What is the Gateway Teen Science Cafe?

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!

Member contributions to TeenScienceCafe.org:

• Cool Café: Cell Biology: How Did Cells Get In Shape? (03/2018)
• Member Spotlight: Holly Pope – Watching Teens and Scientists Grow (02/2017)
• Member Spotlight: Carolyn Noe (01/2017)
• Member Spotlight: Kerry Stevison (10/2016)
• Member Spotlight: Annamary King (07/2016)
• Benefits of Local and TSCN Partnerships  (11/2016)
• Video: Building Vibrant Teen Leaders – TSCN Open Mic Session (11/2016)
• Café summary: Bionics: A Lesson in Biomechanics and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) / Using a Fact Sheet (11/2016)
• Café summary: How Do Cells Get In Shape?  (04/2016)
• Café summary: Math Isn’t So Hard (12/2015)
• Café summary: DNA Code Breaking (8/2015)
• Things to Consider When Implementing Virtual Cafés (2015)
• Do You Have Trouble Finding Presenters? Consider diversity and think out of the box. (05/2015)
• From Café Speaker to Organizer. Useful tips for preparing a scientist to speak for a Teen Science Café.
• Structure Your Café for Engagement. Using the 5E Instructional Model: Engage. Explore. Explain. Extend/Elaborate. Evaluate. (02/2015)
• Dealing With Mentor Turnover. Communication is key. (01/2015)
• 2014 TSCN Teen Survey – key insights about teen motivations and impacts of teen cafés. The results. (2014)
• A Café Format Change Up. Try experimenting with a variety of café locations and other formats. (08/2014)
• Mixing Teens with Middle Schoolers at Cafés: Considerations (05/2014)
• Listen: New Member Webinar 3: Youth Leadership. (11/2013)
• How Youth Leaders Enrich Teen Cafés Students Often Know Better Than Adults What Will Excite Their Peers (06/2013)
• Getting Started #4: Tips and Tricks for Collaborations (05/2013)
• Getting Started #3: Planning Our First Café. We created a checklist. (05/2013)
• Getting Started #2: Teen Ownership of the Cafés! Our first Youth Leadership Team training. (05/2013)
• The Café Experience: a one page description (handout). (2013)

Examples of past cafés: