Science Educational Outreach Programs That Benefit Students and Scientists
نویسندگان
چکیده
Both scientists and the public would benefit from improved communication of basic scientific research and from integrating scientists into education outreach, but opportunities to support these efforts are limited. We have developed two low-cost programs--"Present Your PhD Thesis to a 12-Year-Old" and "Shadow a Scientist"--that combine training in science communication with outreach to area middle schools. We assessed the outcomes of these programs and found a 2-fold benefit: scientists improve their communication skills by explaining basic science research to a general audience, and students' enthusiasm for science and their scientific knowledge are increased. Here we present details about both programs, along with our assessment of them, and discuss the feasibility of exporting these programs to other universities.
منابع مشابه
A Scientist's Guide to Achieving Broader Impacts through K-12 STEM Collaboration.
The National Science Foundation and other funding agencies are increasingly requiring broader impacts in grant applications to encourage US scientists to contribute to science education and society. Concurrently, national science education standards are using more inquiry-based learning (IBL) to increase students' capacity for abstract, conceptual thinking applicable to real-world problems. Sci...
متن کاملIncreased interest in physiology and science among adolescents after presentations and activities administered by undergraduate physiology students.
BEGINNING IN THE 1980S, the Brazilian government introduced strategies to promote universal access to primary education, which coincided with an increase in the number of 6-yr-old children entering the educational system and the expansion of the public high school system (10). More recently, recognition of the importance of access to education at different life stages (4) and the building of co...
متن کاملExperiences with a science hotline.
Scientific literacy of the population may be enhanced by outreach programs conducted by universities. One such program, the University of Kentucky Science Hotline, has been successful in attracting and answering many inquiries from students, teachers, and others. The authors describe the organization and management of this hotline. The operation is inexpensive and efficient, with 35 faculty and...
متن کاملTailoring Science Outreach through E-Matching Using a Community-Based Participatory Approach
In an effort to increase science exposure for pre-college (K-12) students and as part of the science education reform agenda, many biomedical research institutions have established university-community partnerships. Typically, these science outreach programs consist of pre-structured, generic exposure for students, with little community engagement. However, the use of a medium that is accessibl...
متن کاملDesign and Implementation of a Genomics Field Trip Program Aimed at Secondary School Students
With the rapid pace of advancements in biological research brought about by the application of computer science and information technology, we believe the time is right for introducing genomics and bioinformatics tools and concepts to secondary school students. Our approach has been to offer a full-day field trip in our research facility where secondary school students carry out experiments at ...
متن کامل