Science and Communities Interact (SCI) Café was established by Dr.
Croisant in 2013 to allow community members to meet with UTMB scientists to
engage in casual dialogs with respect to translational science.
Have you ever
wondered if estrogens in drinking water can lead to things like
feminizing male fish? Or have you ever wondered just how a disease like Zika spreads? Topics like these are just some of the many subjects that have been discussed since the
introduction of SCI Café. While the discussions are typically scientific,
the discussions also consider broader topics like environmental
exposures related to flooding and storm surge, aging, and ethical issues.
In an
effort to meet the needs of a large number of community groups, there are currently four
series of SCI Cafés: one given by experts that occurs at MOD Coffeehouse in
Galveston to provide information to the general public; one given by the
Galveston Island Community Research Advisory Committee, which assists with
increasing knowledge of and participation in research; one Teen SCI Café series, which educates and inspires young scientists; and one for the broader Galveston County community, occasionally held at the Texas City Library.
The program has continuously evolved to better suit
the needs of our communities. For instance, one not-for-profit, faith-based
group has become so engaged in the process that they are now carrying out SCI
Café events independently, although we remain committed to supporting their
needs by providing expertise or assistance as requested.