The Science Cafe is a program that connects UI researchers and experts with Iowa community members. These one-hour events take place at a local coffee shop in Mt. Vernon, IA (about 30 mins from Iowa City) are structured around a presentation and group discussion about various environmental, health, and scientific topics.  

To propose your presentation, please fill out this form by Feb 2.

 Eligibility: Faculty, staff, and graduate students at the University of Iowa 

The Science Cafes are usually on a weekday from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm.  

The structure of the event is 30 minute talk by presenter (no slides are used but there is a paper hand out) followed by a 25 minute discussion/Q+A period.

Dr. Brandi Janssen facilitates the events.    

Questions? Email Jackie Curnick jcurnick@uiowa.edu  

Visit the science café webpage https://ehsrc.public-health.uiowa.edu/communityengagement/science-cafe/ 

Topics that have been directly requested by the Science Café participants on evaluations: (though you can propose any topic) 

• Medical talks / Surgery 
• Climate Change 
• Research projects: study design and results  
• Options for farmers to improve water quality 
• Barriers to changing agricultural practices 
• “Pure Science”  
• Reasons Iowa is losing healthcare workers  
• Neonics and the home gardener  
• Food safety 
• Herbalism 
• Marine Biology 
• Geology or Archeology 
• Chemistry 
• Human composting 
• Stem cells and plasma joint injections to delay joint replacement 
• Nutrition 
• Dentistry 
• How does data science help with precision in medicine