A Workshop to Plan The Future of the Teen Science Cafe Network

作为在非正式环境中加强学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习(AISL)计划为各种环境下使用的创新研究、方法和资源提供资金。青少年科学咖啡馆网络是青少年的改编，是流行的成人科学咖啡馆模式的改编，该模式将人们聚集在一起，在社交环境中与科学家就一些有趣和及时的话题进行生动的对话。自2012年成立以来，该网络发展迅速：目前已覆盖45个州、哥伦比亚特区和不列颠哥伦比亚省的130个站点。多项评估记录了它的影响。研究表明，青少年提高了STEM素养，将科学家描绘成过着有趣生活的真实的人，并对科学的本质有了更好的理解。这次为期两天半的会议旨在回顾这种青少年参与科学和科学交流模式的现状。与会者将研究从这个网络和类似网络中吸取的教训，以考虑将这种模式推广到其他受众所需的特征(例如，农村青少年、青少年大学生、军事基地的青少年，以及由基于种族和性别的专业协会的地方分会提供服务的青少年)。青少年科学咖啡馆网络的领导人将与一个由成功管理网络的个人组成的咨询委员会一起，探讨以下基本问题：1)该领域如何最好地利用这个庞大且不断增长的网络？2)如何利用当前的实践社区来促进增长？3)实现和保持有效的一些最有效的战略是什么，与4-H、科学中心、课后提供者网络、科学节、专业协会和图书馆等组织建立长期伙伴关系？4)在海洋科学、天体物理、地球科学和极地科学等领域推广特定学科的咖啡馆可能会有什么结果？会议的成果包括一套完善的当前网络的指导原则和一份白皮书，描述了强大和有效的网络的特征和扩展建议。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds innovative research, approaches and resources for use in a variety of settings.The Teen Science Cafe Network is an adaptation for teens, of the popular adult science cafe model, which brings people together in a social setting to have an animated conversation with a scientist on some interesting and timely topic. Since its inception in 2012, the Network has grown at a rapid rate: it is now in 130 sites in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and British Columbia. Multiple evaluations have documented its impact. Teens are shown to have increased STEM literacy, a more realistic picture of scientists as real people leading interesting lives, and a better understanding of the nature of science. This two-and-a-half-day conference is designed to review the state of this model of teen engagement in science and science communication. Participants will examine lessons learned from this and similar networks to consider the features needed to expand this model to other audiences (e.g., rural teens, teenage college students, teenagers on military bases, and teens served by local chapters of professional societies based on ethnicity and gender).Leaders of the Teen Science Cafe Network, along with an advisory committee comprised of individuals who are successfully managing networks, will explore these fundamental questions: 1) How can the field best take advantage of this large and growing network? 2) How can the current community of practice be leveraged for growth? 3) What are some of the most effective strategies for achieving and maintaining effective, long-term partnerships with organizations such as 4-H, science centers, networks of afterschool providers, science festivals, professional societies, and libraries? 4) What are possible outcomes for promoting discipline-specific cafes in areas such as ocean science, astrophysics, geoscience, and polar science? Outputs from the conference include a refined set of guiding principles for the current network and a white paper describing the features of strong and effective networks and recommendations for scaling.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.