Science doesn’t have to live in textbooks. It can fizz, sparkle, and taste like your favorite cocktail. This is the idea driving Cautney Tatiana Nelson, the founder and CEO of The Drunken Laboratory and Science and Sip®. Through her work, Cautney is reshaping how people experience STEM by taking it out of classrooms and into vibrant, immersive spaces where learning and fun collide. Her Brooklyn-based venue invites guests to throw on lab coats, mix bubbling experiments, compete in quirky challenges, and belt out karaoke between drinks, all while discovering the magic of science in a whole new way.
With over 10,000 guests and growing, Cautney has turned STEM education into a social experience that excites adults and inspires kids. She also leads MillennialScnce, a nonprofit that mentors underrepresented youth and opens doors to science and technology careers. In this interview, she shares her journey, her love for STEM, and why mixing discovery with fun is the formula the future needs.
Cautney, thank you for being here. As the founder of The Drunken Laboratory, what personal experiences or turning points sparked your vision to merge science with nightlife in such a bold and innovative way?
Cautney Nelson: The spark honestly came from my own frustration with how science was being taught and perceived in traditional settings. I remember being in college and watching my peers light up during informal lab sessions when we’d grab drinks afterward and continue discussing experiments. Suddenly, these complex concepts became accessible, exciting, and social.
The real turning point was when I realized that the barrier to science education wasn’t intelligence or capability; it was approachability. I saw brilliant minds being turned off by sterile environments and intimidating jargon. Meanwhile, I witnessed how naturally curious people became when they were relaxed, social, and having fun. That’s when it clicked: what if we could create an environment where scientific wonder thrives alongside social connection?
Growing up, I also experienced firsthand how traditional educational systems can fail to engage diverse learners. I knew there had to be a better way, one that honored both the rigor of science and the human need for community and joy.
“Innovation isn’t about choosing between serious and fun; it’s about proving they can coexist beautifully when you have the courage to challenge conventional wisdom.”
In your Vents Magazine feature, you described your work as “scientific entertainment” that redefines how people experience both learning and leisure. How do you ensure that your events strike the right balance between education and enjoyment without one overshadowing the other?
Cautney Nelson: This balance is absolutely critical to our success, and it’s something we’ve refined across our four locations through constant iteration and feedback. We’ve developed what I call the “seamless integration principle,” which is: the science isn’t an add-on to the entertainment, nor is the entertainment a distraction from the science. They’re woven together so naturally that participants don’t realize where one ends and the other begins.
Our design process starts with genuine scientific principles, then we ask: how can we make this visceral, social, and immediately rewarding? When someone creates different scientific experiments, they’re not just mixing ingredients, they’re experiencing pH indicators, chemical reactions, and molecular behavior. But they’re also laughing with friends, creating Instagram-worthy moments, and having a genuinely good time.
We measure success through what I call “dual satisfaction metrics”… both learning retention and entertainment value. Our post-event surveys and reviews consistently show that 95% of participants leave with new scientific knowledge, while 98% say they had an exceptional time. That tells us we’re hitting the mark.
Your story in Think 7 Figures highlighted how your journey began in a disadvantaged classroom, which eventually transformed into a national movement. Looking back, how has that origin shaped the way you design inclusive experiences that resonate with people from diverse backgrounds?
Cautney Nelson: That classroom experience was absolutely foundational to everything we do. I witnessed firsthand how traditional educational approaches systematically exclude certain voices and learning styles. Students who were labeled as “struggling” or “disinterested” would completely transform when given hands-on, relevant, and culturally responsive learning opportunities.
That experience taught me that accessibility isn’t about lowering standards; it’s about expanding pathways. Every experience we design goes through what we call our “universal engagement filter.” We ask: Does this welcome different learning styles? Does it use inclusive language? Are the examples and analogies culturally diverse? Can someone participate meaningfully regardless of their educational background?
We’ve also built diversity into our DNA from the ground up. Our team reflects the communities we serve, and our facilitators are trained not just in science, but in creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong. We deliberately move away from academic gatekeeping and toward celebrating curiosity in all its forms.
Most importantly, that classroom taught me that representation matters enormously. When young people, especially women and underrepresented minorities, see scientists who look like them, who speak their language, who understand their experiences, it fundamentally changes what they believe is possible for themselves.
“True innovation happens when you stop designing for people like you and start designing for people unlike you. That’s where the magic, and the impact, really lives.”
Many STEM initiatives focus on classrooms or labs, but you have chosen to bring science into social spaces like bars and nightlife venues. What unique opportunities and challenges come with moving STEM into these unconventional environments?
Cautney Nelson: The opportunities are immense. First, we’re reaching audiences who would never step foot in a traditional educational setting. We’re capturing people in their leisure time when they’re most open to new experiences. There’s also something powerful about democratizing these spaces. Science belongs in the community, not just in ivory towers.
The social aspect creates natural peer learning and support systems. When people learn together in relaxed environments, they’re more likely to ask questions, take risks, and engage authentically. We’re also breaking down the stereotype that science is antisocial or boring; instead, we’re positioning it as inherently collaborative and exciting.
The challenges are significant, too. Safety is paramount when you’re working with chemicals in social environments, so we’ve invested heavily in foolproof protocols and extensive staff training. We also have to navigate regulatory requirements across different jurisdictions; mixing education with nightlife involves multiple licensing considerations.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is maintaining scientific integrity while ensuring accessibility. We never dumb down the science, but we do need to present it in ways that don’t require advanced degrees to appreciate. It’s a delicate balance that requires both scientific expertise and deep understanding of adult learning principles.
The Drunken Laboratory expands and gains cultural traction, how do you envision scaling this model while preserving the intimate, hands-on experience that makes it so impactful for participants?
Cautney Nelson: This is the core challenge of any experiential business, and it’s something I think about constantly. Our growth strategy is built around what I call “systemic intimacy”: creating frameworks that ensure every location delivers that personal, hands-on experience regardless of scale.
We’ve developed comprehensive training systems that don’t just teach our staff what to do, but how to create genuine connection with participants. Every facilitator goes through intensive workshops on both scientific content and human engagement. We also limit our group sizes intentionally; we’d rather run more sessions than compromise the intimate experience.
Technology plays a crucial role, too. We use data analytics to understand what creates those magical moments, then we systematize those elements. But we’re careful not to over-systematize the human elements that make each experience unique.
Beyond entertainment, what role do you see ventures like yours playing in inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders, especially young women and underrepresented groups who may not have considered science as accessible or engaging?
Cautney Nelson: This is honestly what gets me up every morning. We’re not just running events; we’re reshaping the cultural narrative around who can be a scientist and what science can look like.
When a young woman sees our female chemist creating spectacular reactions while engaging confidently with a diverse crowd, it breaks down preconceptions about what a scientist looks like. When someone from an underrepresented background experiences scientific success in a supportive, celebratory environment, it plants seeds of possibility that can grow into career aspirations.
We’re seeing this impact firsthand. We regularly have participants reach out months later to tell us they’ve enrolled in chemistry courses, changed career paths, or simply developed a newfound appreciation for scientific thinking. Parents bring their teenagers to our family-friendly sessions, and we watch young people’s faces light up with possibility.
Beyond individual inspiration, we’re contributing to a broader cultural shift that positions science as creative, collaborative, and cool. We’re proving that STEM doesn’t have to be intimidating or exclusive; it can be joyful, inclusive, and deeply social.
Our expansion plans include dedicated programs for schools and youth organizations, because I believe every young person deserves to experience science as something magical and accessible, not as something to be endured or feared.
“The future of STEM isn’t just about creating more scientists; it’s about creating a more scientifically literate, curious, and innovative society. That starts with changing how people feel about science, not just what they know about it.”
Conclusion
Cautney Tatiana Nelson is proving that science doesn’t have to feel distant or dull; it can be playful, creative, and personal. Through The Drunken Laboratory, she’s rewriting the rules of engagement, transforming STEM into an experience that excites the senses and sparks curiosity in unexpected ways. Her work shows that when people experiment hands-on, laugh with friends, and sip themed drinks while learning, they connect with science on a personal level. Through MillennialScnce, she is opening opportunities for students from underserved communities, showing them that they, too, have a place in the world of science and innovation. She invites us all to rethink what learning can look like. It can fizz. It can sparkle. And it can change lives.
