Geek Out with Scientists Twice a Month with the State Museum

This article was written by Melanie Fox, Science and Innovation Program Developer at Indiana State Museum.

Love science, but you’re not a scientist? Jealous of all the fun kids get to have with science experiments and adventures? Bring back that youthful excitement as Central Indiana Science Outreach and the Indiana State Museum offer two opportunities a month to talk with area scientists in a casual setting, often over a beer. Science impacts all of us, regardless of our chosen careers. From serious issues like climate change, vaccines and nutrition, to unexpected impacts in tattoos, video games and education, science is ever-present in our daily lives. Experts in these fields live and work right here in Indiana and want to share their passion and answer your questions.

Central Indiana Science Outreach (CINSO) was founded three years ago by local scientists to provide opportunities for researchers to share their work with the public. CINSO has now teamed up with the Indiana State Museum to highlight the cutting edge research taking place across the state. Indiana is home to a large community of biomedical, agricultural and tech researchers. With so many experts and resources in fields integral to our daily lives, CINSO and the Indiana State Museum can help give Hoosiers the tools they need to critically evaluate competing sources of information and make the best decisions for themselves, their families and their communities.

CINSO and the Indiana State Museum give you two opportunities each month to geek out with fellow science fans and meet real Hoosier scientists. Café Inquiry, which began in partnership with the Center for Inquiry Indianapolis, features scientists discussing their work at a variety of venues, including many craft breweries. Previous topics have included nutrition and genetically modified food with scientists from Dow AgroSciences, studying asteroids with the Butler University Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium and using biochemistry to make a better beer in Bloomington.

Second, the new Books, Booze and Brains is a monthly book club presented in partnership with Indiana Humanities and the March for Science Indianapolis. Check out the book of the month, and join us at the Broken Beaker Distillery to discuss topics and questions with an expert in a related field. Broken Beaker bartenders serve up special themed drinks for each book. More than 70 guests attended the first event in August, which featured the book, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Guests sipped on a special floral cocktail called “Pushing up Daisies” while discussing the book with Dr. Jason Organ, Anatomy Professor at IU School of Medicine.

You must be 21 or older to enter Broken Beaker and many of the Café Inquiry venues. Upcoming events and details can be found here.