Concept

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Mission

Scitopia Chicago is envisioned as an innovative science learning hub and destination promoting teen self-realization and community revitalization.

Aims

Self-realization hub for South Side teens to ensure graduation and launch career pathways in science

Out-of-school time teen center engendering learning, connecting and repeat visitation

Anchor for neighborhood revitalization

Unique urban zero-energy greenspace and multidimensional destination

National model for effective neighborhood-university-city collaboration

About

Scitopia Chicago is a ground-breaking, interactive teen learning center and south side destination that places under one roof:

  • Golden Lily Café, for relaxing, communing and connecting
  • Imaginarium, teen-centric space to inspire and imagine
  • MakerLabs,  teen science-media work space to learn and create
  • Visions, neighborhood history and event space to celebrate and empower
  • Lost World, unique museum-conservatory-vivarium to time-travel Africa

Scitopia Foundation

Scitopia Chicago is overseen by the Scitopia Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not for profit educational organization founded in 2021 and based in Chicago.

Scitopia Foundation Board of Directors

Paul Sereno, Ph.D.

Professor, University of Chicago

Kenneth S. Polonsky, M.D.

Professor & Physician, Senior Advisor to the President, University of Chicago

Cecilia Butler

President , Washington Park Residents’ Advocacy Council

Fabiola Delgado, C.P.A.

Chief of Staff, UChicago National Laboratories & Assistant VP for Finance

Rev. Jesse Knox, III, M.R.E.

Senior Minister, Church of the Good Shepherd UCC

Rich Crowley, M.B.A.

Compliance Lead, Argonne National Laboratory & President, Chicago Herpetological Society

Eric Klinenberg, Ph.D.

Author & Professor, New York University

Jessica Schwartz, M.S.W.

Project Manager, Fossil Lab at University

Scitopia Chicago Advisors

Sophia Carey, M.B.A.

Founder & CEO, BuildWise

David Wilts

Founder & CEO, Digital Masterplanning

Walter Massey, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor to the President of University of Chicago

Jeremy Dunn, MLIS

Manager of Digital Inclusion, Chicago Housing Authority

Tim Knowles, Ph.D.

President, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Lisa Roberts, Ph.D.

Founder & Principal, naturalia, inc.