves Café at the Texas State Aquarium offers Coastal Bend teens the opportunity to engage in science inquiry and conversation in a fun and casual setting. Teens learn about current and interesting science research and discoveries, conservation actions and career pathways. Through interactive presentations, demonstrations and discussions teens and professionals will explore the science, technology, engineering, and math endeavors that are shaping our blue planet! Café topics will span a wide range. Date first café held: January 2017 Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Central Texas Teen Science Café is organized by a team of teens from Central Texas area high schools and sponsored by the Mayborn Museum and Hewitt Public Library. We meet monthly throughout the school year to eat, socialize, and hear from Central Texas area scientists and engineers about their jobs, their path to science, their academic background and their research. Every café includes fun, food, and hands-on science.
Central Texas Teen Science Café will meet at either the Mayborn Museum in Design Den (1300 S University Parks Dr) or at the Hewitt Public Library (200 Ste B, Patriot Ct, Hewitt, TX 76643). Check out the cafe’s webpage for the schedule, and be sure to follow us on Instagram!
*** Date first café held: October 2016 Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Lead Institution2:
Texas Southmost College (TSC) and IDEA School, Brownsville, Texas
Starting in 2017, Texas Southmost College and IDEA School partnered to create the Brownsville Teen Science Café (BTSC), which will be the first teen-focused STEM program in Brownsville, TX outside of high school clubs. The population of the city of Brownsville is 90% Hispanic. There is a great need to overcome the nationwide underrepresentation of Hispanics in science and engineering fields. The BTSC will provide an engaging and accessible venue for Brownsville teens to explore science and science careers by interacting directly with local science experts.
Please contact us if you would like information, or to get involved!
Date first café held: 1/2017
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Dallas Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals and innovative conservation education programming for audiences of all ages. We do science every day! All Dallas Zoo Teen Science Cafe events will take place at the Zoo. At each Teen Science Café, teens will learn about real world science issues from experts in the field.
Join our teen organizing committee today or contact us for details of upcoming cafés! Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:
Lead Institution2:
Julius L. Matthey Middle School, San Antonio, Texas
Southside ISD welcomes you to our Teen Science Café.
Here students meet to understand how and why things work around them. We will learn how to prepare ourselves for the future and meet some really cool people.
Date first café held: October 17, 2018
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
TX – Cardinal’s Café @ Julius L. Matthey Middle School, San Antonio
Lead Institution2:
Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas
The Austin ISD Teen Science Cafe will feature collaboration between students of science and our 250 registered partner groups accounting for thousands of volunteers. Of that huge pool are many hundreds of STEM volunteers, mentors, and speakers. We plan to launch the Cafe in the 2017-2018 school calendar year.
Date first café held:
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
TX – Teen Science Café (Fort Worth Museum of Science & History)
TX – Teen Science Café (Fort Worth Museum of Science & History)
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/FWMSH Lead Institution2:
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Texas
Our Teen Science Café will function as a part of the museum’s Research and Learning Center. Researchers from 5 nearby area universities will be the primary scientist-presenters. The café will take place at least monthly in order to keep momentum strong.
If you are a local teen interested in learning about being a part of the Teen Leadership Team who will plan and run the cafés, or are just interested in attending a café once our series gets started, please get in touch!
If you are a scientist, engineer, or other STEM professional potentially interested in presenting at one of our cafés, we would be happy to talk with you about the opportunity.
Date first Teen Science Café held: coming soon!
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
TX – Teen Science Café (Fort Worth Museum of Science & History)
TX – Gulf Reach Teen Science Café (Corpus Christi)
TX – Gulf Reach Teen Science Café (Corpus Christi)
Lead Institution2:
Gulf REACH, LLC., Corpus Christi, Texas
This TSC cafe will focus on current issues and technologies in STEM in the Gulf of Mexico, including health and wellness. Our Cafe will launch summer of 2018 and will continue monthly starting September 2018.
Cafe Info
TX – Gulf REACH Teen Science Café (Corpus Christi)
Inside is a teen science cafe based in Houston, Texas, that gives high school students free opportunities to discover the front lines of stem. Our mission is to introduce students to niche fields and real world sciences by making innovation accessible. Every other month, we invite speakers from a variety of fields to share their insights among aspiring scientists at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. We encourage our community of young thinkers to delve further into their interests through working with each other under the guidance of professionals. We believe that students are capable of creating change and making impacts; the first step to unlocking their potentials is letting them inside..
UT – Salt Lake Teen Science Cafe (Natural History Museum of Utah)
UT – Salt Lake Teen Science Cafe (Natural History Museum of Utah)
Lead Institution2:
Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
The Salt Lake Teen Science Cafe will be the first science cafe in Utah created for teens and by teens. Supported by the Natural History Museum of Utah, the SLTSC will welcome high schoolers from around the valley to come hear tales of science adventures and talk with local scientists about trying to figuring out the world — or at least some weird little part of it. Plus food! Youth planners will ensure topics are interesting to teens and snacks are good.
Date first café held: coming soon!
Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
UT – Salt Lake Teen Science Cafe (Natural History Museum of Utah)
Taking Flight Nights!
Teen STEAM Cafés at Tracy Aviary
At Tracy Aviary, the nation’s oldest and largest public aviary, your curiosity can take flight! New for 2018, we are letting local teens take the lead on a brand new series of programs. Taking Flight Nights are interactive STEAM cafés for teens by teens!
What are STEAM cafés?
STEAM cafés are events in which professionals in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) interact with the public in a casual setting, sharing their work through engaging hands-on activities and discussions. Teen STEAM Cafés empower high school students to choose topics they want to learn about, reach out to local STEM professionals, and plan their very own events. Learn more about Teen STEAM Cafés across the country here.
Taking Flight Nights started in June of 2018 and run year-round!
How can you get involved?
Teens
High school students can apply to be on our Teen Advisory Board, which will meet once a month at Tracy Aviary to collaboratively plan Taking Flight Nights. Once Taking Flight Nights begin, Teen Advisory Board members will work as a team with Tracy Aviary staff to facilitate the events.
Benefits:
-Meet new people and learn new things!
-Practice professional skills, including running meetings, professional correspondence, and event hosting.
-Earn volunteer hours. Once volunteers reach 30 hours, they earn a Tracy Aviary membership!
-Explore potential careers.
We are hosting our first cafe on February 3, 2018! Check it out at https://go.uvm.edu/feb3teensciencecafe and we have two more planned for March 24 and April 28. Stay tuned!
A partnership between the Arlington Science and Technology Alliance and the Arlington Public Schools. The Teen Science Café is student-led activity that includes development of student science projects, coaching for key science standard exams, exploration of science concepts, and mentoring by local science and technology professionals.
Students will be trained in a fun “Summer Teen Cafe Boot Camp” to select themes and speakers. They will work with the director, county STEM librarian and Dean of Communication to develop and conduct an activity related to the Galileo’s Sci. Cafe topic. We have an existing community cafe that will follow immediately after the teen cafe where the teen cafe parents and other community members can eat, visit with the speakers, look at books related to the topic provided by the STEM librarian.
Date first café held:
Contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: coming soon!
Cafe Info
VA – Galileo’s Science Café
Hylton Performing Arts Center Manassas, Virginia 20110
*Teen Science Café Seattle via Pacific Science Center is currently on hold…to be restarted via the Old Fire House and committed teen leaders in Fall 2017. Stay tuned for details!*
Teen Science Cafés are opportunities for teens in the Puget Sound area to talk with local scientists and researchers about current and cutting-edge ideas in science and technology, all in a relaxed and informal setting. Teen Science Cafés are free to attend, feature free snacks and hands-on activities, and are run by teens for teens in their local community.
These events are held every-other month during the school year on second Wednesdays at Pacific Science Center and the Old Fire House Teen Center in Redmond, WA. Follow Pacific Science Center’s Teen Science Cafés on Facebook and Instagram.
WA – Sammamish Teen Science Café (@ Sammamish Community YMCA)
WA – Sammamish Teen Science Café (@ Sammamish Community YMCA)
Lead Institution2:
YMCA, Sammamish, Washington
The Sammamish Teen Science Café is a program in our local community where we invite science experts to give a presentation and interact with teenagers interested in science. It provides an opportunity for teenage students to learn more about the science world and gets hands-on experience.
Café Website:
N/A Facebook Page:
N/A Lead Institution2:
Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin
Our program will be a live event held in a casual environment, such as in a coffee shop or at a library. Each event would be organized by a group of teen leaders and would feature a conversation and hands on activities with a scientist about a topic. The cafe will be coordinated by Morgridge Institute employees, however we will work closely with our partners at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW Madison.
If you are a professional in a STEM field who might like to present, or a teen who would like to check out a café or maybe even become part of our teen organizing group for the cafés, please get in touch!
Date first café held: May 2018 Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org: