Description

Teen Science Cafes are an ideal way of introducing youth to STEM careers that are hiding in plain sight in their rural communities—careers like engineering, disaster response, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and aviation. The goal of this project is to impact underserved rural youth by cultivating a mindset among teens that STEM IS EVERYWHERE.

Together, we will evaluate the impacts of participating in the TSC program using surveys that explore STEM attitudes, identity, and interest in STEM careers. Through participating in TSCs, we anticipate that teens will engage in more STEM outside of school, be able to identify the opportunities for doing STEM in their regions, and learn from STEM professionals about career pathways within their community and beyond. They will also develop leadership skills as they help design and implement Teen Science Cafés.