Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Teen Science Cafe | Spooky Space Stories
2024-10-25 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Morehead Planetarium Fulldome Theater, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, October 25th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! With Halloween right around the corner, we want to have some fun and share some spooky space stories. Join Morehead staff as we explore the universe, draw your own constellations, and celebrate the season. The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

All attendees are encouraged to dress up in a fun, school-appropriate costume or outfit. The best one will get a prize!

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | Climate Change
2024-11-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, November 8th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! This is a special cafe done as a part of our climate action plan that was written during the North Carolina Youth Climate Summit earlier this year. Members of our Teen Advisory Board will be returning to the Summit later this year to give an update and plan for the future.

We will be joined by an engaging STEM professional to discuss climate change and helping young people understand what they can do. Part of the presentation will include a PG-13 climate documentary due to bleeped language. For our activity this month, the Teen Advisory Board will lead a community recycled art project!If you bring in any of the following items to help with the art project, you get a sticker!

Bottle caps (Plastic or metal)

Soda can tabs

Scrap paper

Newspaper

Straws

Plastic lids

The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Watch the trailer for the film that will be screened at Friday’s cafe!

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Science Stage.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | Healthcare
2024-12-06 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, December 6th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For the December cafe, we will be diving into the topic of healthcare science with a few fun activities as well as a presentation from a hospital professional. The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe
2025-01-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Teen Science Cafe in January! 📚

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, January 24th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We are still waiting to confirm our speaker, but we want to make sure you get this exciting program on your calendar. The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.Our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | Psychology
2025-03-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
The Science of Individuality: A Psychological Exploration of What Makes You, You

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, March 21st for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! After unfortunately cancelling last month’s cafe due to inclement weather, we will welcome Dylan Wood, AP Psychology teacher from Chapel Hill High School, for an in-depth look at the concept of nature versus nurture.Exploring the timeless debate of nature vs. nurture, this seminar delves into what makes individuals unique. We will examine the factors that shape personal preferences, behaviors, and inclinations, uncovering the psychological and environmental influences that drive what we like and how we see the world.

Our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!

The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

About the Speaker

Dylan Wood is an award-winning AP Psychology teacher at Chapel Hill High School. He studied History and Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and later earned a Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his free time, he likes to read, coach track and field, and spend time with friends and family.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. The presentation and discussion will take place in our educational space.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe
2025-04-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Teen Science Cafe in April for the NC Science Festival!

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, April 25th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We are still waiting to confirm our speaker, but we want to make sure you get this exciting program on your calendar.The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.Our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe
2025-05-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Teen Science Cafe in January!

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, May 16th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We are still waiting to confirm our speaker, but we want to make sure you get this exciting program on your calendar.The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.Our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | Science Trivia
2025-09-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for the first Teen Science Cafe of the school year! On Friday, September 19, we’ll preview this season’s topics with an exciting game of science trivia. Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: Healing Lahaina
2025-10-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for October’s Teen Science Cafe! In this session, we’ll be screening the documentary film Healing Lahaina, which addresses community advocacy and climate resilience through the personal experiences of survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires. Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. The screening will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: Exoplanet Watch
2025-11-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Exoplanet Watch with Yashasree Gadipalli

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for November’s Teen Science Cafe! This month, we welcome Yashasree Gadipalli, who will be sharing her work as a citizen scientist with NASA’s Exoplanet Watch project, which uses telescope data to scan for planets outside our solar system.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!

Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

About Yashasree

Yashasree Gadipalli is a first-year student at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Astronomy and Data Science. As a participant in Exoplanet Watch, she uses NASA’s EXOTIC software to research the exoplanet TrES-3b and is developing a citizen science program to help students explore and contribute to ongoing astronomy research. As an intern for Cisco, she explored the intersection of AI and data science, which she now applies to her astronomy work. As an affiliate of the World Children’s Parliament, Yashasree is dedicated to making science more accessible to young minds.

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: Neuronal Resilience
2025-12-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Neuronal Resilience with Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for December’s Teen Science Cafe! This month, we welcome Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh, Ph.D, who will be sharing his work on how different types of cells control apoptosis (regulated cell death) and how this relates to the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

About Dr. Deshmukh

Mohanish Deshmukh, Ph.D. is a William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology & Physiology and the Neuroscience Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mohanish received his PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, conducted his postdoctoral research at Washington University and joined UNC as an Assistant Professor in 2000.

Mohanish’s lab studies the programmed mechanisms by which neurons survive and die. His lab also focuses on understanding neurodevelopmental disorders as well as developing therapeutic strategies for preventing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Mohanish received the Burroughs-Wellcome New Investigator Award in 2001. At UNC, Mohanish was recognized with the Teaching Excellence Award (2004) and the Mentor of the Year Award (2012). He is currently the Co-Director of the UNC MD/PhD program. His lab’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: Food & Microbiomes
2026-01-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Food & Microbiomes with Dr. Erin McKenney

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for January’s Teen Science Cafe! This month, we welcome Dr. Erin McKenney, who will be sharing her work on food and gut microbiomes in both animals and humans.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

About Dr. McKenney

Dr. Erin McKenney is an assistant professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs at North Carolina State University. She studies how microbial communities form over time and how they adapt to their environments. Her research incorporates microbial ecology, nutrition, and comparative gut morphology to learn how gut microbes affect health – and how humans can leverage or upset that balance. For over a decade, Dr. McKenney has investigated evolutionary adaptation across different scales and species, between non-human primates and carnivores and their gut microbes. More recently, she has expanded her research to sourdough and other fermented foods that can be studied without laboratory equipment, using citizen science research to empower students of all ages and all over the world.

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: AI Applications
2026-02-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for February’s Teen Science Cafe! In this session, we’ll be discussing AI applications. Stay tuned for more information on this month’s speaker!Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Carolina Science Cafe: Songbirds
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Access to mates biased by parental favoritism in songbirds

In songbirds, the morphology of the vocal tract predicts song performance, and song performance affects access to mates. This, in turn, raises the question as to what causes this vocal-tract morphological variation. In March’s Carolina Science Cafe, Dr. Keith Sockman will discuss the recent analyses from his laboratory’s 20-year dataset on wild, free-ranging Lincoln’s sparrows at their montane field site in Colorado, which have revealed developmental constraints on the vocal tract, driven in part by parental favoritism toward some nestlings over their sibling nestmates.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe is a free program that explores science topics making national and international headlines, offering the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Keith Sockman earned a PhD in Zoology in 2000 at Washington State University, studying reproductive flexibility in American kestrels. His postdoctoral work at The Johns Hopkins University focused on the neurobiology of mate choice and reproductive timing in songbirds. His initial appointment in the Department of Biology at UNC Chapel Hill was in 2004, at which point he started a long-term study on the behavioral ecology and reproductive decisions of wild songbirds. He enjoys cycling, camping, and spending time with his two teenagers.

See Dr. Sockman’s work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Teen Science Cafe: Visualizing Space
2026-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for March’s Teen Science Cafe! More details on this month’s speaker will be available at a later date.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Artemis II Viewing Event
2026-04-01 18:00 - 20:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
(Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

To the Moon with NASA’s Artemis II

Astronauts are preparing to return to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years! As part of the Artemis II mission, crewmembers Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, and North Carolina-raised Christina Koch are set to embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon with a target launch date of April 1, 2026.

To celebrate, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special Artemis II launch viewing event before Starry Nights: Spring Skies, our special planetarium show for teen and adult learners. Exclusive to Starry Nights ticketholders, this special event is available at no additional charge and is subject to change due to weather and safety at the launch site.

Get Starry Nights tickets

Know Before You Go

NASA may postpone the Artemis II launch due to adverse weather conditions and safety concerns, which could result in the cancellation of the Morehead viewing event. The launch window opens on April 1, 2026, at 6:24 p.m. EDT, at which the launch can occur anytime within the next two hours. Learn more about NASA’s April mission availability.

In the event that the launch overlaps with the start of Starry Nights: Spring Skies (scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on April 1, 2026), we will finish cheering on the Artemis II before heading to the fulldome theater for the planetarium show.

The Artemis II viewing event at Morehead Planetarium is subject to change based on updates to the official launch schedule. In the event of a postponed launch, Starry Nights: Spring Skies will proceed as scheduled at 7 p.m.

Enjoy this video of Artemis II’s Christina Koch from Morehead’s 75th anniversary (2024).

Teen Science Cafe: Hollywood Science
2026-04-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Hollywood Science with Dr. Alper Bozkurt

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for April’s Teen Science Cafe! In this interactive session, Dr. Alper Bozkurt will share his firsthand experiences at the intersection of science and storytelling. From consulting on Disney films to collaborating with creatives behind movies, documentaries, and games, he has seen how science inspires Hollywood and how Hollywood, in turn, inspires real scientific breakthroughs.

This talk will take you behind the scenes of:

Interactions with studios like The Walt Disney Company and Pixar

Collaborations with Oscar-winning or nominated actors and filmmakers

Visits to Hollywood studios and creative environments

How ideas from science shape Xbox and PlayStation games

If you are curious about the future of technology, storytelling, and imagination, this is your chance to see how your interests can come together in unexpected ways.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!

Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

About Dr. Bozkurt

Prof. Alper Bozkurt joins us from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University where he holds an associated appointment at UNC-NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is the director of the Integrated Bionic MicroSystem (iBionicS) Lab and co-director for National Science Foundation Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) and NC State Institute of Connected Sensor Systems (IConS).

Alper Bozkurt is the McPherson Family Distinguished Professor in Engineering Entrepreneurship at NC State University. At iBionicS Lab, he builds technologies that connect electronics with living systems, from insects to plants, from animals to humans. He received his PhD in electrical engineering from Cornell University and his MSc in biomedical engineering from Drexel University. His work has been featured by major media outlets and earned him a spot on Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” list. His research achievements on the Internet of Bionic Things have been covered by several media agencies, including BBC, CNN, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Newsweek, and Reuters.

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe: The Social Impacts of AI
2026-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
The Social Impacts of AI with Dr. Francesca Tripodi

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for the last Teen Science Cafe of the school year! In this session, we’ll be discussing the social impacts of AI with Dr. Francesca Tripodi.

Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!

Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

About Dr. Tripodi

Dr. Tripodi is a sociologist and information scholar whose research examines the relationship between technology and society. She is an Associate Professor at the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill and the Founder of the Search Prompt Integrity and Learning Lab. She has twice testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (April 10, 2019 and July 16, 2019), to explain how search engines are gamed to spread conspiratorial logic and sow political polarization.

Along with her Co-PIs at MIT and Stanford, Dr. Tripodi received a National Science Foundation Accelerator Award in 2021 to study how people find information and build tools to enhance and enable search literacy. In recognition of her impact, Dr. Tripodi received the Award for Impact and Excellence in 2023 from the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington. In December 2023, Dr. Tripodi was a featured guest on an episode of Meet the Press to discuss the dangers of online education tools like PragerU. Her work has also been highlighted on All Things Considered (NPR), the Financial Times, and the Associated Press. She has also written about her work in Wired, Slate, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In addition to these featured segments, Dr. Tripodi’s research is regularly cited by esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME, and The Guardian. In recognition of her impact, Dr. Tripodi received the Award for Impact and Excellence in 2023 from the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington.

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion. May’s discussion will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
