outreach communications
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Outreach Communications. OCN 750: Class Project. Why is science communication important?. U.S. currently ranked 25 th in math, and 17 th in science among developed nations Encourage more students into math and science careers - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Outreach CommunicationsOCN 750: Class Project
Why is science communication important?
U.S. currently ranked 25th in math, and 17th in science among developed nations
Encourage more students into math and science careers
Decrease the knowledge gap between public and professional scientists
Better informed political choices regarding science policy and other important decisions
http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/02/27/why-we-need-science-communication
http://socialrhythms.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/ted-talks/
http://www.askmen.com/specials/2012_top_49/25-neil-degrasse-tyson.html
Why I chose to work on my communication skills
Only scientist in my family (except for 7 year old nephew who wants to be a “rock scientist”)
Wanted to be able to explain what I do to my family and friends more effectively
Help with my teaching skills and refine the ability to simplify scientific principles to a broader, and more general audience
http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/02/27/why-we-need-science-communication
How can we improve our science communication skills?
Experience!!! I took part of three different outreach activities throughout
the semester, each addressing science communication to people with different levels of previous scientific knowledge
First, was a science communications piece with a student journalist at University of Kings College in Halifax, Nova Scotia
During this interview I was asked my opinion on multiple questions. From this experience I learned that with science communication, even when expressing your opinion, it is best to base your opinions off scientific evidence.
HI
NS
Waikiki SeaHunt ~500 children (ages 1-7) Helped facilitate five of the outreach box
activities, including ; “plankton toss game”, “penny plop”, “knot tying”, “what microbe are you?”, and “air & ocean pressure”
From volunteering at this event I realized how effective hands on activities are in getting across abstract topics to younger kids
It was very different from my interviewing experience, I had to work work on much more general concentps concepts Photo Credit: Jackie Mueller
P-20 Outreach Project Hawai’i P-20 Partnership for Education is a program
that is “working to strengthen the education pipeline from early childhood through higher education so that all students achieve career and college success”
Middle school career day, May 16th, 2013 Asked to plan a lab tour/exercise for 2 groups of ~ 15
students that would last 45 minutes each, and would effectively explain the type of research I do
These students are 6th-8th graders and from my experience at the Waikiki SeaHunt I realized a hands on activity would be most effective
Terrarium Exercise and Lab Tour Developed terrarium exercise where students can
make their own self-sustaining ecosystem within a 2-Liter bottle
With the hands-on terrarium exercise and use of a whiteboard students will get a better understanding of concepts like photosynthesis, cell respiration and the carbon cycle
I will then give the students a tour of our lab, with a focus on the chamber room where we have some fern growth experiments going on right now
http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/soda-bottle-terrarium.htm
Terrarium Exercise and Lab Tour David Latimer, with his
terrarium that he planted back in 1960
It hasn’t been watered since 1972, over 40 years ago
The spiderwort plant inside has survived entirely from outside light, photosynthesis, respiration and nutrient recycling within the self-sustaining ecosystem
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html
Questions?