Science Cafés: A Bi-Directional Tool for Increasing Science
Literacy in the Community
Syed Ahmed, MD, DrPH; Cheryl Maurana, PhD; Zeno Franco, PhD; David Nelson PhD, MS; Anne Kissack, MPH, RD; Shari Hagedorn, Mia DeFino, MS
Background
Science Cafés have been used throughout the
world in more than 40 countries as a way for
people to meet and discuss the latest ideas of
science and technology. In the last two years,
the Community Engagement Key Function of
the CTSI of Southeast Wisconsin has hosted
16 cafés with over 300 total participants.
Our Science Café Goals:
• Strengthen science literacy
• Transfer knowledge between researchers
and public
• Demonstrate the important role science
plays in society
• Demonstrate the important role community
plays in science
• Create opportunities for academics to
engage with community outside of an
academic setting
• Inspire public to be more comfortable with
academics
• Inspire academics to be more comfortable
engaging with community
Purpose
The purpose of the Science Café program is to
strengthen science literacy by engaging the
community and translational scientists in an
informal setting through bi-directional dialogue
around current scientific health topics.
Initial Outcomes
Total Attendants: 554 evaluations completed, 334
unique registrants
2011/12 My Genes/My Health
Location: Public settings including pizza parlor, and
two different Milwaukee community centers,
Milwaukee School of Engineering – Center for
Biomolecular Modeling
Some of the Topics:
• From Genomics to Proteomics - and Beyond:
new tools for medicine
• One in a Billion - a story of personalized
genomic medicine
• Your DNA Sequence: What does it all mean?
• Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine: From
here to there and back again
2012 Health Myths/Health Facts
Location: Milwaukee Public Market
Topics (chosen by community):
• Diabetes
Format
• Child Immunizations
The format of the Café involves an medical
• Health Screenings
professional or researcher engaging with public • Positive Psychology
in an informal, non-academic environment.
2013
Science
and
a
Healthier
Typically, the speaker will give 10-20 minute
You
background on the evenings topic. This is
followed by 30-60 minutes of informal biLocation: Milwaukee Public Library
directional discussion around the specific topic. Topics:
Participants are encouraged to ask the speaker • Infomercials, ads, breaking news stories on
anything they like. The casual atmosphere is
“good vs bad” food…what really is the
conducive for a relaxed and comfortable
“skinny” on weight management and lifestyle
audience and as a result, participants generally
change through exercise?
ask questions and engage in public conversation.• “Wait, what did you say?” Learning about
The cafés are always held in a public setting and
Alzheimer’s and Dementias
are free of charge to anyone interested in
• Biomedical Innovations: What’s next?
attending. Light refreshments are served.
• Breast Cancer Screening and Preventive
Health
Figure 1. Number of registrants who attended
more than one science café. There is a large
number of registrants who sign up for 1-4 cafes.
Demographics:
• 66.6% (369) Female
• 59.9% (332) 50 years old or older
• 71.8% (398) had at least a bachelors degree
Results Highlights:
• Participants in 2013 utilized more indepth
evaluation of Scientific/Health Literacy
• Initial results suggest an increase in
confidence levels related to
scientific/health literacy after Science
Café
• 22% (91) Respondents said they were more
likely to participate in research as a result of
Science Cafés*
*From 2011 and 2012 series data
Conclusions
While current evaluations show acknowledgement of increased interest in research,
further evaluation methods are currently being developed to measure the effect on
scientific literacy, first reports suggest attending Science Cafes improve scientific literacy.
We also found that Science Cafés create an excellent opportunity for translational
researchers to engage the public in an informal setting. Speakers have commented on
how informative the experience has been in regards to how the community thinks and that
they have raised new research questions/ideas. Video recordings capturing how our
Science Cafés are done will be produced this year and shared through the CEKF website
for others to learn and build from.
This project is funded by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin, a recipient of a National Clinical and Translational Science Award 8UL1TR000055 and by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Research and Education Initiative Fund, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin.