Science Cafe

Science Café

Science Cafés help to promote scientific literacy by encouraging relaxed, open conversations among scientists and nonscientists of all ages.

Join us at the museum for snacks/socials at 5:30 p.m., with presentations beginning in the RELC at 6:00 p.m.

The RELC was built, in part, by the Volusia County ECHO Program in 2007 with a generous grant of $325,000. This ECHO-supported facility is used as a classroom, lecture hall, and activity space for our monthly public events (Science Saturdays and Science Cafes) and K-12 school and other tour group programming; it also includes a small exhibit and exploration gallery called The Nature Nook which is open to the public during regular museum hours at no cost to visitors.

To receive email updates about our Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 season programs, we invite you to sign up for our mailing list!

Dates at a Glance

Fall 2024

  • September 12 - Pit Viper Behavioral Ecology with Dr. Terry Farrell, Stetson Biology Professor, retired
  • October 17 - Gallery Opening & Presentation - Uncertain Sanctuary: Florida Springs Sculptures by Judith Greavu, meet the artist and hear guest speaker Ryan Smart, Director of the Florida Springs Council
  • November 14 - Mangroves and Saltmarsh with Carolyn Kovacs, Florida Sea Grant

Spring 2025

  • February 20 - Eelgrass Restoration on the St. Johns River with Dan Kolterman, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • March 13 - Sunset in the Sandhill Celebration with Dr. Cynthia Bennington, Stetson Biology professor
  • April 10 - Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project with Dr. Todd Osborne, University of Florida, Whitney Lab

Fall 2024

Terry Farrell

September 12

Pit Viper Behavioral Ecology with Dr. Terry Farrell, Stetson Biology Professor, retired; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

Artist Judith Greavu Ryan Smart Florida Springs Council Springs

October 17

Gallery Opening & Presentation - Uncertain Sanctuary: Florida Springs Sculptures by Judith Greavu; Come meet artist and sculptor Judith Greavu at the opening reception for her special visiting exhibit, with guest speaker Ryan Smart, Director of the Florida Springs Council; at 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. Cosponsored with Stetson's Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience (IWER). Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates. 

Carolyn Kovacs fsg

November 14

Mangroves and Saltmarsh with Carolyn Kovacs, Florida Sea Grant; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social.  Cosponsored with Stetson's Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience (IWER). Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

Spring 2025

Eelgrass restoration in the SJR

February 20

Eelgrass Restoration on the St. Johns River with Dan Kolterman, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social.

Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

Sunset in the Sandhill

March 13

Sunset in the Sandhill Celebration! All are invited to come out and join us for a Celebration of the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem, adjacent to the Gillespie Museum, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., with food, fun, and live music!  Brief presentation by Professor Cynthia Bennington, Stetson Biology professor, at 6 p.m.

Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

IRL clam restoration

April 10

Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project with Professor Todd Osborne, University of Florida, Whitney Lab; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social.  Reservations Encouraged - Read More & RSVP Today!

Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

Archived Videos

Spring 2021 - Armchair Geology - event recordings now available