From Brooklyn’s Hidden Lab to National Fame: Inside Cautney Nelson’s Impact on STEM and Social Entertainment

Science rarely feels like a party. However, Cautney Tatiana Nelson made it the perfect stage for one. From a small, experimental setup in Brooklyn to a nationwide phenomenon, Nelson has transformed how people engage with science.

Cautney Nelson, CEO of The Drunken Laboratory and founder of Science and Sip®, has always believed science deserves to be experienced, not memorized. She is a biochemist by training and a creative at heart. She built a platform that mixes education with entertainment, proving that learning can be electrifying. “You’ll be a scientist for a night,” her website promises, and she’s delivered that experience to over 80,000 guests.

How Cautney Nelson Turned Fun into a STEM Movement

The glowing beakers and themed cocktails reflect Nelson’s mission to make science accessible to everyone. What started as a local experiment in Brooklyn has expanded to major U.S. cities, including Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Her concept was to create an immersive space where guests could experiment, play, and discover science without intimidation. From day one, the focus was on inspiration through drinks.

The experience includes:

• Interactive experiments that make you feel like a chemist.
• Karaoke and games that bring energy and competition into the mix.
• Seasonal cocktails that match each event’s theme, from Halloween to Christmas.
• Trivia and challenges where winners earn free shots, because science can taste like victory.

Every night, The Drunken Laboratory transforms into what Nelson calls “liquid innovation.” Guests don lab coats, pick up beakers, and rediscover the joy of curiosity. Science becomes an experience, not an abstract subject.

The Woman Behind the Beakers

Before becoming a social entertainment pioneer, Nelson studied biochemistry at Stony Brook University. Her academic foundation laid the groundwork for everything she does today, as it teaches people how to see science in their everyday lives.

Through her nonprofit, MillennialScnce, she mentors disadvantaged students and introduces them to STEM careers through interactive programs. She gives kids the chance to see themselves as scientists. This depicts her mission to make science less exclusive and more fun.

Her leadership style is courageous and curious, like her experiments. She’s not afraid to mix things up, from designing themed lab parties to building a community around learning. 

Her impact extends through:

• Science and Sip®: Her original concept that launched the idea of immersive STEM entertainment.
• The Drunken Laboratory: A growing franchise that merges fun and learning in major U.S. cities.
• MillennialScnce: Her charitable arm, offering mentorship and exposure to youth from underrepresented communities.

Each project reflects her belief that science and creativity belong together. For Nelson, education doesn’t stop at the classroom door. It spills onto the dance floor, karaoke mic, and bar counter.

Why The Drunken Laboratory Works

The Drunken Laboratory’s success is not limited to its clever name. It’s a social experiment that brings people together. The atmosphere feels like a nightclub and a classroom combined, making it energetic, chaotic, and full of laughter.

What keeps guests coming back:

• Immersive themes: “The Haunted Lab,” “Scientific Fun Down,” and other rotating experiences keep things fresh.
• Community connection: People celebrate birthdays, dates, and team outings surrounded by science.
• Authentic engagement: Staff members double as hosts, DJs, and “professors,” creating a fully interactive environment.
• Expansion energy: With new locations in Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles, Nelson is turning her passion project into a national thing.

Guests get excited to do science. This mix of joy and discovery is exactly what Nelson envisioned.

Conclusion

From a Brooklyn lab to a coast-to-coast brand, Cautney Tatiana Nelson has changed what STEM education looks like. Through The Drunken Laboratory and Science and Sip®, she’s built experiences that connect science with everyday life by bringing chemistry, laughter, and music together under one roof.

Her work shows that science can be social, creative, and wildly entertaining. As The Drunken Laboratory expands across the country, Nelson continues to prove that learning doesn’t have to be serious to be powerful.

Her message is to put on a lab coat, grab a drink, and let curiosity take over. Cautney Nelson has turned science into an experience people look forward to. Every day, she breaks barriers, builds community, and reminds everyone that discovery can happen anywhere, even over a cocktail and laughter.