Meet the Team: Chris Lau

Science never stops—especially for our former YES Teens. Chris Lau, a recent graduate from the Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program, knows a thing or two about inviting the St. Louis community to discover STEAM. Now back at the Science Center, Chris spoke to us about his new role, a memorable moment from his experience in the YES Program, and what part of the Science Center is his favorite.

What’s your current role here at the Science Center? Tell us a little about what you do.

I’m currently a GROW facilitator. My coworkers and I are responsible for everything happening in that outdoor space. When the crowds are smaller, you can find me watering plants or harvesting crops. When there’s a lot of activity, I’ll often post up by the chicken coop or beehive, talking to guests and answering questions.

What made you want to come back to the Science Center after the YES Program?

The uniqueness of working at the Science Center was what made me so willing to come back. My last year with YES was spent interning with the team in GROW, and it’s a very dynamic job. You don’t just do A, B, and C every day. Whether it’s managing pests or looking at flowers under a microscope, every day brings something unique.

To put it plainly, it’s fun. It’s fun going on explorations and finding creative workarounds to new problems.

When did you graduate from YES? How has the program helped prepare you for this role?

I graduated from YES in May of 2021. The YES Program helped me develop soft skills and taught me how to interact with members of the community. I’m an engineering major, and a common saying in the industry is that the job isn’t just about being smart or knowing a lot, but you must also be able to communicate that knowledge in an effective and easy to understand way.

Whether it was teaching Summertime Science or being with the other teens, YES taught me how to communicate complex concepts in simple ways. Science can be daunting for some, so being able to be excited about it and communicate it well is a gift. Those skills aren’t just useful when interacting with the public here at the Science Center—they’re skills for life.

(Read about this year’s Summertime Science and how the newest cohort of YES Teens explored the STEAM inside Health and Nutrition here.)

Are there any moments from the YES Program that stand out to you?

I distinctly remember, way back during my first summer with YES, a particular group of children. We were teaching them a Summertime Science lesson, building solar-powered cars. There was a little girl who was so excited the whole time. She was singing and admiring her handiwork as we built the car, and her eyes lit up with joy as we brought the car out into the sunlight and it began to move on its own.

That pure feeling of excitement was memorable to me. It’s a reminder that science and discovery aren’t just about reading facts in a textbook—it’s also about new, exciting experiences.

Do you have a favorite part of the Science Center?

I think my favorite part of the Science Center by far is the T-rex animatronic. When I first saw it as a kid, I was completely mortified and scared. But after being around it, watching it move and hearing my parents talk about it, I thought it was the absolute coolest thing over. I’ve always had an interest in paleontology and fossils, and I attribute that to my first experience with the T-rex.