UWs Brummond Receives Teen Science Caf Network Rural Fellowship

Karagh Brummond, director of the University of Wyoming Science Initiative Outreach and Engagement Program, has been selected as one of nine Teen Science Café Rural Fellows for the 2021-22 program.

The Teen Science Café Network is a national organization that supports the development of cafés in communities throughout the United States. The network was formed in 2012 with National Science Foundation funding to expand opportunities for teens nationwide. 

In partnership with the UW Science Initiative, the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance and other Laramie community entities, Brummond will lead efforts to establish seven science cafés for teens in Laramie, with plans to extend the cafés to other locations in Wyoming.

“The goal of the science cafés is to inspire young people while providing them with interactive and engaging experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leadership skills,” says Brummond, who also is an assistant instructional professor in the UW Honors College. “The network hopes to motivate teens, build community, open awareness for career opportunities and trajectories, and have fun.”

Teen Science Café programs are a free, fun way for teens to engage in lively conversations with STEM experts that explore the advances in science and technology that affect their lives, according to the Teen Science Café Network website. In these events, teens socialize over teen-friendly food and drink and have lively conversations with local scientists and engineers about current cutting-edge developments in their fields, all in a relaxed and informal out-of-school setting, the website says.
 
“The model of the science café is to really allow the teens to drive the success of the events. To this extent, the teen leaders are really there to help run the cafés with myself as the mentor for the students,” Brummond explains. “My role is to listen to the teens about the types of individuals in STEM they are most interested in speaking with; facilitate communication with those individuals; and support the teens where needed for the events. We hope that the teens will want to hear from STEM professors and local teachers, as well as other community individuals who have STEM-related careers.”

Over the next month, Brummond’s goal is to identify the group of teens who will be involved and establish teen leadership, with a timeline to have the first of seven cafés operating in January. She has started by reaching out to local teen after-school programs and the STEM Club at Laramie High School. Subsequent cafés established will run once a month, and twice if needed, she says.

“Each café will take on its own form, depending on the speaker,” Brummond says. “However, in general, the cafés will last for approximately an hour and a half. They will start with some hands-on demonstration from the STEM speaker and then informal discussion with the teens.”

While many details need to still be worked out, Brummond says the cafés will likely be after-school, weeknight or weekend gatherings, with potential locations at the Albany County Public Library or Laramie High School.

“The actual time and place of the cafés will be teen driven and, therefore, once I am able to get our general teen pool established, we will discuss best times that work for the teens,” Brummond says.

For STEM faculty, students and staff interested in getting involved, or teens and teen parents looking for more information, email Brummond at kmurph17@uwyo.edu.